Dive area · Vietnam
Phú Quốc and the An Thới islandsQuần đảo An Thới, Phú Quốc
Dive or snorkel the An Thới islands between November and May, when the south of Phú Quốc is calm and the water is clearer; expect shallow (3–15 m), easy, sometimes murky reefs suited to beginners and snorkellers rather than keen divers, and pair it with a beach holiday rather than making it the reason to come.
Map to the area
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Sites
5
5 for Open Water or below
Depth
2–15 m
Water
26–30 °C
through the year
Best months
Dec–Apr
Rules in force · 7Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
- Southern Vietnam ↗The Mekong's floating markets finish by about 09:00: to see one working, sleep in Cần Thơ or nearby and be on the boat by 05:30.
- Southern Vietnam ↗Phú Quốc's 30-day visa exemption applies only to direct international arrivals on the island; connecting via Saigon or Hanoi needs a normal visa or exemption.
At a glance
- Area
- An Thới archipelago, south of Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang (An Giang from 2025)
- Levels
- Try dive to Open Water
- Depth
- 2–15 m
- Visibility
- 2–15 m
- worst to best month
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Base
- Phu Quoc
South of Phú Quốc, some fifteen islands form the An Thới archipelago, reached by boat from An Thới port or by the long cable car to Hòn Thơm. The reefs are shallow and gentle, part of a marine protected area set up in 2007, with hard coral patches, giant clams and plenty of small reef fish. Heavy snorkel-boat traffic and sediment limit visibility; on a good day in the dry season it is pleasant diving for beginners.
Decide
Which sites suit your level, which months, and what you will see
At a glance
Fine for new divers
Why go
- Easy, shallow and warm: good for try dives, first courses and nervous snorkellers.
- Calm seas in the dry season, which is also the island's beach season.
- Snorkel stops within an hour of the resorts, with no flights or overnight boats needed.
Where to stay and eat: Phu Quoc.
Dive sites
| Site | Depth | Level | Current | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hòn Dăm | 2–10 m | Try dive | None | Shallow sheltered reef; giant clams; snorkel stop. |
| Hòn Thơm reefs | 3–12 m | Try dive | None | Easy beach and boat entries near the cable car island. |
| Hòn Móng Tay | 3–12 m | Open Water | Mild | Hard coral patches, anemones, parrotfish. |
| Hòn Gầm Ghì | 3–15 m | Open Water | Mild | Rocky reef with boulders; the most varied site. |
| Hòn Mây Rút | 4–15 m | Open Water | Mild | Reef slope further south, often clearer. |
Levels are a guide: Snorkel — mask and fins from the surface; no certification; Try dive — uncertified first dive with an instructor, usually to 12 m or less; Open Water — entry certification; recreational limit about 18 m; Advanced — advanced certification; deeper than 18 m or some current; Experienced — advanced plus many logged dives; strong current, blue water, deep. Your guide decides on the day.
Season, visibility and water temperature
- JanBest5–15 m vis
26–28 °C - FebBest5–15 m vis
26–28 °C - MarBest8–15 m vis
27–29 °C - AprBest8–15 m vis
28–30 °C - MayGo5–12 m vis
28–30 °C - JunCaution3–8 m vis
28–30 °C - JulAvoid2–6 m vis
28–29 °C - AugAvoid2–6 m vis
28–29 °C - SepCaution3–8 m vis
28–29 °C - OctCaution3–10 m vis
28–29 °C - NovGo5–12 m vis
27–29 °C - DecBest5–15 m vis
27–28 °C
- JanDry season; calm south coast
- AprWarmest, clearest
- MayRains begin
- JunSouth-west monsoon; rough and murky
- JulMany trips cancelled
- OctImproving late in the month
- NovSeason opens
Marine life calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reef fish, giant clams and anemonesAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Seahorses in seagrass (rare)Nov–Apr | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Jellyfish (occasional stingers)Apr–Jun · Wear a rash vest or skin suit. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Where the sites are, snorkelling, and how to get there
Site sketch map
- 1Hòn Móng Tay · Dive site≈9.940, 104.0303–12 m · Open WaterMap ↗
- 2Hòn Gầm Ghì · Dive site≈9.930, 104.0203–15 m · Open WaterMap ↗
- 3Hòn Dăm · Dive site≈9.980, 104.0402–10 m · Try diveMap ↗
- 4Hòn Thơm reefs · Dive site≈9.960, 104.0103–12 m · Try diveMap ↗
- 5Hòn Mây Rút · Dive site≈9.915, 104.0454–15 m · Open WaterMap ↗
Snorkelling instead
Hòn Dăm and Hòn Móng Tay
Standard snorkel-boat stops; go on a smaller boat to avoid the crowds.
Hòn Thơm beaches
Reach by cable car and snorkel off the beach.
Getting there
Practical
Picking a safe operator, fees and rules, the chamber, and diving lightly
How to choose an operator
Dive shops in Dương Đông and the resorts run day boats from An Thới; snorkel boats are everywhere. Standards vary, and mass snorkel boats are a different product from a dive trip.
- 1Guides and instructors hold current professional status with a recognised agency; ask to see it.
- 2Small groups: no more than four students per instructor, six divers per guide.
- 3The boat has oxygen, first aid, a radio and a ladder that is easy to climb.
- 4Gear is serviced; tanks are checked in front of you.
- 5Snorkel trips give vests to everyone and do not let guests stand on coral.
We do not rank or name dive shops. Reviews change with staff; these checks do not.
Marine park fees and prices
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine protected area or island fee | ₫0–100,000 (≈ US$0–4) | person | Some islands charge a landing fee; usually included in tour prices (check). |
| Snorkel boat day (3–4 islands, lunch) | ₫500,000–1,200,000 (≈ US$20–50) | person | — |
| Two fun dives with boat and gear | ₫1,800,000–2,800,000 (≈ US$70–110) | person | — |
| Hòn Thơm cable car | ₫500,000–700,000 (≈ US$20–30) | person | Often bundled with the island water park (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
- No collecting or touching
- The marine protected area bans taking coral, shells and animals.
- Anchoring
- Boats should use buoys where available (check).check
- Fish feeding
- Discouraged; refuse boats that throw bread in the water.
Nearest hyperbaric chamber
Ask your operator — check
Safety
Boat traffic at snorkel stops medium
Jellyfish low
Responsible diving
- Choose small boats that keep guests off the coral and use buoys.
- Use a rash vest instead of heavy sunscreen.
- Do not buy shells, coral or dried starfish from island stalls.
- Keep plastic on the boat; the islands have little waste collection.
Questions people ask
Is Phú Quốc worth it for diving?
For beginners and snorkellers, yes, in the dry season. Experienced divers usually find it shallow and murky compared with Côn Đảo or Thailand.
Which side of the island should I dive?
The south (An Thới) in November–May. In the wet season, some shops run to the north-east coast when the south is rough.
Deep dive
Every source; conditions and fees change, so check before you go
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Phu Quoc
- secondaryWikipedia — An Thới archipelago
- officialPADI — find a dive centre and verify a professional