Diving Guide >
Thailand >
Koh Phuket (Phuket Island) , Thailand Scuba Diving Guide
Phuket is Thailand largest and most well known island. Every year,
visitors from all over the world gather here for its beautiful beaches, world
class cuisines, famous night life and entertainments.
For scuba divers, Phuket serves faithfully as the base or the door to the
diving paradises that can be found in vicinity.
Divers using Phuket as a base can head east to Krabi, southeast to Phi Phi
Island and Koh Lanta or even northwest to Koh Similan and Koh Surin Marine
Parks. However, this does not mean that Phuket itself does not offers any
decent diving experience. In fact, most divers, if not all, will be pleasantly
surprised at the marine life you can find here.
All dive operators in Phuket offers daytrips to the local dive sites. Like most
Southeast Asia countries, the water here is always warm (about 25 degree
celsius). The water visibility though, is not fanastic. On a normal day, the
visibility is only about 15 to 20 meters.
Detail map
|
|
Dive Sites around Koh Phuket
-
Shark Point or Hin Musang (Shark Point Marine Sanctuary)
This dive site is 25km east of southern Phuket. Together with Anemone Reef and
King Cruiser Wreck, they formed the Shark Point Marine Sanctuary. If not for
the limited visibility (approximately 15 meters), Shark Point would be a truly
world-class dive. The dive site is basically a rock pinnacle, that rise out of
the water from surrounding depth of 18 to 20 meters. The current here can be
quite strong at times.
The variety of marine life at this site is simply mind boggling. In one single
dive, divers can be treated with sighting of ghost pipe fishes, moray eels, sea
snakes and scorpion fishes. Purple and pink corals cling themselves onto the
rock to decorate it with beautiful colors.
However, the stars of this dive site must surely be its resident leopard sharks
(Stegastoma varium). These gentle animals can grow up a size of more than 2
meters and are completely approachable. However, divers should never attempt to
touch them as this could seriously hurt the animals.
|
 |
-
 Anemone Reef or Hin Jom(Shark Point Marine
Sanctuary)
Anemone Reef is just 600 meters north of Shark Point. This rock pinnacle is
completely submerged under the water. Fish life here is excellent, there are a
great numbers of lionfishes sighting. The name of this site suggests that you
will find many anemones and anemone fishes.
-
 King
Cruiser Wreck (Shark Point Marine Sanctuary)
On the 4th may 1997, the 85 meters passenger ferry "King Cruiser" was on a
routine run to ferry passengers to Phi Phi islands. The ferry made history by
straying several miles off course and hit Anemone Reef. This ripped a huge hole
in the hull and cause the ship to sink in less than an hour. This unplanned
addition to Anemone Reef create a a decent ship-wreck in Phuket for divers to
explore.
The structure now sits 32 meter under water and attract a high diversity of
marine life. Divers can explore the wreck without artificial light, though not
encouraged, as King Cruiser is well lit by daylight. Divers intend to explore
the interior must be aware of the many sea urchins that made their home there
and the celling structures that are no longer as strong as it used to be.
-
Racha Noi & Racha Yai
Racha Noi & Racha Yai are twin islands lying in the south of Phuket. Almost all
dive centers in Phuket offers a 1 day or 2 days trip to dive in these two
islands.
The dives at Racha Yai are generally simple. This is a good dive site for
beginners as well as divers whom have not been diving for some time to refresh
their skill, water depth range from 3 to 30 meters. The reef is full of blue
and tan staghorn corals with large schools of false barracudas hover over it.
With luck, a diver can be decending right into the middle of a school and
experience the wonder of barracudas surrounding him. On the reef itself, it is
quite common to find cuttlefishes and octopuses.
Racha Noi is a favourite among the more experience divers. The current here are
stronger and water are deeper. Divers here are frequently rewarded with
sighting of blue spotted sting rays. Luckier divers can even chanced upon manta
rays.
|
 |
Best Time to Dive in Koh Phuket
Phuket has 2 seasons, the dry and monsoon seasons. The best time to go is
during the dry season which starts from October and ends May.
Where to Stay in Koh Phuket
Whether you choose to dive in Phuket or use it as a base to diving paradise
nearby, you will be spolit for choices when it come to accomodations. There are
many luxurious resorts, decent hotels and budget accomodations to cater
different travellers.
We have more than 30 hotels offering you rooms with great discount.
For Last Minute Reservation (Lowet Rate Guarantee)
For Hotel Reservation (Best Rate Guarantee for Hot Rate Offers)
See a complete listing of Phuket Hotels and Accommodations
How to Get to Koh Phuket
As shown in our map, Phuket International Airport sit in the northern part of
Phuket Island. The trip from the airport to major tourist beaches takes about
45 minutes. There are taxi and official airport limousine taxi to bring your
from the airport to your hotel. Cost of the trip for taxi is about 500 bahts
and for the limousine taxi is about 650 bahts. Otherwise, travellers can also
take minibuses which will take tourist from airport to the major beaches. Cost
of the ride is about 180 bahts per person.
There are direct flights to Phuket International Airport from Singapore,
Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Osaka. Major airlines offering daily
flights to Phuket include
Other Interesting Dive Sites
|
|