Phuket - An Amazing Destination for Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is one of the top reasons why visitors come to the island of Phuket. This area is an excellent jump off point for visiting the world-class dive sites of Thailand. Here are some locations you might want to visit while there:

•    Koh Doc Mai – This limestone island looks a little bit like a muffin. It has a garden of soft and hard corals and is ideal for all levels of divers. The current can be moderate to high, and visibility is up to 15 meters. You can spot octopuses, sharks, moray eels, and tropical fishes in Koh Doc Mai.

•    Racha Islands – To the south of Phuket lies Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi. Both granite islands have hard and soft corals and usually have moderate currents. These islands are suitable for beginners. Scuba divers can usually find moray eels, stingrays, turtles, and tropical underwater. If you are a little apprehensive of diving or are with non-divers, Racha Islands are also ideal for snorkeling.

•    Anemone Reef – Its name Hin Jom translates to Submerged Rock. This limestone pinnacle is ideal for beginners to advanced divers. Some of the sea life you can spot include schools of lionfish and clownfish.

•    Richelieu Rock – If you want to spot some manta rays and whale sharks, this is the place to go. Only advanced divers are allowed to go to Richelieu Rock as the current is usually high.

If you are going to Phuket, book with a PADI dive center beforehand to get the best advices and prices. When intending to visit during high or peak seasons, you need to book your diving course way in advance because slots run out. Those who are looking to enjoy the full-on experience of visiting Phuket can also try a liveaboard package. Don’t forget to complete your PADI diving course for a better and safer experience.

Things to Consider When Choosing Scuba Diving Courses in Phuket

With the high demand for diving courses increasing in Phuket, dozens of PADI dive centers have set up shop in and around the island. If you are looking for a scuba diving course for your next vacation, here are some factors you need to consider:

·         Scuba Diving Level – Are you a beginner, a novice, or an experienced diver? No matter what your level is, it’s important to choose the scuba diving course accordingly. If you sign up for a scuba diving course that is beneath your level, you might get bored. If you choose a course that is way too advanced for you, however, you might not be able to keep up, or have a fun underwater.

·         Instructors – You also have to take into account who will be teaching you when you choose a diving course. Aside from being fully qualified to teach scuba diving courses, the instructor should be highly experienced and knowledgeable about the dive sites in Phuket. Even the most seasoned scuba divers can experience troubles underwater if they are diving in new dive spots and environments.

·         The diving center – You also need to take into account the PADI dive center where the scuba diving course is being offered. Check out the services offered as well as the on-site facilities and logistics. For beginners, it can be helpful if the PADI dive center has its own and private dive pool. Check if the dive center is accredited. Some of the best ones have earned awards and are 5 Star PADI dive center.

·         Pricing – Most dive package prices are in the same ballpark. What you have to consider is the quality of service as well as inclusions. For example, will your scuba diving course already include the price of air tanks, gears, water transportation?  Also, keep in mind that scuba diving involves classroom courses. You have to sit down for a class before you put on your scuba gear.  Make sure the package includes this as well.

Experience Tremendous Fun with Scuba Diving Courses in Phuket

According to statistics, more than 29 million tourists visited Thailand in 2015. This number is estimated to reach 100 million in the next two decades, and 40% are expected to go to Phuket. It’s easy to see why. After all, Phuket is one of the most exciting diving spots in the world. It is home to rich marine life, coral reefs, and even a boat wreck now inhabited by sea creatures. Consider a scuba diving course for your trip in Phuket. Here are some PADI diving courses in Phuket you might consider:

·         PADI Discover Suba Diving – This type of scuba diving course is ideal for visitors who simply want try out scuba diving in the sea. You can try this with your kids as long as they’re at least 10 years old. Dives will last for about 35 to 45 minutes and a professional PADI Instructor will take care of you.

·         PADI Open water Diver – This is the first step to becoming a scuba diver. An open water course will usually be comprised of three phases, including classes for knowledge development and training at a private swimming pool to help gain confidence. You will get to dive in famous Phuket dive sites like Kata Reef and the Racha islands.

·         PADI Advanced Open Water Diver – If you are ready to take things to the next level, an advanced open water diver course will allow you to visit even more wonderful diving locations in Phuket.

·         PADI Rescue Dive Course – Diving is usually just about you enjoying the excellent marine life and the sea. If you take the rescue dive course, you are able to further your diving education. It’s not just about fun anymore but also function. You will learn to how rescue and act during emergencies.

·         PADI Go Pro – If you think that diving might be a career path for you, it’s time to go pro. This type, of course, is for divers who are looking to become dive masters and PADI instructors.

Gain Revitalizing Experiences at Different Diving Destinations of Thailand

The Andaman Sea offers itself to scuba divers of every skill level. This part of Thailand has some of the best scuba diving destinations in the country, if not the world, among the most sought after of which are the Red and Purple Rocks (Hin Daeng and Hin Muang dive sites), which offer world-class dive spots that deserve to be in every diving enthusiast's top 10 dive sites to take on. Apart from these locations, other amazing sites to target include the Surin and Similan Islands.

October through early May or April is the best times to visit the Andaman Sea. If you want to catch a glimpse of giant manta rays and whale sharks, they arrive at the Similans between the months of January and April. However, heavy rainfall usually hits in May, starting at the West Coast. Heavy downpours usually continue until September, during which the East of the country is a better option for diving. Here, the best diving is found in Koh Tao, but you may want to avoid the crowds during peak months.

Thailand is known for its crystal clear waters. The average sea temperature is a relatively comfortable 28 degrees, which is good for most divers. Because many of the dive sites around Thailand are considered national treasures, Thai authorities are very strict in protecting their natural environment, particularly the coral reefs, even closing dive sites when necessary. They have strict control over their Marine National Parks, which is also why these places have retained their beauty and diversity throughout the centuries.

The maximum dive depth in marine parks is 40 meters and as a rule, no diver may do more than four dives per day. Across Thailand are a total of 26 marine parks, 16 of which can be found in the Andaman Sea, while the remainder can be found in the Gulf of Siam.

Scuba Diving In Phuket: Best Diving Destination in Thailand

Phuket is an excellent departure destination to dive sites that can rival other dive sites around the world. It boasts an extraordinarily rich marine life, thanks to the proper environmental care enforced by the Thai government. Many diving professionals and enthusiasts can easily access Phuket via affordable direct flights. What’s more, divers can come any time as Phuket boasts year-round scuba diving.

There are plenty of diving areas in Phuket that can suit people with different diving levels. If you want to encounter manta rays, head to Koh Bon, which is part of the Similan Islands National marine park. To see harlequin shrimps, seahorses, and schools of colorful fishes, travel to Richelieu Rock. This rock formation is shaped like a horse shoe that provides shelter to marine animals. Another dive spot for dainty fish is the Boonsung wreck - a nursery for marine life. If you want to see something amazing, dive to Koh Racha, which is home to Siam Bay’s underwater statues. You can find giant statues of mythological Thailand guardian demons, yaks, and elephants encrusted with corals. Another “man-made” wonder you can see under the sea is the King Cruiser. This ferry, which sank off Phuket in the 90’s, has become an artificial reef.

Phuket Island has plenty of natural wonders that can take days and months to explore. If you are going on a diving excursion, make sure to book with a reputable diving school or dive tour provider. Make sure that it is certified by PADI. If it is your first time to dive, don’t worry. PADI dive schools offer intensive courses by elite instructors. If you are a little nervous of diving into the sea, make sure the dive center you go to offers a pool for practice dives. This allows you to go diving in a controlled environment so you can gain enough confidence before finally splashing into the underwater wonders of Phuket, Thailand.

Phuket Scuba Diving Courses: The Lighthouse in the World of Diving

Considered as one of South Asia’s best diving destinations, Phuket attracts millions of visitors each year. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a professional diver as there is always a dive spot for every skill level. Some of the major dive areas in Phuket include the west coast, Koh Raya, Tarutao group, Ko Phi-Phi, Koh Doc Mai, and the cluster of King Cruiser Wreck, Anemone Reef, and Shark Pont.

Due to the popularity of diving in Phuket, there are many diving schools in the area. Find a diving school that is certified by PADI as a 5 Star dive center. It is important that the diving school adheres to strict rules and regulations so you will be safe during your trip. If you are a little nervous about diving directly into the sea, don’t worry. Diving schools in Phuket offer courses where you take classes and do practice dives in swimming pools. Elite PADI instructors can do more than just teach you how to dive - they also include lessons on safety and what to do if certain events arise while you are at sea. They also open your eyes about the environmental issues of the area.

Phuket has a diverse marine ecosystem, and it is kept that way because the establishments here follow the strict rules and regulations imposed by the Thai government. PADI Diving schools usually join environmental programs to protect sea life.

Once you find a diving school that can offer the PADI course that you need and follows the highest requirements for training, check if it offers packages. There are schools that can simply offer daytrip dives and beginner’s courses while others can offer excellent dive trips and even Liveaboards diving. Some can even provide luxury trips where you can go as you please on a private yacht. All dive boats should have a qualified and well trained crew.

Similan Islands Liveaboard: Cloud Nine for Diving Aficionados

One of the top 10 dive destinations in the world, the Similan Islands can be found just about 100 km northwest of Phuket. The region was declared a National Park in 1982 and has since been well protected to preserve its natural beauty. The Similan Island group is comprised of 9 granite islands, running north to south, along with numerous smaller rock outcroppings, white sand virgin beaches, and a tropical garden above water. These collectively create spectacular dive sites with crystal clear warm waters below the surface of the sea.

Liveaboards to the Similans run seven months per year, between mid-October and early May. From May to end of September, Similan islands are closed for diving, snorkeling or any tourist activities in order to allow to marine life to recover and preserve the extraordinary beauty of Similan Islands. Diving varies from magnificently dizzying landscapes to gently sloping coral reefs and deep rocky gorges. East coast dive sites are hard coral reef dives although soft corals also exist. The area also boasts an abundance of marine life. Diving here is relaxed, with weak to moderate currents.

West coast sites, on the other hand, are a little more challenging because of their depths and the complex currents. The area is known for its submarine rock formations and huge granite boulders. Advanced divers will also enjoy giant sea-fan corals and exciting swim-through. This unique mixture of dive sites is exactly what makes diving cruises to Similan Islands the best experience for diving aficionados who find the undersea endlessly fascinating.

Other famous dive sites that you should consider visiting include the East of Eden, the Elephant Head, Christmas Point and the world famous Richelieu Rock. These dive sites open to a world of underwater caves, huge boulders, eerie narrow passages, and over 500 species of soft and hard corals inhabited by an incredible variety of marine life, ranging from guitar rays to leopard sharks, manta rays, turtles, and whale sharks, all waiting to be explored. For underwater photographers, the Similan Islands are also a paradise for muck and macro photography.