The General Information

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Phuket, a large island in the Indian Ocean, is 867 kms. from Bangkok. It is the only island having provincial status, and was a regional headquarters as well, with a rich and colorful history.

Known as the Pearl of the Andaman, it derived much of its former glory and its enormous wealth from tin production, which in Phuket dates back over 500 year. Today, Phuket is the major tourist attraction of Thailand. The surrounding waters contain much varied  marine life, and the town is notable for its Sino-Portuguese architecture. It is a very attractive island for sightseeing, with lovely seashores and forested hillsides.

Geography

Phuket is the same size as Singapore Island. About 70 percent of Phuket is forested hills. Mai Tha Sip Song is the highest peak on the island, 529 meters above sea level. Low plains form the rest of the area, mainly in the center and south. There are three canals, Khlong Bang Yai, Tha Jin, Khlong Tha Rua, and Khlong Bang Rong, which run through the island.

Surrounded by 32 smaller islands, Phuket occupies 543 square kilometers. The overall length from north to south is 47.8 kms and 21.3 kms from west to east. Phuket connects to the mainland by two bridges, the Sarasin Bridge and Thoa Thep Krasatri Bridge (600 meter, across Pak Phra Channel, bridging Chatchai Landing of Phuket and Tha Nun Landing of Phangnga). To the south and west Phuket adjoins the Andaman Sea, and the Krabi Sea to the East.

Phuket's average temperature is around 28.0 to 29.3 degrees Celsius.

 

Phuket  Dive Sites Information

Spectacular scenery, stunning tropical sunsets and warm blue sea awaits you at Asia's most popular beach destination. This fun island provides an unbeatable combination of perfect silky soft white palm-lined beaches.

There's a lot more to Phuket than just sea, sand and sunshine. The island also boasts a long history, interesting architecture, lively markets, fascinating religious sites and more. Phuket's unique culture is yours to discover. Take an extra day after diving & explore the island.

The best time to visit Phuket is during the cool NE monsoon season, from November through March when it isn't so humid, and the cool breezes keep things comfortable. The average temperature is around 24C to 32C.

Phi Phi Island - While technically located in Krabi waters, Phi Phi is easily reached from Phuket and its powder soft beaches and dramatic limestone cliffs make it a popular excursion for visitors to both provinces. The diving around Phi Phi is not as mind boggling as the Similans or Hin Daeng but it does offer a huge variety of dive experiences concentrated within a small area. Longtail boats abound to take you to sites filled with caves, swim-throughs and coral gardens.

Racha - Located off of Phuket's east coast, the Racha Islands (Racha Yai and Racha Noi) provide excellent diving year round and are particularly suited for beginners. Sometimes called the Raya Islands, and featuring mild currents and shallow depths, these islands are perfect for those who've just finished their certification and are eager to explore the undersea world. The smaller of the islands, Racha Noi, also has some more challenging dive sites for the experienced diver.

Racha Noi is the more isolated of the two islands and is a popular dive-site for more experienced divers, as the depths are generally greater and the currents frequently stronger than at its sister island to the North. You will encounter huge underwater boulders that offer a good chance to see manta rays and whale sharks. The northern tip of the island offers an opportunity for a good multilevel dive along a large pinnacle where spotting larger marine life like Reef Sharks and Stingrays is common.

Off the southern point is a nice drift dive along some spectacular scenery as you find yourself on top of a large rock formation surrounded by deep water. On the southwest side there is a wooden ship-wreck that draws a lot of interesting reef fish. Racha Noi offers many opportunities for an enjoyable and rewarding deep-dive but due to the potential for strong currents here many of the dive shops will only bring divers here who have an advanced certification.

Koh Racha Yai -Not everyone spells the Thai names of the islands the same way Racha is often spelled Rajah and Raya. The Phi-Phi Islands are also spelled Pee-Pee. When reading about local dive-sites It helps to learn a few Thai words Ao means beach, Ko (or Koh) means Island, Hin means Rock, Yai means large, and Noi means small.

Racha Yai offers some of the best local year around dive-sites but the visibility varies as to the season. On the north end of the island are two beautiful little bays famous for their a deep clear water and colorful coral formations.

Both of them have almost swimming pool features as they gradually drop to a depth of 40 feet onto a sandy seabed, providing ample opportunities for both snorkeling and scuba diving. The best diving is off the east coast where the current allows a gentle drift dive along a sloping rocky face that is covered with an amazing array of hard corals and the nutrient rich water draws large schools of tropical fish.

Shark Point - So named for the large numbers of docile leopard sharks that can be found around its base, shark point is a lovely dive site that absolutely teems with life. Fairly strong currents sweep the site's two pinnacles, providing ample food for the large populations of coral that cling to the rocks. Although visibility is sometimes impaired, on a clear day it is one of the most densely packed ecosystems in Phuket.