The map of dive sites of Phuket surroundings for best diving tourism
Dive sites:
Koh Racha Yai
Sometimes called Raja or Raya, it is one of two islands south of Phuket. It is larger than its neighbor Racha Noi. The main beach, on the island's northwestern coast, is Ao Tawan Tok (also known as Ao Bungalow), which is located in a u-shaped bay. The sand here is snow white and has the consistency of talcum powder. There are a few bungalows and restaurants located here although the area is pretty undeveloped. There is electricity for only a few hours in the evening.
If you dive on the east side of the island, you’re likely to catch a light current which will lead you through coral walls. Local residents in the coral gardens and staghorn reef include titan trigger fish, moray eels, cuttlefish, octopi and giant puffer fish. Titan trigger fish are quite mean-looking fish, with beady, swivelling eyes.
There are a few interesting diving spots here including
Lucy’s Reef, where you can find stone fish and lion fish. Here is also resting
“Marla’s Mystery” which is a wreck, now a home for moray eels, groupers and
lion fish.
Depth: 5-20 meters
Duration of the
trip from Chilong – 1.5 hours
Koh Racha Noi
A little to the south of Racha Yai is its smaller twin, Racha Noi. This island is uninhabited and has more rocks than beaches. There is a small bay on its west coast that is a favorite spot for fishing, but apart from diving there is little else to do here.
Two sides of the island, south and north, are under the sea
and full of marine life. The south side of the island has many underwater rocks
like those on Similan islands, but with the superior visibility. It is
common to see lots of hunting barracudas around here. If you dive here in
the right season, there is a chance to see manta rays. In addition, there are a
few smaller bays for less experienced divers.
Depth: 5-35 meters.
Duration of the trip from Chilong – 2 hours
Koh Dok Mai
This small, jungle-covered 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. The name of the island means “the island of flowers”, and it derives from “flowers” which are hidden under water.
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 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 one-day trips to Shark Point and Amemone Reef.
Depth: 5-39 meters.
Duration of the trip from Chilong – 1,5 hours
King Cruiser
On the 4th of May 1997 the 85-meter passenger ferry 'King Cruiser' on a routine run to the Phi-Phi Islands made history by straying several miles off course and hitting the Anemone Reef.
If the Phuket dive scene had been previously lacking in anything it was a decent ship wreck for divers to explore. This unplanned addition to Anemone Reef has become one of the most popular dive sites around Phuket. Not only is the wreck located near an already popular dive site but it is positioned almost perfectly at a depth between 12 and 30 meters.
With its multiple decks and spacious open areas, the King
Cruiser wreck is providing sheltered living quarters for many fish and crabs.
Over time it will become an even better dive site as it takes on a patina of
age and becomes encrusted with a variety of colorful corals.
Depth: 10-32 meters.
Duration of the trip from Chilong – 2 hours
Anemone Reef
This unique dive site is a huge limestone pinnacle that rises 30 meters up from the seafloor to just beneath the surface then abruptly ends and drops back to a bottom of sand and oyster shells. Although not as colorful as Shark Point, this site is famous for its vast fields of sea anemones that cling to every conceivable surface and swing and sway with the current, creating an illusion of it being a giant living rock.
The dive usually starts deep, where it’s possible to meet a
leopard shark on the sandy bottom. Further, swimming around the reef, observing
its inhabitants, among which you’re likely to see moray eels, check out an
extraordinary sight of anemones and bright playful clown fish during your
safety stop.
Depth: 5-35 meters.
Duration of the trip from Chilong – 2 hours
Shark Point
Shark Point is part of a Marine Sanctuary and is deservedly
the most popular of the local dive sites. It is named after docile leopard
sharks that are often found resting on the sandy sea floor here. 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 at least several days exploring the many attractive facets of the site.
Depth: 5-35 meters.
Duration of the trip from Chilong – 2 hours
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