Information
November 11, 2010 |
Phuket is home to a large number of dive companies all of which are equipped to teach you how to dive, further your dive education, hire you equipment, and take you out on dive trips to locations both near and far.
The huge choice of dive companies has resulted in creating a local dive industry which operates under the strictest safety standards and uses the best equipment, facilities, instructors and resources without being overly expensive.
Weather
Located just eight degrees north of the Equator, Phuket’s warm tropical climate is made comfortable by cool easterly breezes during the high season months of November to April and by fresh westerly winds during the wetter summer months or monsoon season.
The weather in Phuket allows for diving to be possible 365 days a year with the best conditions falling during the high season months when diving in the Similan Islands National Marine Park is possible and liveaboard trips become extremely popular.
During the low season months of May to October the weather can be a little wet and windy but Phuket still enjoys plenty of sunshine during these months. If you don’t mind a couple of wet days here and there, the Phuket low season can be a great time to dive in Thailand as there are fewer divers and prices are generally lower.
Of all the islands in Thailand, Phuket is the biggest and certainly the most developed. Widely considered to be one of the world’s premier holiday destinations, Phuket is easily accessible from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore via daily flights and as an AirAsia transport hub is being connected to more Asian cities every year.
Each year, millions of tourists flock to enjoy the beaches, turquoise waters, warm welcome and world class diving making it a great destination for a short dive break or a relaxing holiday.
Local time in Phuket is GMT +7 hours, one hour behind Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
Dive Training
Whether you’re taking your tentative first steps into joining the underwater family by becoming a certified or you’re an experienced diver wishing to learn something new, Phuket is a great place to come to learn.
Ranging from short, introductory level programs which take just a few hours and include a try dive all the way through to professional level programs – divemaster and beyond – there is a full range of options and courses to suit everybody.
The quality of instruction that you receive in Phuket is very high regardless of which certifying agency you use – PADI, SSI, CMAS to name but three – and all first time divers will be made to feel very comfortable when taking their first breaths underwater. For beginner divers, a typical entry level course – PADI open water for example – will take three to four days to complete.
Dive the Andaman Sea
Diving in and around Phuket is conducted in the Andaman Sea. Thailand’s Andaman coast covers some 870km from the Surin Islands on Thailand’s border with Burma where dive sites such as Ricehlieu Reef can be found to Tarutao National Park – the setting of Survivor Thailand – which borders Malaysia to the south.
The hundreds of islands that are dotted around the Andaman are accessible by boat from Phuket. A lot of the islands are uninhabited and are fringed by stunning coral reefs.
Phuket is at the centre of all this and from here you can arrange dive courses, liveaboard trips to the further afield sites and a host of day trips to nearby destinations. The Similan Islands National Marine Park situated to the Northwest of the Pearl of the Andaman is considered one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world. Liveaboards and day trips are all available from Phuket and nearby Khao Lak.
Away from diving, the stunning rock formations to be found at Koh Phi Phi and Krabi should not be missed by visitors to the Andaman region and are easily reached by boat; some dive operators will take you past these incredible natural gems
The famous limestone karsts of Phang Nga bay are another must-see when visiting Phuket. These are best enjoyed on a kayak tour through the mangroves, or by hiring a longtail boat and driver and creating your very own cruise.
A couple of hours north of Phuket on the Thai mainland is Khao Sok National Park where jungle treks can be arranged. For highly experienced tech divers, there is also an opportunity to do some cave diving within the national park but it is a dangerous past time and one that should only be undertaken by divers with all the knowhow, equipment and a fully qualified guide.
Environment
The coral reefs that fringe Phuket and surrounding islands are home to a huge variety of marine life, helping to make the diving in the area very appealing.
The reefs consist of more than 200 types of hard coral and an undetermined number of soft corals which, in turn, offer support and shelter to more than 100 species of reef fish and other macro life.
The warm waters of the Andaman also attract a number of pelagic fish and the dive sites of the Andaman are often frequented by those most majestic of creatures in the form of manta rays and the world’s biggest fish, the whale shark.
The best time to catch a glimpse of these giants of the ocean is between the months of March and May although sightings are possible all year round.
Dive sites such as Hin Daeng, Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock are considered the most likely spots to witness these amazing animals are accessible on day trips or liveaboards from Phuket.
