Phuket's West Coast
Though most serious divers will immediately book a longer liveaboard
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 centers 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 Ko Pu
(Ko means "island"). 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 lion fish 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.
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