Near Phuket,
on Thailand's west coast from Ranong down to Krabi
are a large number of excellent dive sites. However, the area
is sometimes tricky and can be difficult during the southwest
monsoon from June to November.
Good sheltered
water is found around the island at all times of the year.
Spear-fishing though not encouraged, is fair to good down to a
depth of some 15m (49ft). Thereafter, coral mostly run out
and give way to a plain, fairly flat, sandy ocean bottom between
18-36m (60-120ft). The reefs are very colorful and picturesque
and are particularly suited for snorkeling and photography.
As Phuket's
popularity among divers of all nationalities has increased, so
has the number of dive sites. Nowadays, regular trips lasting
up to two weeks are made to distant island groups in the Andaman
Sea. Many of them are uninhabited and absolutely pristine,
with dive sites to rival the best in the world .
In Phuket,
half day tours are available to the west coast where a short trip
by motor boat takes the diver to the coral reefs. By far the most
popular tours, however, are the full day trips to the islands
off Phuket's south and eastern coasts. These islands include Ko
Racha, Shark Point, Ko Dok Mai and Phi Phi islands.
Dive Sites
Ko Racha,
to the south of Phuket some 2 hours by motor boat, has dives down
to 30m (98ft) and a visibility range of 20-40m (65-131ft). In
addition to the excellent visibility Racha's' attractions
include huge rock formations, sloping coral reefs and steep drop-offs.
From January to March manta rays and whale sharks
can occasionally be seen, in addition to varied tropical marine
life.
Shark Point
and Ko Dok Mai, approximately 1.5hrs east of Phuket by
motor boat, are beyond doubt two of the most popular dive sites
in the area. Shark Point, a submerged reef, is a favorite
sleeping spot for leopard sharks and sting rays. More daring divers
have been hand feeding moray eels and leopard sharks (not with
the diver's own limbs). The visibility at Shark Point is 10-22m
(33-72ft) with dives down to 25m (82ft).
The island
of Dok Mai offers dives down to 30m (98ft) with visibility
of 10-25m (33-82ft). In addition to a variety of coral this dive
site offers an impressive wall dive and a number of cave dives.
The Phi
Phi Islands (Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lek), some 40km (25mi)
southeast of Phuket and about 2hrs by motor boat, are among the
most beautiful islands in the world. They also have some excellent
dive sites between 10m and 30m (33 and 98ft), with a visibility
of 15m-25m (49-82ft). In particular, the islands offer several
cave dives and many impressive wall dives. In addition
there are many hard and soft corals and an abundant marine life.
In the tropical reefs one can see, among other fish, white tip
sharks, sting rays and moray eels.
