The Spectacular Diving In Phuket Thailand During " Low Season"

This is a very mis understood time of year for so many people around the world. Yes  phuket thailand is in the tropics and does have a wet season and a dry season rather than summer and winter. The dry season is “high season”.  But low season is not how most people think of it. Yes it is called monsoon season but that does not mean that everyday is driving rain and storm force winds. Just like other parts of the world winter does not mean blizzards everyday. What it really means is that between the end of May and the end of October you may get some rain. This is why diving Phuket during low season is so amazing as we can dive all year round in great conditions. Around phuket scuba diving is blessed with so many islands that no matter what direction the weather comes from there are many dive sites that are well protected.

During the “monsoon season” in phuket thailand yes the Similan Islands are closed but this is as much to do with them being a marine national park as anything and the turtles and the rest of the wildlife need time to breed in peace and generally have a break from the divers and snorkelers who flood the the Similans each year during the season. The similan islands and Surin islands are open from mid October each year until mid May.

The weather for the six months is slightly cooler (which is nice) but still in the 80s during the day and top 60s at night. The main reason for the cooling is it can rain at night which cools everything down. I am not saying its perfect all year round as for sure you can have three or four days of rain during the week. Monsoon season just says that during this time you can have a tropical storm. From November till May the chance of any rain is very remote indeed. During June to October then in a 2 week holiday you will have some sunny days, some rain, some cloud all mixed together but a fair chance of some rain at night.

Mornings are normally the best time of day for the sun and the cloud normally comes in the afternoons making for stunning sunsets. Plus there are many Phuket tours in which the rain actually make for exciting like white water rafting and ATV driving. Ok the tours like James Bond island which you need to use a speed boat for you do need to choose the right day for this. The of course Big game fishing phuket is second to none with different speicies passing through during the different seasons. This applies to the phuket safari tours too as they vary greatly depending on the seasons.

This again is why the diving is fine here all year round as all the phuket scuba diving starts in the mornings and the last dive is normally over three ish in the afternoon with the aim of giving people the best chance of missing the rain. Generally the mountains of Phuket draw the cloud and out on the ocean its sunny. The other good thing with the tropical storm is that on the ocean you can see them coming as make plans to be having lunch inside when the storm comes past and then with luck it will be passed by the time for the next dive.  Or we can just change the order of the dives to fit with avoiding the rain as much as possible.  But as all divers know that when you are under the water it makes no difference other than the rain can wash the salt off you and your gear for you.

For those of us lucky enough to live on phuket thailand all year round we tend to like the off season far more as its quieter, more relaxed,  empty beaches and best of all quiet dive sites. This means we get to see far more as the noise from so many boats and divers from high season are gone. The ocean is quiet again and the more shy creatures come back. The top dive sites are less crowded and the scuba diving in phuket can really be seen at its best. Yes there may be some rain left over in the mornings or rain on the way back. May be you can not sit on the sun deck during lunch break but the quality of the diving more than makes up for that. All the downsides are may be and all the plus sides are certainties. When in phuket scuba diving it really is warm water diving all year round. Monsoon season is not typhoons everyday, its really just island life as normal with a chance of rain.

Low, monsoon or green season in phuket thailand really is a great few months or quiet, relaxation on a warm tropical island with the odd day for shopping, watching a movie or having a massage in the afternoon while the rain passes. This can be a great time of year to come as so many people assume its floods, typhoons and tropical storms everyday. When in reality it could not be further from the truth and at worst its like summer in England.

In the Similan Islands With Thailand Divers

Thailand Divers in the Similan Islands

Amazing time with Thailand Divers on a similan islands liveabaord.

This week in phuket scuba diving is in the Similans with Thailand Divers and it has been amazing. This week at the Similan islands has been perfect. Blue sky, warm water, cool breeze, and so much varied sea life. Scuba diving Thailand has it all. This was the best weeks diving in many a year. Right up and into the Surin islands and richelieu Rock. Awesome. 

From the warm clear waters of the Similan Island national park that produce perfect visability and minimal currents make it a perfect location for divers of all levels. The diving here is so relaxed that no matter where you go after then nothing will compare. Shallow reefs with turtles drifting past, reef sharks up and down, sea horses and sea moths for the macro lovers to the huge Napoleon Wrasse there is something for all on every dive. The similan islands Thailand really deserves its ranking in the top ten diving locations in the world. 

The heading north to Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and a day diving Richelieu rock. Here the water is always warm and although you can get current from time to time its still just easy drift diving. This is the home of the big fish like the Whale shark and the massive Oceanic Manta Ray.

For those of you who dive you can never be disappointed when diving phuket and the similan islands. From newly certified Open water diver to the most experienced. Jumping on a Phuket liveaboard you will be on a trip you will never forget. A similan liveaboard is a trip that dreams are made of. Phuket diving is really one of the top locations in the world as there is more than enough to please everyone. Even if you have never been before there is no better place to experience the underwater world. When in Phuket scuba diving is a must. The best thing is the cost. Amazing boats, amazing food, world class diving and cheaper than a week staying at home. Thanks to Thailand Divers (and others)  scuba diving Phuket is in easy reach of even the smallest budget. Similan island diving is a trip you will always remember and be the bench mark for all liveabaord trips afterwards. 

There are great phuket day trips to the similan islands too for the non divers too. The phuket snorkeling trips to the similans take you to four of the similan islands where you can get to see some stunning reefs, virgin beaches and so much to see it will be by far the best. A trip to the best islands in Thailand will be a highlight of your holiday.

There are lots of other phuket tours to places like James Bond island where there is sightseeing, canoeing as well as snorkeling.  Then Thailand also has some of the best Phuket game fishing tours too. There are many protected ares too that are for diving and snorkeling but just off shore outside in the deeper ares offers some great game fishing area. There are normal fishing day trips and cover trolling, bottom . fishing and snorkeling too. Then there is the Big game fishing phuket trips which is more specialized for going after the really big Fish. 

Also for those that want a break from the beach and ocean trips. Then there are some great phuket safari tours too. The Khao Sok discovery safari trip is a great over night trip. This can be an over night jungle trip or Khao Sok lake safari and is awesome for photography and wold life lovers. Then for a 3 day trip there is a combined jungle and lake combination. There are just so many things to do in phuket that you will never have tome to do everything in one trip.

If you think similan Thailand then you will know you are in for a treat. This will be one of the best locations you will ever visit. 

The Great Diving and NON Diving Tours Of Phuket Thailand

I feel this may be a good time to write a bit about all the great diving Phuket has to offer.

What with all the trouble in the Middle East and all the people who normally dive in the Red Sea now having to look elsewhere to dive. Many are looking to the warm waters of Phuket Thailand to get their diving fix but there are so many choices for those that never travel out of the Red Sea. So many phuket dive centers to choose from. There are so many places to dive, so many dive sites. Where do they choose?? I am not going to say this is best or thats the best as everyone is different and everyone wants something different out of their trip . The beat thing is to listen to other people and what they say. The common consensus is the best islands in Thailand are the Similan islands.

During high season there are so many options for diving in phuket. If you are looking for a liveaboard  then think similan Thailand and you wont go wrong.  From November through to April there are up to  hundred companies from all over the world all claiming the same thing. That they are the best and they are the only company to come to with for scuba diving Thailand. This is the first difference with Thailand Divers. We dont say how good we are. We rely on our customers to tell us about what they think of us. Some say this is a risky plan and it may be if you keep getting bad feedback. In this day and age more people complain  about things than say thank you, or we had a great time. However this has been the policy of Thailand Divers and it has worked for the last 13 years. Thailand divers has been teaching people scuba diving in phuket since 2003. Not only do we run all PADI courses but we also have 3 dive day trip seven days a week 365 days a year. This is rare for resorts offering diving in Thailand.

 Due to the conditions here phuket day trips scuba diving is available here all year round. We teach people from total non swimmers who have never seen the sea before right up to people with 10,000 dives behind them. On top of this we also run liveaboard trips to the Similans from Mid October right through till mid May departing everyday. So no matter when you arrive or depart we have a 1 night, 2 night, 3 night right up to 2 weeks or as many nights as you like departing on the day you want and returning on the day you want.  We also have liveaboard trips during “low season” too to the uninhabited island of Racha Noi. There are so many Thailand islands to choose from but from phuket there are so many options that we can happily dive here all year round. 

All I can do is tell you whats is available and when it is either by e-mail, phone, or live chat on the website.  I can advise you on local weather, conditions and what locations are diving well at the time you will be arriving. I can get you to the best locations for you and your group. But what I can not do is make comments on what our customers say about diving in phuket and about us. I can leave that part up to all of you.

Hi,
I can highly recommend this company for this phuket scuba diving trip. I did the 7 dives over the 2 days with 1 being a night dive.
Firstly a big than you to Simon who I contacted via message/email. Who was very helpful and quick with information and advice on arranging our trip.Next was are transport and pick up via luxury a/c minibus early start 06:30 it was on time, the driver was informative and told us to have a sleep as it was a 1 and 1/2 hour trip to dock area.So my wife was happy to have a sleep for the journey.When we arrived at the docks, we were offered drinks, light snacks and toilet facilities were clean. All of our luggage was taken by the staff the boat/ bus boys, to the fast speed boat.The speed boat was all packed up and we departed for the Similan Islands, about 1 & 1/4 hour journey.We saw Dolphins swimming along side our boat. Great!When we arrived at the large dive boat 3!!We were greeted warmly by the ships crew.The dive instructor was very welcoming and told us about our day with all the information we needed to know.My dive master was George (Spanish) very nice guy. He sorted all our dive equipment out and put it altogether for us.My wife was only on the boat for the day doing 2 dives, her dive master was Sun (Thai) lady and my wife said after she was very helpful and made her feel at ease.The dives were amazing water was warm 28c lots of different and colourful fish to see and made more interesting by our dive masters input and knowledge of the area.The boat dropped us off on our entry point the came to pick us up, lovely the boat boys were helpful in getting us out of the water, quickly and safely. So thank you guys it’s great when my wife gets tired and some one helps you out of the water.The guys on the boat serviced all our scuba tanks so all we had to do was to turn on our air and safety checks, so easy.The food was very good, tasty and hot. (Better than some taverners/ restaurants we visited. All drinks were free and plentiful food was available throughout the day.The toilets/ shower rooms very clean so my wife was happy again.The room I shared was comfortable and warm, plenty of room for two.My only small problem was at the dive centre dock waiting room they had a price list of items to sell. Tee shirt 300thb ect, but when I returned I wanted to purchase one, to be told they don’t sell these items. Only on the boat. My fault I should have asked on board. But how many other people have done the same. Maybe someone on the boat should say that you can buy these on here. Or advertise them on the boat.So I would highly recommend this trip amazing experience well organised throughout .I will recommend to all my friendsThank-you very much for the great memories and lovely adventureWayne & Louise Hubbardhttp://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297930-d1177013-r349568516-Thailand_Divers_Phuket_Scuba_Diving-Patong_Kathu_Phuket.html#

When we get letters, e-mails,  reviews on trip advisor, comments on Facebook, Twitter and the rest like the one above from Louise and Wayne we know we are doing things right. We know that here at Thailand Divers that by listening to the people who come to phuket scuba diving and trust us to organize their day trips phuket trip for them, whether a day trip, Discover Scuba Diving phuket for the total novice, divers and snorkelers together for the day or for a similan islands liveaboard and of course people who want to get their PADI license or next level certification, that we can and are providing the best service. Here at Thailand Divers we know that by listening to both customers and instructors alike how we can get better. That is how Thailand Divers has been doing so well over the last 13 years when so many other  dive centers have come and gone.  So before you book your dive trip just take a quick look at what real people think and all the options that each place has to offer. Have a talk with us on live chat to answers any other questions that you may have. So just see what other people are saying about diving phuket. See what they were doing on their trip and see if thats what you like.

The other thing that makes a top phuket dive shop is that it will cater for groups when some people dive and other dont. Thailand Divers offers great phuket tours for the non divers too.  There is a large selection of  Phuket islands to visit for either just sightseeing or if you are looking for phuket snorkeling trips. 

Then we have some great phuket tours that are land based too. A great place for all nature lovers is a couple of days doing a phuket safari. Just north of phuket Thailand is the Khao Sok national park and this is a great place for nature photographers or for a day or two just to have a break from the crowded beaches. The Khao Sok discovery tour can be a nice overnight jungle safari spending the night in a comfortable bungalow in the jungle. 

This includes a jungle elephant trekking, canoeing, night trekking and swimming in cool waterfall pools. Or a 2 day 1 night lake safari which includes and elephant trekking, bamboo raft safari and exploring the lake system by longtail boat. This really is one of the best things to do in Phuket.

On all tours you are well care for as you are always collected from your phuket hotel and guest house phuket in the morning and returned in time for dinner in the evening.  Then the phuket game fishing trips are something special. From tuna, black marlin, sail fish, barracuda dorado and many more just off shore makes the game fishing phuket has something special. then if you have a good phuket guest house or patong beach hotel there is a good chance they will cook the tuna you catch for you that evening. Normally a good idea to give one to them or the chef as then they can sell it or eat it themselves as a thank you. 

With all this plus so much more available everyday makes phuket Thailand an exceptional holiday destination for all.

Scuba Diving In Phuket is The Best in The World.

AMAZING SCUBA DIVING IN PHUKET. DIVING DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS..

THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT EXPERIENCES THAT YOU CAN HAVE HERE IN PHUKET THAILAND. FROM WORLD CLASS DIVING AND SNORKELING TO  SO MANY AWESOME THINGS TO SEE AND DO. 

THE SIMILAN ISLANDS LIVEABOARD SEASON OPENS UP SOME OF THE WORLDS BEST SCUBA DIVING PHUKET IN THE SIMILAN ISLANDS. THE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN PERFECT AND THE BIG FISH HAVE BEEN THERE IN THERE MASSES. PHUKET SCUBA DIVING IS AMAZING RIGHT NOW AND THE SIMILANS ARE AS GOOD AS IT GETS. 40 METER VIZ EVEN AT 30 METERS. 

FROM KOH BON NORTH UP TO AND INCLUDING A DAY DIVING RICHELIEU ROCK WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS AND WANTING MORE AS THE MANTA RAY AND WHALE SHARKS ARE VERY COMMON THIS YEAR. THE DAY TRIP SITES ARE PRODUCING MORE SIGHTINGS OF BOTH THAN LAST YEAR TOO. THIS WILL BE A GREAT YEAR. THINK SIMILAN THAILAND AND YOU KNOW YOU WILL GET THE BEST  ISLANDS IN THAILAND AND THUS DIVING THERE IS VERY SORT AFTER. 

PHUKET DIVING HAS SOME OF THE BEST DIVE SITES ON EARTH AND THIS TIME OF YEAR FROM NOVEMBER RIGHT THROUGH TILL MID MAY THE SEA IS FLAT, WARM AND FULL OF LIFE. SCUBA DIVING  PHUKET IS PERFECT FOR THE EXPERIENCED AND NOVICE ALIKE. THAILAND DIVERS IS FOR ALL ACTIVITIES AND TOURS BOTH ON AND OFF THE WATER. SIMILAN ISLAND DIVING IS ALWAYS VERY POPULAR AND NOW WITH ALL THE TROUBLES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND ALL THE RED SEA DIVERS ARE NOW HEADING TO ASIA AND AS THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE THAN THE SIMILAN ISLAND NATIONAL PARK THE PLACES ARE GOING VERY FAST. SO TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR  DIVING IN PHUKET THEN ITS WISE TO BOOK EARLY TO BE SURE OF GETTING THE TRIP YOU WANT. 

THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER PHUKET TOURS TOO THAT CAN BE DONE FROM PHUKET THAT DO NOT NEED YOU TO GO DIVING. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PHUKET ISLANDS TO EXPLORE LIKE THE FAMOUS JAMES BOND ISLAND OR THE PHI PHI BAMBOO SNORKELING TOUR.  BOTH OF THESE ARE TWO OF THE BEST  OF THE PHUKET DAY TRIPS. THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES THAT OFFER GREAT SNORKELING IN PHUKET. 

WITH ALL GREAT TOURS THE EXPERIENCE STARTS FROM THE WHOLE HOLIDAY. WE WILL PICK YOU UP FROM YOUR PHUKET HOTEL LOBBY IN THE MORNING AND TAKE YOU TO THE PIER THAT YOUR BOAT WILL BE DEPARTING FROM. THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU WILL BE RETURNED TO YOUR PATONG BEACH HOTEL IN TIME FOR DINNER.  IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE IN PHUKET YOU ARE STAYING AS WE CAN FIND YOUR PHUKET GUEST HOUSE AND COLLECT YOU FROM ALL OVER THE ISLAND. THIS MEANS THAT YOU HAVE THE CHOICE OF ANY OF GUEST HOUSE PHUKET AND STILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE BEST DAY TRIPS PHUKET HAS.

THAILAND ISLANDS OFFER THE PERFECT TROPICAL ISLAND HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS. DIVING IN THAILAND AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER TROPICAL ISLAND TOURS IS WHAT DREAM HOLIDAYS ARE MADE OF. 

Phuket Has The Best Islands In Thailand And The World.

       Phuket Thailand lies in the Andaman ocean just off the west coast of Thailand. Here we have a large collection of islands streching right up into Burma. These include the similan islands, Phi Phi, Surin islands and of course the largest of the phuket islands phuket itself. 

Just a short boat ride off shore, there are some stunning underwater places to explore in phuket thailand. It is the main gateway to the underwater sights that rank up there with the best in the world and depending how much time you want to spend underwater, there are several ways to explore the best of Thailand islands.

Scuba Diving Phuket.
          With as little as one day up your sleeve, you can enjoy three different sites – a huge wall dive,  a wreck, and a reef – and still be back for happy hour. Several boats leave daily from Chalong Bay, and take in three dive sites with the furthest just a couple of hours  cruising. It is cruising as the dive boats here are large and very comfortable. Thailand diving is all about great diving and doing it in comfort and style.They have chefs on board, sun decks, three or more showers plus more deck showers to rinse off after the dive. Power points to charge cameras, shaded eating areas and large saloon.

    The closest is Koh Dok Mai or Flower Island provides a home to many sea creatures.which is also the most characteristic of the region, being a limestone pinnacle that rises steeply from the ocean floor. Underwater it presents as a wall with vertical gutters and crevices and even some caves, home to all sorts of cryptic crevice dwellers. This is normally the last dive of the day when diving phuket as its done on the way back to Phuket.

The King Criuser  wreck is the only real wreck when scuba diving in phuket. This is always the first dive of the day, the wreck King Cruiser is on a sunken car transporter ferry, which is so big you won’t get to see all of it on the one dive. The ferry sank in 1997 after hitting Anemone Reef. The boat is sitting with the top around 17 meters and the bottom at 32m. The wreck is approx 90m long, 30m wide and 15 high. There are a couple more wrecks around that were all places there for the Phuket diving trips but King cruiser is the only real wreck.

    And the reef, called Anemone Reef, for good reason guarantees you some of the cutest Clown fish around.  This is also a good location for Tigertail Seahorses which live on the huge sea fans. There are also a good chance to see Leopard Sharks here too around the base of the reef. this is a great place to go if you have just one day to dive Thailand.

Over the course of the day you could see anything from seahorses to scorpion fish, barracuda to banded coral shrimp, stone fish, sea snakes, many nudibranchs, Ghost pipe fish, painted spiney lobsters, frog fish, Blue spotted sting rays and if lucky the largest fish in the ocean The Whale Shark. this is why this is one of the best of the phuket tours.

     These day boats have all the dive gear you need on board. As well as showers, they provide and serve you  a cooked breakfast, large hot buffet lunch and afternoon tea, plus tea, coffee, drinking water. other soft drinks are available at a very small cost as is ice cold beer for the way back.  So all you really need for the day diving in Thailand is your dive card, sunscreen and swimmers.
If you have three days spare for diving in phuket you will be able to cover the three main day trip locations from Phuket.

Koh Phi Phi. Scuba diving Thailand is very varied but Phi Phi has got to be one of the most well known.  The terrain here is also limestone pinnacles made famous by the movie The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The range of diving is immense, from easy snorkelling in Lana Bay on the north-western tip of Koh Phi Phi, to Bida Nok, which offers a most dramatic marine topography: caves, swim throughs, drop-offs and overhangs.

Keep an eye out for white-collared butterfly fish as well as the many Black tip reef sharks (totally harmless) and Hawks Bill Turtles.
        All around Phi Phi Ley are steep walls and coral bommies with an amazing number and diversity of nudibranchs, as well as the usual colourful reef fish like butterflyfish, coralfish and parrotfish.
Phi Phi can also be done during low season (May - Sept) on an overnight live a board which includes a great night dive. 

MORE THAN THREE DAYS,
       If you have three days or more available, you’d be crazy not to book a similan liveaboard trip and head out to the similan islands and Surin National Parks – about 1.5 hours from Phuket by speed boat or 3 hours cruising on the dive boat.(which is usually done while you sleep). Here you will be spoilt with some of the best diving in the region and the world if you include Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.

   
The similan island diving is so diverse. Here are massive granite boulders, stacked up long ago by some giant god of the sea, to create a playground for fish and divers alike. Mixed in with white sandy bays and shallow reefs teeming with life. Throw in a turtle breeding ground for good measure. Diving in this area you may be lucky enough to see manta rays cruising through, but you’ll certainly find turtles, and some of the biggest giant morays I have ever seen. Mix in the powder-blue surgeons, white collar butterflies and black tail angels and you’re in for a visual feast.

    The pinnacle when diving in the similans, literally, will be Richelieu Rock, a rock so famous it even has its own website. A large, horseshoe-shaped rock, completely submerged, Richelieu is home to everything from the smallest ghost pipefish to hordes of batfish, schools of swirling snapper,  giant cuttlefish and of course the giant Oceanic Manta ray and Whale Shark. This really is the best of the similan islands diving trips and is rated as one of the top ten locations in the world.
 Even three dives on the rock won’t be enough: you’ll be planning your next trip on the way home. This is without a doubt the best diving in Thailand.
For more information on diving in Thailand visit http://www.thailand-divers.com/ and check out a similan islands liveabaord trip. You will not regret it. 

The live a boards have several great options from a one night trip to 10 days or more. The choice is yours. The trips can depart everyday from 15th October till mid May so you can fit the trip to your holiday and not your holiday to fit the trip. The 5 day 4 night trips will get you a full round trip. There is a choice of boats from to be honest very nice  boats and accomadation low cost trips to total luxuary. 5* chefs, state rooms and private charter super yachts. When in phuket scuba diving is a must. You will not find a better place for your first ever experience or if its your 10,000th dive. phuket thailand has stunning sights both above and below the water.

There are many other Phuket day trips to look at too that are not just for diving. Places like James Bond island up in the Phang Nga national park or the phi Phi bamboo . Then there is more to do than just a phuket snorkel tour. There are great phuket game fishing trips too. The warm oceans provides an abundance of tuna, Dorado and other game fish like black marlin and sail fish making game fishing phuket a real great place to fish. 

All these tours are so easy. Just pop into a phuket dive shop and they can advise you on all manor of phuket day trips and tours. From the PADI open water course Phuket or discover scuba diving phuket to elephant trekking , rafting, safari tours and ATV tours. Its all under one roof. Then better still for each tour all you need to do is wait in your Phuket hotel lobby and wait to be collected each morning. Then you have a great day out and then each evening you are returned to your guest house Phuket in time for dinner. All the Phuket guest house and Patong beach hotels are all in nice quiet areas and just a few mins from town center and the beach. this gives a great relaxing location and base to make the most of your time in phuket Thailand.