Dive Sites Around Phuket
PHI PHI ISLANDS
The Phi Phi Islands are one of the most dramatically beautiful locations in the world. The scenery from the surface is absolutely stunning; colossal emerald green monoliths rising straight from the sea and soaring to heights of more than 500 meters. Underwater, these towers shape a rugged, interesting environment for scuba divers, and over time the elements have created caves, overhangs, and swim-throughs in the soft limestone rock.
Other dive profiles include vertical walls that plunge from the surface to over 25 meters. On these walls growing in every nook and cranny are found a profusion of soft corals, large orange-colored fans, black corals, and long stringy sea whips. There are several unusual types of coral that can only be found in the waters surrounding the Phi Phi Islands including a one meter high white coral bush that is shaped like a Christmas tree complete with little ornaments.
The Phi Phi Islands offer a remarkable variety of dive sites concentrated in a small area. One of the most popular dive sites is located at the Southern tip of the small island of Ko Bida Nok. In a shallow bay on the Eastern side of the island are found huge gardens of stag horn and star corals and incredible numbers of colorful reef fish. In spite of diving visibility often being limited to 5-20 meters the Phi Phi Islands are likely to remain among the most popular diving locations Southeast Asia.
Other dive profiles include vertical walls that plunge from the surface to over 25 meters. On these walls growing in every nook and cranny are found a profusion of soft corals, large orange-colored fans, black corals, and long stringy sea whips. There are several unusual types of coral that can only be found in the waters surrounding the Phi Phi Islands including a one meter high white coral bush that is shaped like a Christmas tree complete with little ornaments.
The Phi Phi Islands offer a remarkable variety of dive sites concentrated in a small area. One of the most popular dive sites is located at the Southern tip of the small island of Ko Bida Nok. In a shallow bay on the Eastern side of the island are found huge gardens of stag horn and star corals and incredible numbers of colorful reef fish. In spite of diving visibility often being limited to 5-20 meters the Phi Phi Islands are likely to remain among the most popular diving locations Southeast Asia.
Shark Point
Shark Point is part of a marine sanctuary and is justifiably the most popular of the local dive sites. Named after the docile leopard sharks that are often encountered resting on the sandy seafloor here. The official Thai name for this site is Hin Musang or 'Shark Rock'. Approaching from the sea Shark Point appears as a tiny rock outcropping of no particular interest but beneath the surface lies a vast multicolored reef teeming with marine life.
The main attraction here, in addition to sharks and vast schools of tropical fish are the colorful soft corals and sea fans that decorate this huge limestone pinnacle. The reef can be broken into three main sections and most divers could spend several days at least exploring the many interesting facets of the site which is arguably the most popular of all the local day-diving sites. Currents can be brisk at this site but they tend run parallel to the reef sections and allow for an excellent drift dive back to the dive boat.
The main attraction here, in addition to sharks and vast schools of tropical fish are the colorful soft corals and sea fans that decorate this huge limestone pinnacle. The reef can be broken into three main sections and most divers could spend several days at least exploring the many interesting facets of the site which is arguably the most popular of all the local day-diving sites. Currents can be brisk at this site but they tend run parallel to the reef sections and allow for an excellent drift dive back to the dive boat.
Anemone Reef
Anemone Reef or Hin Jom (Submerged Rock) lies just underwater, about 600 meters to the north of Shark Point. As the Thai name makes clear, no part of the pinnacle is exposed, and underwater the rock drops off more dramatically to a depth of between 20-27 meters until reaching a bottom of sand and oyster shells. Anemone Reef gets its name from the mass of gorgeous blue and green colored anemones that cover this huge lime-stone pinnacle.
It is as colourful as Shark Point and the fish life here is excellent as well. Leopard sharks often are seen free-swimming at the top of the rock in six meters of water.
It is as colourful as Shark Point and the fish life here is excellent as well. Leopard sharks often are seen free-swimming at the top of the rock in six meters of water.
Koh Doc Mai
This small, jungle topped island is located on the way to Shark Point from Phuket and is considered one of the best wall dives in the area. Doc Mai is a huge limestone rock that rises steeply out of the sea. On three sides the sheer walls occupied with a different creature in every nook and cranny drop straight down to the sea floor.
The west side is a gently sloping hard coral reef with an abundance of colorful sea life decorating its underwater cliffs. This dive is noted for its variety of reef fish and an opportunity to view some of the resident moray eels.
The east-side of the island is a virtual garden of yellow tube corals and you can explore some of the small caves along the base of the wall. This is a fairly short dive as you can easily swim around the entire island, and it is included on many on day-trips to Shark Point and Amemone Reef.
Learn about dive sites in Racha Yai and Racha Noi Island.
The west side is a gently sloping hard coral reef with an abundance of colorful sea life decorating its underwater cliffs. This dive is noted for its variety of reef fish and an opportunity to view some of the resident moray eels.
The east-side of the island is a virtual garden of yellow tube corals and you can explore some of the small caves along the base of the wall. This is a fairly short dive as you can easily swim around the entire island, and it is included on many on day-trips to Shark Point and Amemone Reef.
Learn about dive sites in Racha Yai and Racha Noi Island.