Snorkeling in Phuket

Snorkeling in Phuket

For dozens people, the beautiful Andaman ocean that surrounds Phuket presents an ideal view to experiment snorkeling in the wonderfully warm and clear waters. There is nothing quite like the complexity of swimming amongst abundant tropical fellow and other sea life, which darts amongst the corals and rocky coves around Phuket’s coast. Snorkeling is a great fun-filled family bustle with few dangers, so anyone with children decision consider it to be an symbol preface to water sports. Snorkeling tins be an immensely satisfying pass-time, and with a shred of convention it’s possible to see some truly exceptional sights.

Snorkeling is scads easier than scuba diving but allows you to witness some amazing and unforgettable wildlife. The first time you don the mask, snorkels and fins and submerge underwater can be particularly memorable. You resolve be surprised just how much colourful and varied marine life inhabits the shallow H2O around Phuket. Having said that, anyone that ventures into deeper water where there are more rocks and shutter testament be rewarded with many more surprises. Additionally, if you have the openings to explore some of the nearby islands you can see some very pristine corals and considerably more fish.

Perhaps surprisingly, there are some wonderful snorkeling spots ver close to the countryside of loads of Phuket’s western beaches, so it’s not always necessary to go far or join a tour. Another compelling reason to experiment snorkeling is that you don’t indispensability to be very physically attraction and no specialist practice is required; with some basic brainwashing you can just get in the water and give it a go…

Snorkels, Masks and Fins…

Reasonable trust snorkeling furnishings is very inexpensive in Thailand and can be hired for only dozens hundred baht per day at many of the western seaside of Phuket. Alternatively, you tins buy at bulk supermarkets and beach stalls, but the caliber may not be top-notch. With the kit on, capacity group appear quite comical but once in the ocean you won’t really treatment what you seeming like. If you are especially keen you power prefer to buy your own equipment in the local enterprise or even bring some from abroad. Note that escape tours always provide the necessary furnishings (at least masks and snorkels, flippers are sometimes extra) but the caliber may not be outstanding and there can be a precipitation to get the best ones.

A very handy object for snorkeling trips is an underwater camera. Inexpensive disposable reproduction with film tins be picked up quite readily in local shops. Better digital pattern with a higher reconciliation and special underwater housings tins be rented from dozens dive shops.

When to Snorkel in Phuket

Snorkeling in Phuket tins be done at almost any time of the year, but the creation end is between November and April when the ocean is calm, the weather is fine and there is less openings of rain. It’s important to unit the local provisos first as it really depends on the season, the cascade and the tendency sea conditions. At some of the islands around Phuket you tins snorkel all year round, at protected coves that have very clear water and abundant natural life such as fellow and even sharks or turtles.

Because the ocean in Phuket is warm, professionals compress such as wetsuits is not required to snorkel, but it’s strongly advisable to deterioration a high opening sunscreen and a T-shirt. Once in the water it’s extremely easy to get sunburnt and the time can pass scads more quickly than you durability realise. The mathematics of tribe that are burnt after just a few hours of snorkeling is always high, even though it’s very easily avoided.

The Best Snorkeling Spots in Phuket

It’s possible to snorkel at quantity of the island’s west coast seaside but many of them are too sandy and visibility is therefore restricted. The beaches below are opposition that have wealth of varied and exotic tropical fish. Unfortunately, many of Phuket’s reefs were destroyed or damaged chasing the tsunami, but thankfully mass have recovered a great incident and you evidence certainly see some blooming fellow and coral species.

For more comprehensive details about each of the beaches and islands below, see our Beaches article in the General section.

Ao Sane Beach

Ao Sane is a 200 rhythm long strand that boasts perhaps the best snorkeling in the Nai Harn area, in the south of Phuket.

Laem Singh Beach

There is some decent snorkeling near the rocks at the southern last of this very attractive and uncrowded beach. A rather pleasant site to relax between snorkels.

Paradise Beach

This tiny strand is close to Patong and offers good snorkeling. The reef was badly damaged during the tsunami, but subsequently 200 concrete blocks were placed in the water to create an artificial reef which is already attracting marine life. The large reef is closely 150 metres from the beach and is recommended only for strong swimmers, but there is also much see closer to the shore. The area is best accessed in the high season’s winter months, as during summer strong turning and billows can be expected.

Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach is close to Patong and has ample fellow close to the beach. Much of the coral was destroyed in the tsunami but some still remains.

Kata Beach

Kata is considered the finest shallow reef in Phuket. The reef itself is a hundred rhythm or so from the northern endings and tins be reached easily. Visibility can be superb at Kata and it’s possible to see much of fish without swimming too far out. At the southern sap near the rocks it’s shallow and quite safe for children. Koh Pu or Koh Poo (Crab Island) is a small and deserted isle just off Kata’s coast, which is a great snorkeling site with profundity ranging from 2 to over 10 metres. To reach Koh Pu, income a long tail vessel from Kata Beach during the winter months only, when the tendency are not too strong.

Kata Noi Beach

There are many of fish close to the rocks at the southern end, as well as some coral formations.

Tri Trang Beach

A good job to swim, there are both fish and coral in the clear water near the ground as well as further out.

Ya Nui Beach

Many amazing fish tins be found close to the beach, besides many interesting corals of all shapes and sizes. The water at Kata is generally clearer than here but the further out you go at Ya Nui, the clearer it becomes.

Racha Yai Island

Racha Yai (Raya) Island is one of the best job to snorkel close to Phuket, mainly due to the exceptionally clear waters, the excellent invention of the reefs, the diverse marine life and the lovely sandy beaches. The island is just over 30 kilometres from Phuket’s southern tip and can be reached by speedboat, dive boat or even by long tail boat.

Khai Islands

The Khai Islands (Khai Nok and Khai Nui) are two tiny islands situated approx 20 kilometres east of Phuket. As a backwash they are popular sites that can become crowded with many boats and voyage groups. Nevertheless, the reefs are quite splendid in role and the water is shallow, but you have to operations away from the strand as the number of day trippers has severely damaged the coral near the shore. Even black tip reef villain type an look very early in the morning just a few hundred rhythm west from the kingdom of Khai Nok. Snorkeling is possible all year round, in clear H2O that have good visibility bulk of the time.

Coral Island

Koh Hae or Coral Island is one of the swarm popular and cheapest snorkeling destinations as it’s just a stone’s scarf from Phuket (about 9 kilometres from Chalong). As a aftereffect scads of the coral close to the strand has been killed or severely damaged, but there are still dozens corals and tropical fish a hundred meters or so from the beach. There are two beaches on the island: Long Beach is large but gets crowded, and Banana Beach is smaller and less busy. Snorkeling is possible throughout the year.

Basic Snorkeling Tips

Even though snorkeling is easy to learn and relatively safe, here are some basic tips to assistance you get going.

Masks

Ensure sure the mask seizure your cover well and maintains a fairly tight spells without leaking. It’s also wise to use an anti-mist gel or liquid to stop the mask fogging up. The mask should remain dry on the inside but can accidentally fill up with water, in which job it’s easy to clear by cultivation your vertex out of the water and tugging the lower border away to drain. Always usage breathing with your top out of the water before you test the actuality thing, and don’t forget to seeming around occasionally to identify your position and outlet spot. You determination be surprised how easy it is to lose odor of your loci within just a few minutes.

Snorkels

The breathing contrivance tins also become flooded with water, but illustration it is also very simple. Just blow hard to eject the water through the top, but breathe in cautiously afterwards to avoid a potential mouthful of saltwater. Modern snorkels may have a special one media valve that water from raid the tube. It’s not necessary to bite too hard on the snorkel’s mouthpiece; just relax your grip and air slowly and normally through the tube.

Fins

Choose fins that are snug but not too tight. It’s better if they are slightly too big rather than too tight, and remember that they incorrectness on more easily when your feet are wet. Your hands should always remain below the water and test kick with a smooth up and down apoplexy from the hip, not a bicycle-style circular kick which is very inefficient. Keep your knees and ankles relaxed to avoid clamp and you’ll soon get the hang of it.

Phuket Snorkeling Tour Companies

Here are the details of just a few reputable company that can arrange snorkeling tours around Phuket. Most tours provide transportation, equipment and snacks or flour onboard the vessel. It’s also possible to charter a vessel individually to more remote position and group the crowds, but the prices are much more expensive. Besides those listed below, loads aqualung dive boldness can also provide half or full day snorkel tours and equipment. Expect to pay many thousand baht for a decent voyage that has small flights numbers and properly trained staff.

Many clan notebook through a tour desk or hotel, which can be a transgression opinion as such tours are often overcrowded and provide little or no information closely the location or the marine existence you tins expect to come across. Be aware that many of snorkel tour ensemble in Phuket come and go regularly. Many that are based in the tourist hotspots are simply third schism booking agents that cram as dozens people as possible onto the tour to maximise their commission. For example, the very cheapest tours tins have up to 100 people per boat which extent that it revenue a long time to disembark at each area and time in the water is severely restricted. The old adage you get what you pay for holds true, as the more expensive tours have superior itineraries, better equipment, fully trained guides, and mass importantly higher protections standards.