Dive Sites along the west coast of Phuket

From May to October waves on the beaches make shore diving impossible. Shore dives often have low visibility on silted reefs and you are unlikely to see any large marine life but critters can be spotted and these sites can make a very pleasant morning or afternoon dive. They are perfect sites for a quick refresher dive, for a training dive or for a night dive. 

 

 

Easy slopey reef with hart- and soft corals reachable via longtail from Patong Beach

 

3 pinnacles reachable from Kata Beach via long-tail boat, with big Gorgonian Sea Fans. Start the dive at the sandy bottom and circle your way slowly upwards around and in between the 3 pinnacles. Also have a look in the many small holes and cracks for all sorts of small creatures and critters.15 min north of Kata Noi Beach just outside Karon beach we find Karon Rock. 2 large pinnacles rise up from a depth of 18 m to 5 m under the surface. On the pinnacles grows large fans and soft corals. You can see morays eels, schools of Bengal snapper stingrays and see snakes, but the main attraction is the schools of batfish that is attracted to the rocks.

The island which is just in front of Kata Beach is fringed with fallen rocks; these are larger around the northwest area and are the main feature of the site. The gaps between some of the rocks offer swim-throughs; beneath the rocks are heaps of broken oyster shells, obscure nudibranchs and a few cowrie shells. There are no pelagic or big fish of note, but you are likely to see small school of fusiliers and snappers, moorish idols, squirrelfish and rabbitfish.

Kra Ben reachable from Shore at Kata Noi beach (right of shore from the Kata Thani Beach Resort), you will find blue spotted stingray, parrotfish, nudibranches, sea-needle, rock formation with hart- and soft corals, octopus, lobster and crabs Of the beach of Kata Noi is the reef of Khra Ben. It’s shallow coral garden missed with boulders. You will see soft- and hard coral and sea fans. Lots of parrotfish, clownfish and snappers inhabit the reef, but the main attraction is Blue spotted Stingrays, often more than 10 are seen on a single dive. With an easy access from the dive enter and mild conditions it’s the choice fore then novice diver or if you are looking for a night dive.

Just a few minute from Kata Noi Beach via a traditional long-tail boat, find a reef with a lot of hard and soft corals as well as stone fish, lionfish, Just 10 min. south of Kata Noi Beach is the reef of Laem Fa. It’s mainly a hard coral reef with large table- and brain coral formations. In the shallow art of the reef you will find a beautiful coral garden with Sea Fans, Sea Anemone and Stag horn Corals. Schooling barracuda and Bengal snapper are often seen and under the coral and rock formations hides grouper, sweet lips and moray eels. If you take your time you’ll see nude branches and pipefish.  

 

For more exciting dive experience around scuba diving Phuket Thailand, why not visit on of the dive sites around Phuket:  Dive sites around Phuket on day trips  during one of our amazing Day trip excursions?

 

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