It is easy to see why this jungle hearted island, encircled by sweeping beaches has become the most popular beach destination in Thailand. Getting this, the largest island, is now so very easy with direct flights from Europe and other Asian destinations as well as multiple daily flights from Bangkok. Holiday makers also arrive by the causeway linking the island to the mainland, so coaches and minibuses will take you from any other location south of Bangkok to Phuket. The only transport that is missing is the train but many Thailand tours will transfer you by train to Surat Thani then a coach onwards to Phuket if its budget you are after.

I have traveled by coach from Bangkok to Phuket and would say if you can afford it try and avoid this. It’s a very long journey, some 16 hours in total although advertised as 12 hours, even with its many stops and when you finally arrive in Phuket your first day may be catching up on lost sleep. As a diver though any form of road travel allows you an extra days diving, with the flying-diving restrictions, but its best to work this out as the journey time of the bus may also waste a day.

Finding a dive company to take you diving will be no problem here. Phuket has the biggest number of dive centers in Thailand but that does not mean that are all good, in fact with that many about I would say if you’re not careful you will end up with a poor one. Like everything else I suggest you do your research before you arrive and check out some companies web sites. Location is not really a problem as all dive centers will pick up and drop off at your hotel.

Hotel Locations

Patong is the largest beach destination on the island and has hundreds of hotels and guest houses at a variety of prices. Hotels on the beach front or soi’s running off the beach are prime location and as such can demand high prices. Rat-U-Thit Rd runs parallel with the beach road and will get very busy in the evening with traffic, stalls and restaurant markets setting up. A variety of cheap accommodation will be found here but there is also the higher 3-4 star places. My personal choice of hotel in Patong is the Deevana Resort & Spa at the north end of Rat-U-Thit Rd. It’s close enough to all the action of Patong but far enough away that at night it’s quiet. Nanai Rd runs parallel with the other 2 but is set further back so requires transport to the beach. It offers splendid views of Patong as some hotels are set in the hillside.

Karon beach is a very long stretch of white sand with many hotels along most of it. With this number of hotel rooms is can be easier to get a one with a sea view that wont break to bank to do so and it may also be the place to go when Patong fills up. Cheap taxi’s make Patong accessible but you will find plenty of bars and restaurant in north and south ends of Karon beach, so you don’t really need to go anywhere for your evening entertainment. The southern end of the beach has some rock outcrops that can provide a nice day snorkeling just off the beach.

Kata is largely dominated by Club Med, but there are a few other hotels in the area now, many of which have direct beach access. That is to say you can go straight onto the beach from reception without crossing any roads, unlike most other hotels in Phuket. This area is a fast up and coming destination now with many restaurant and bars to keep you suitable watered and feed during your holiday. The rocky outcrops at the north and south tips of this beach offer some nice snorkeling options for those in between dive days.

Other Beach Destinations. With so much beach surrounding this island there are many destinations to Phuket and the 3 I have outlined above are only the main ones in terms of popularity and choice of hotels. Other places you may want to consider include Rawai beach, Kamala beach, Surin beach, Phuket Town and Chalong Bay amongst others.

It all seems to be happening in Phuket this summer. It’s not long since I was talking about the scuba party in Patong and now for water lovers, all be it surface water lovers, there’s a surfing competition being held in Kalim bay on the island of Phuket.

the Monsoon Riders event at Kalim Beach is the first of the three international surfing competitions that will be held this year in the Phuket area of Thailand. The second event, named The King of the Jungle will be held at Kamala Beach from 14-16 August, and the third and final event will be the Island Crown at Kata Beach from 4-6 September. (src)

Kalim Beach is situated just north of Patong Beach, and although a beautiful long strip of white sand. it isn’t the best beach in Phuket for children. Exposed to the western winds this beach does get strong currents often but if you find it on a good day it is a wonderful place to spend some time. It has some wonderful coral heads just off the shore so on the good days you could spend it snorkeling from the beach.

From June to September large storms in the Indian Ocean can generate enough swell to create surfable waves up to 6 feet in height. According to Phuket Boardriders President Chanin “Joob” Aiyarak, “Already this early in the season we’ve had some very good days of surf, and so we are very confident that over this three day period we’ll have waves that will give the competitors in all divisions great conditions in which to compete.”(src)

This is yet another reason to visit Thailand and Phuket especially during the “Green Season”, with bargains to be had from Phuket hotels, biker festivals, blues festivals, scuba parties and surfing competition it would seem now that the summer is the best time to visit Phuket.

If anyone happens to be on holiday in Thailand and visiting Phuket with the aim to do some scuba diving you would be advised to check out a company called Scuba Cat. It is their 2 year anniversary of new ownership on the 1st June and is promising parties but more importantly discounts on scuba trips.

Scuba Cat has 2 liveaboard boats the MV Scuba Cat and the MV Scuba Adventure, both of which drop divers on the coral of the Similan Islands, off the west coast of Thailand. One unique feature of the MV Scuba Cat is that it stays out in the waters up and down the Similan Islands and you are transferred to and from it by a speed boat from Tap Lamu. This reduces your sailing time to the sites on your 1st day and home again on your last, keeping your premium dive time to a maximum and not wasted travelling. Transfers occur on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only so a little planning is required if you don’t want to stay in any hotels in Phuket or Khao Lak.

Unlike the MV Scuba Cat the MV Scuba Adventure travels a little further north and visits Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai. It also has some trip dates the visit the southern dive sites of Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Ha and the dive sites around Phi Phi Island, Koh Bida Nok and Koh Bida Nai. The MV Scuba Adventure is a travelling boat so you will most likely join this off Patong beach and travel over night to your chosen destination and the travel back again at the end.

Both the Scuba Cat liveabaord boats still operate during the summer season just not in the Similan Islands which become un-divable, almost, during June to October each year. MV Scuba Cat is moored at Racha Yai just south of Phuket, and the MV Scuba Adventure travels to the more sheltered dive sites around Phi Phi Racha Yai and Racha Noi.

If you’re lucky enough to be on holiday in Thailand during June make sure you stop by Scuba Cat and see what the party’s like and take them up on some of their offers. Just because it’s the green season doesn’t mean you don’t have to bee diving still!