Phuket's
West Coast Diving, Thailand
Phuket
Dive Sites
Phuket's West Coast
By John Williams - Photos by Ashley
J. Boyd
| Reef
type: |
Coral
gardens, rocky points, boulders |
| Access: |
1/2
day trips through dive centres |
| Visibility: |
Average
to poor |
| Current: |
Variable,
sometimes strong |
| Coral: |
Good
varieties of hard corals |
| Fish: |
Good,
but not the best spots for fish |
| Highlights: |
Unusual
fish life, easy to get to areas. Good for beginners |
|
Though most serious divers will immediately book a longer live-aboard
boat to the Similans and beyond when contemplating a Thai diving
holiday, Phuket does offer some fine day trips and shorter overnight
cruises to its west coast and offshore islands. One and two tank
half-day and full day diving excursions are available through most
of the dive centres in both Patong and Kata, as well as from some
of the new hotels in the Bang Tao area near the airport.
Phuket's west coast offers casual diving, usually from a local
long tail boat. Although not the easiest of boats to dive from,
they do have the advantage of being able to pull right up to the
beach and, are relatively inexpensive to hire. It is also what you
might call a "cultural experience" to take a short trip in one.
 |
Some of the dive areas off the west coast include Patong Bay, Freedom
Beach, Paradise Beach, Bang Tao, Kata Beach, and Koh Pu. All of
these spots are popular training areas and actually do offer some
pleasant, easy diving, although Phuket's offshore areas are much
better. One of the best areas is right off the beach in Kata, where
the coral reef parallels the bay's northern rocky point. Averaging
a depth of only five or six meters, the amount of marine life surprises
the most seasoned diver. I've seen all sorts of unusual fish here
including ghost pipe fish, dragon wrasses, crocodile fish, and sea
robins. I've also had lionfish swim up to diving classes and peer
into each student's individual mask as if looking for an explanation.
Expect the unexpected on Phuket's west coast.
Source: Siam Dive n' Sail
121/9 Patak Road, Mu 4, Karon, 83100 Phuket, Thailand
Tel: 66-76/330-967 Fax: 66-76/330-990
E-mail: info@siamdivers.com
|
