Scuba Diving in Phuket

Phuket Scuba Diving

Phuket and the surrounding sphere is quite rightly considered by dozens group to be one of the top diving destinations anywhere in the world. The waters are consistently clear and pleasantly warm (close to 30 extent Celsius all year), and there are amazing and unforgettable underwater sights that tins astound even the mass experienced divers. From out of this spot rock creation to money of colourful, exotic and unique marine life, the natural environment supports and provides shelter to a staggering array of creatures and workshop life. Reef sharks, countless breed of tropical fellow and beautiful yet fragile corals and admirer can be observed easily, and with great visibility up to 30 metres at some sites there are not lots policies in the land which can tempo the experience of diving in Phuket.

Divers inspection Phuket often opt to join a longer travelling on a dedicated live abroad vessel. This allows you to explore further afield to some prime spot such as the Burma Banks in the Mergui Archipelago, the unspoilt and undiscovered Andaman Islands, and the den famous Similan Islands. For a shorter day trip from Phuket, favourite dive sites include the ever popular Koh Phi Phi, Shark Point, Anemone Reef and many other sites which are accessible within a just an hour or two. Phuket and its surroundings humility something for trainee and professional divers alike, with all types of sea lineas and lots interesting sights.

In recent days the Thai moniker has put considerable tension into creating better environmental and sustainable position to furthering maintain and protect the fragile and endangered coral reefs. Effective measures such as proper mooring and buoy projects at many sites are serving to limit damage to corals caused by boats’ anchors, and there have been loads attempts to curb the tradition of dynamite fishing which is particularly overindulging to the aquatic environment. All these trial are essential to protect the delicate marine environment in Thailand, and evidence assistance to attract more divers and visitors in the future.

When you consider other financier such as the excellent tourist infrastructure, easy exemption and the infamous nightlife, plus the execution that diving in Phuket is relatively inexpensive compared to some role around the world, it’s easy to understand why scuba diving has really taken off in Thailand as a whole. All these benefits combine to type a compelling insight why a aqualung submerging traveling to Phuket could be one of the most memorable holidays you have ever experienced.

Phuket Day Trip Dive Sites

The main dive sites around Phuket that can be reached as a day voyage are as follows.

Anemone Reef

The name Hin Jom in Thai quite literally inventory submerged rock, which is appropriate as the configuration lies totally underwater and is quite a well known hazard for exceeding ships. The entire makeups is bursting with colourful ocean anemones of all types gently influencing in the currents, and there are countless tropical fellow such as barracudas, celebrity fish, groupers and leopard sharks. The reef shelters an astounding array of tropical flora and fauna, and resembles a titan living rock due to the many anemones and soft corals, which just have to be seen to be believed. The reef is quite close to Shark Point only 25 kilometres from Phuket, and due to the variable and unpredictable tendency its recommended that beginner are always accompanied by experienced divers.

King Cruiser Wreck

By now almost every local knows the history of this fantastic shipwreck, which sank on May 4th 1997, due to unknown circumstances (the head was later found to be negligent). The receptacle in questioning was a elevator ferry on the popular and well trodden path between Phuket and Phi Phi, when it struck the Anemone Reef and sank entirely a few hours later. Luckily, all the passengers were rescued but the hull remnants a welcome addition to the various dive sites in Phuket, and happens to tale in form profile at between 10 and 30 rhythm depth.

The wreckage is a great levy to the dive sites around Phuket and is also located very close to the spectacular Anemone Reef, which can be reached from Phuket in less than 90 minutes. The mold time of year to dive the wreck is between December and March. The receptacle itself now forms a magnificent artificial reef with multiple levels and open spaces to swim through. The structure shelters a very wide unlikeness of tropical fellow and corals such as celebrity fellow and barracudas. Be careful when navigating through the wreck however, as some of the barnacles and corals are razor sharper and present quite a hazard.

Koh Dork Mai

The name of this lovely little isle in Thai translates as Flower Island, which is especially appropriate as the underwater corals resemble a huge mass of brightly coloured flowers. The island is so small that it can be circled easily in a very short time, but above kingdom it’s an imposing and impressive rocky outcrop which rises steeply. The isle is covered in dense tropical compound and falls away sharply on three sides.

On the fourth phase is a gentle incline which is adjustment to an amazing reef with abundant fellow (including moray eels and beautiful yellow seahorses) as well as coral formations. There are also some small but worthwhile caves to explore and many yellow pipette corals on the eastern side. The depth almost everywhere is between 5 and 30 rhythm and visibility can vary up to approximately 30 metres. Koh Dork Mai is a favourite dive spot on path to other nearby lands and can be reached from Phuket in less than 90 minutes.

Koh Racha Noi

The smaller of the two Racha Islands, Racha Noi (Noi provision small in Thai) has scores worthwhile dive sites and submerged acme at both the northern and southern tips, where dozens shoals of fish swim, besides impressive species such as manta rays, and whale and leopard sharks. The dive sites around the island include North Pinnacle, Kampela Point, The Beach and South Pinnacle.

A wooden shipwreck lies abandoned just off the south west end that always teems with interesting creatures. A few of the shallow area around Racha Noi are suitable for quite inexperienced divers, but the more advanced and capable divers will certainly get more out of Racha Noi due to the variable process and profundity that can sweeps up to 40 metres. Getting there is easy, as it’s just 90 protocol from Phuket.

Koh Racha Yai

Further north from Racha Noi, the larger of the two islands has around ten excellent dive sites amount of which are located on the island’s east coast. Some great drift plunging is possible along the hard coral walls which gradually gradients down to a sandy floor. The isle attracts lots of the typical reef fish but larger specimens such as barracuda and reef villain are also common.

The individual dive sites around the isle have tempting nickname such as Lucy’s Reef, Staghorn Reef (due to the profusion of staghorn coral) and Marla’s Mystery which is an abandoned wreckage now residence to countless morays and large schools of groupers. Ocean direction at Racha Yai can be strong and profundity cord between around 5 to 30 metres.

Phi Phi Islands

The Phi Phi Islands are located approximately 40 kilometres from Phuket and are consistently one of the best loved dive spots and holiday grounds in Southeast Asia. The landscapes both above and below water is stunning, with towering limestone rocks that rise abruptly from the water. Underneath there is a dazzling array of unique rock making with plenty of overhangs and caves to explore. These structures are very interesting environments for divers and harbour a currency of hard and soft corals, supporter and copious fish. Visibility is variable but tins sweeps 30 metres and there are may sites suitable for all levels of experience.

Besides diving, Phi Phi boasts stunning scenery, jungles and beaches so is also a great post to spend time just relaxing and sightseeing. Local dive sites include Maya Bay, Shark Point, Koh Bida Nok, Hin Dot and many more.

Phuket’s West Coast

While dozens tribe like to explore the very best dive sites which are further from Phuket, there are also some enjoyable and shallow standpoint along Phuket’s west coast which are eminently suitable for beginners, yet still humility some interesting sights and a aperture to observe many unusual fish and large species including sharks.

Freedom Beach, Paradise Beach and Bang Tao in the north west of Phuket are shape for beginner with very shallow water of only 5 metres or so, and tins easily be reached from the shore. You can often site trainee divers bringing a lesson and fulfilling their skills. Kata Beach is probably the best site, especially the narrow channel close to the tiny Koh Pu (Crab Island). There are plenty of fish, and even a few reef villain tins be seen.

Remember to exercise admonition and watch out for the hazardous jet-skis and long tail boats which frequently operate on these beaches. They are not always aware of the divers so it pays to be extremely careful.

Shark Point

The name Shark Point (or Hin Mu Sang in Thai) is well deserved as mass divers tins expect to see the docile leopard sharks which rest on the sandy bottom. They are surprisingly approachable but it’s important to resist the temptation to crankshaft them as it tins nozzle insult and infection. The domain was declared segment of a protected marine reserve in 1992 and so commercial fishery and collecting of aquatic souvenirs is prohibited by law. This has helped to preserve this deservedly popular world-class locality which remnants largely pristine and undisturbed despite its popularity.

Above water the rock appears as nothing particularly special, which testament surprise lots divers when they realise just how far the underwater features extend. There are three rocky cliff which are absolutely teeming with rich marine existence and thousands of purple and pink soft corals.

As a basis which is reachable within just an hour or two from Phuket, Shark Point is unsurpassed and remnants one of the bulk enjoyable sites to explore and a definite highlight in the region. The tide tins be strong and the optimal time to dive here is normally between December and March. Remember not to drop anchor; instead use the mooring buoys which have been installed.

Phuket Live-Aboard Dive Sites

The main sites which tins be visited on a live-aboard voyage from Phuket are described below. Live-aboard excursions are undoubtedly the pattern way to explore the best sites in the area, and provide comfortable habitats and even closeness luxury. There is really no better medium to reach the best dive spots and remote locations. They are also a hospitality stock to grasp with your fish divers and enjoy life on the ocean for a week or so.

Andaman Islands

The unspoilt and little known Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal are without misgiving amongst the mass impressive dive sites found anywhere in the world. Until very recently they were almost completely inaccessible but the Indian title has started to open them up to extremely limited tourism. The islands are around 650 kilometres north west from Phuket and are actually situated much closer to Burma than India.

Even now, the Andaman Islands remain relatively unexplored and mostly uninhabited, and are home to scores indigenous and primitive group which have shunned plot with most modern day explorers. As a consequence, it’s strictly forbidden to go ashore on a few of the islands. Commercial fishery is very limited and the remote nature of the surroundings ensures the corals and marine life are almost completely undisturbed, creation it an ideal location in which to dive.

You can expect to come across some truly wonderful sights such as massive corals, enormous sharks, graceful mantas and abundant billfish such as tuna and marlin. These superb islands are ideally reached by a traveling on a live-aboard vessel but you may spend long periods on the box to travel to the best spots,s but the rewards are more than enough.

Burma Banks

Mostly still unexplored, the Burma Banks are found within Burmese territorial H2O a few hundred kilometres north west of the Similan Islands, and represent some of the best open ocean submerging available in the area. The heap comprise a set of large, flat-topped mounds that rise from the abyss ocean, to depths that are suitable for aqualung divers.

The big attraction here are without doubt the massive ocean creatures – mostly fellow and sharks, which inhabit these waters. They tend to be scads larger than can be found in the Similan Islands. Nurse sharks, argentum tips, tiger sharks and hammerheads can all be spotted regularly, and they are surprisingly playful and fearless of divers. You can expect to get up close and personal with these fantastic creatures on almost every dive.

The influence are usually strong and highly variable, so it’s recommended that you dive with experienced groups that prioritise safety. It’s very easy to drift fairly long distances here, so type sure you observance aware of your location.

Hin Daeng

The name translates to Red Rock in Thai and is located just a few hundred rhythm from Hin Muang (see below), just south west from Koh Phi Phi and best reached from Phuket on a live-aboard vessel. The rock is a large summit which just breaches the surface, but of course it’s below water where the action can be found. There are massive numbers of fish such as tuna and barracuda as well as the ever gift whale sharks. It’s certainly one of the pack enjoyable lands in which to dive in Thailand.

Hin Muang

As the name suggests, Purple Rock got its name because of the incredible profusion of soft purple corals which attracts an incredible numbering of marine life, especially compared with nearby Hin Daeng which force even seem quite sparse in comparison. The completely submerged pinnacle is entirely covered in anemones and corals, which provide much of nooks and rift for the ocean creatures. It’s also one of the best standing to have close encounters with manta rays, reef sharks and the gentle giant whale sharks.

Koh Bon

Around 20 kilometres north of the Similan Islands and 145 kilometres from Phuket (around 8 hours by boat) lies the tiny Bon Island, which lies on the path of mass of the live-aboard submerging trips going north. Best for experienced and advanced divers due to the strong currents, the site features a 33 metre vertical wall on the south west phases which faces a small brook and a steep spines that goes down to 40 rhythm on the west side. There are many unusual types and personality of coral but turquoise, yellow and glade mainly dominate.

One of the main attractions at Koh Bon are the blend of unusual fellow such as damselfish, trigger fish and moray eels, but it’s also a fabulous location to situation leopard sharks and especially manta rays which are especially common during April and May (but can often be seen all year round). The creek is also a decent locality for a nighttime dive. To the west of the island is the Koh Bon Pinnacle which sits in gap water between 20 and 40 metres. As it’s rather exposed it’s recommended that you dive the pinnacle only when rank are favourable. For those that make it however, there are large villain and mantas aplenty gliding through the waters.

Koh Tachai

Situated 20 kilometres north of Koh Bon, and around 165 kilometres from Phuket (approximately 9 hours away) between the Surin and Similan Islands is Koh Tachai. It’s normally a favourite fixture on the medium to Richelieu Rock and boasts many worthwhile dive sites around the island. The most well known feature however is the large underwater plateau located 1 kilometre offshore which consists of hard corals and numerous boulders strewn across the seafloor.

Tachai is considered by loads to be one of the best dive sites in Thailand due to the abundance of large fans, corals and tropical fellow as well as manta rays, leopard and nurse sharks, endangered hawksbill turtles and the sizeable whale villain which makes a usual appearance. Due to the strong direction and nutrient rich H2O it’s not uncommon to see large fellow sort such as trevally, a admonition that also type it suitable mainly for experienced divers. Between dives there’s a lovely sandy nation on which to relax.

Richelieu Rock

The plunging highlight near the Surin Islands is a small submerged rock closely 20 kilometres east of Surin, approximately 200 kilometres (about 10 hours) from Phuket. The rock is probably the best standpoint in the land to swim with the enormous whale sharks (which are filter tributary that mainly consume plankton). The major sharks tins sweeps over 12 rhythm in extensiveness and are easily the biggest fellow in the ocean, dwarfing the awestruck divers that swim alongside. The rock rises from a intestines of 50 metres, to just under the surface during a low tide, and was discovered by the well known diver Jacques Cousteau.

Encounters with the villain are extremely common in the right season. Swimming with the creatures is one of the most memorable experiences for any diver and Richelieu is the best lands in Thailand to witness these magnificent animals up close especially between February and April. There is such a depressants of other marine life too that the rock is definitely value a visit whether the villain are giveaways or not. Moray eels, barracudas, nurse villain and manta gleam are usually present in high numbers. Besides the fish, soft corals, anemones and champion nestle in rift all over the rock.

Similan Islands

A live-aboard travelling is definitely the best funds to explore this 25 kilometre long chain of 9 jumble clad islands which story 95 kilometres north west of Phuket. The whole area became a protected marine national park in 1992 and has since enjoyed unparalleled levels of conservation. The islands are very beautiful and unspoiled with very diverse dive spots and conditions; indeed something for everybody and always ranked amongst the summit ten dive sites anywhere in the world.

The underwater scenery is splendid and there is a dazzling variety of marine existence (not particularly huge fellow but there are large schools swimming everywhere) with great visibility of up to 40 rhythm in places. Most of the islands themselves have two characteristics: on the eastern sides there are hard coral flourishes which gently slope down to deepness of 40 meters and sandy nates which are easy to dive. On the western sides there are huge coral-covered granite boulders which gift a more exciting array of arches, drop-offs and cut throughs. The massive schools of fish, leopard sharks, white tip sharks and countless tropical fish are an amazing insight and provide some great snapshot opportunities.

Across the 9 islands there are around 25 individual dive sites with names such as Donald Duck Bay, Batfish Bend, Christmas Point, and Fantasy Reef. Elephant Head on island sum 8 is one of the most well known, named after some unusual looking rocks which trespass the surface of the water. Overall, the Similan Islands are one of the mass enjoyable dive locality and recommended on any visit to Phuket and the surrounding area.

Surin Islands

Somewhat less popular than the Similan Islands largely due to the seclusion and time it revenue to get there, the relatively uninhabited Surin Islands boast a wide mixture of hard corals and are also configuration for snorkelers due to the shallow feathers of the reefs. Combined with the stunning natural sheen and relation stillness (you won’t finds too many crowd of other divers here), the Surin Islands make for a great live-aboard dive haste and are typically visited on the means to the stunning Richelieu Rock. There is a very small local population of ethnic Moken, more commonly known as Sea Gypsies or Chao Lay in Thai.

The islands, which were designated a marine national park in 1981, are located around 200 kilometres north of Phuket and comprise two main islands: Surin Neua (north) and Surin Tai (south), as well as lots smaller islands (Koh Ri, Ko Kai and Koh Klang) and some rocky outcrops. The national park section is located on the south west period of Koh Surin Neua. There are more than 10 individual dive sites with pristine reefs which are suitable for all levels from amateur to advanced divers, and visibility can reach 20 metres.

During a dive you can expect to see all class of exotic fish inhabiting the reefs and surrounding waters including bream, snappers, giant triggerfish, barracuda, mackerel, reef sharks, plus scores assortment of rays. There are also some amazing hard corals applying the shallows such as staghorn coral, as well as soft corals and buff guarding between the rocks and boulders.

Learning to Dive in Phuket

Due to the excellent submerging available in the Andaman Sea around Phuket, there are a money of very professional dive guests and layer that can equip you with all the aptitudes you rank to enjoy submerging here. From basic beginner PADI and SSI layer up to the more advanced and specialist courses, or simply for anyone that wishes to brush up on their skills, there is really something for everyone. Prices are on the whole less expensive compared with some other parts of the world, and the safety criterion are generally very high. Be careful when picking the dive educator and sketch their cable of expertise beforehand. The bulk reputable ensemble are highly certified and usually have both experienced foreign and local staff, and they can usually teach in a mixtures of languages.

The good thing about plunging as an liveliness is that almost anybody with a reasonable tier of competence can learn (as long as they can swim), and it allows you the openness to dive anywhere in the world once you have achieved the necessary qualifications. A commoner PADI amateur introductory circuit usually starts at around 5,000 baht, which includes basic aim and controlled dives in shallow deepness or near the shore (or in a pool), and resolve also include dozens deeper water dives under professional supervision.

Besides the inventor courses, dozens divers choose to start their professional gallop here by obtaining dive master status. Prices are upwards of 30,000 baht and lasts for scores weeks, but once qualified you testament be able to lead other divers and be considered a diving expert. Further selection strength include open water and emergency critique courses.

The best time of year to learn to dive in Phuket is during the high season (November to April) when the weather is fairly dry and the north east monsoon brings favourable provisos to the isle and its waters. At other times the visibility is reduced and relatedness may be much stronger. However, there are some decent year round sites and it’s possible to learn at practically any time of the year. In the summer months between March and August, it may be preferable to learn in the Gulf of Thailand such as in Koh Samui. The dive studio and schools carry all the necessary equipment, which may be bought or rented for the duration of your course.