Discover the Magical Creatures of Phuket’s Waters: Night Diving - Bioluminescence

The world is filled with incredible creatures, many of which remain unknown to most people. Beneath the waves, in the warm tropical waters of Thailand, there exist fascinating marine life forms that seem almost too extraordinary to be real.

One such creature is the see-through cardinalfish, a species that has developed a unique survival mechanism intertwined with the lives of tiny, glowing crustaceans known as ostracods. This isn’t some mutant fish or a magical marine wizard (although it certainly feels that way). The cardinalfish, despite its ghostly appearance, faces a daily battle for survival in the predator-filled waters of the Similan Islands.

Nature’s Fireworks Display: The Cardinalfish & Ostracods

The cardinalfish, like many marine species, feeds on plankton. However, in its pursuit of a meal, it occasionally swallows ostracods by accident. For these tiny crustaceans, digestion is not an option—they’ve evolved a remarkable defence mechanism: bioluminescence. When swallowed, they light up like tiny underwater fireworks. Since the cardinalfish is transparent, this sudden glow makes it a beacon for predators, turning the hunter into the hunted. In a desperate bid to avoid becoming a glowing target, the cardinalfish spits out the illuminated ostracod, allowing both creatures to survive another day.

This evolutionary arms race is a fascinating example of nature’s ingenuity. The cardinalfish likely evolved its translucency as a means of camouflage, a way to avoid detection in the water. But the ostracods’ ability to emit light has turned this adaptation into a vulnerability, rendering the fish’s invisibility completely useless in certain situations. Millions of years of evolution have resulted in this extraordinary natural phenomenon, a testament to the endless adaptations species make in their quest for survival.

Witness This Phenomenon While Diving in the Similan Islands

If you’re an avid scuba diver or simply curious about marine life, the Similan Islands are one of the best places to experience this magical display. A Similan Islands liveaboard trip offers the perfect opportunity to embark on night dives, where you’ll not only encounter unusual creatures but also witness the breathtaking bioluminescent spectacle of glowing plankton swirling around your fins.

While I’ve yet to personally witness the cardinalfish spitting out glowing ostracods in the Similan Islands, knowing that this phenomenon exists gives divers something new to search for. Who knows? You might be one of the lucky few to witness this incredible display firsthand!

Scuba Diving in Phuket: A World of Wonders

Phuket is not just about its stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife—it’s also a top-tier diving destination. If you’re already a diver, be sure to add a night dive to your itinerary. During the day, these tiny creatures remain nearly invisible, but under the cover of darkness, the ocean reveals its most mesmerising secrets.

For those new to scuba diving, Phuket offers numerous dive centres, such as Thailand Divers, where you can take your first steps into this incredible underwater world. You can start with a Discover Scuba Diving experience and, if you’re hooked (which you likely will be), continue to complete your PADI Open Water Course. With world-class dive sites just a boat ride away from your Phuket hotel, diving here is an unforgettable experience.

Game Fishing in Phuket: A Different Kind of Adventure

If diving isn’t your thing, Phuket offers plenty of other marine adventures, including game fishing. While you probably won’t catch any bioluminescent cardinalfish, you’ll have a great chance at reeling in big game fish such as tuna, barracuda, marlin, and sailfish. Many Phuket game fishing boats are fully equipped to handle these powerful fish, making for an adrenaline-pumping day on the water.

The Ultimate Marine Adventure Awaits in Phuket

Phuket is truly a magical place, offering a mix of adventure, natural wonders, and breathtaking marine life. Whether you’re night diving in the Similan Islands, marvelling at bioluminescent creatures, or heading out for a game fishing expedition, there’s always something extraordinary waiting beneath the surface. So pack your bags, book your Similan Islands Snorkeling safari, and get ready to experience the wonders of the Andaman Sea like never before!

Great Opening for Thailand Divers New Bar " Mermaids Bar"

Last night (12th may 2017) will go down in history as the day Thailand Divers great chill out bar opened.  Yes Phuket Thailand has a top new bar. Mermaids Bar.

The bar officially opened its doors yesterday to welcome all divers and non divers alike. The bar itself is chilled out with soft music inside and a quiet terrace to sit on, watch the world go by and chat to whoever you choose. So when you come back after your Phuket tours whether diving, snorkeling or any of the hundreds of Phuket day trips available then this is a perfect location to sit down and relax and decide what to do tomorrow.

The friendly staff can not only take your order for drinks but also advise you and get you booked on any tour you choose for the next day. No more wandering around looking for a place to relax in and then worrying about leaving just as you get settled to make plans for the next day. Just call the waitress and ask whats good to drink and which of the Phuket islands is a good place to go the next day.

If you want to Discover Scuba diving phuket is an ideal location to have a go. Then being part of Thailand Divers you can get all the help and advice right there as well. This applies to any PADI dive courses phuket is great for just about all warm water diving. Thailand divers is one of the premier dive centers phuket has and has been teaching people to dive for 15 years. Plus if you are already a certified divers then why not just spend a pleasent day scuba diving phuket. All can be booked up while ordering you drinks.

The bar itself in nicely decorated in warm rustic feel with a great beach / sunset feature wall makes everyday a perfect day for a cocktail at sunset no matter what the weather is doing outside or what time of day it really is. The prices are very good for a busy holiday resort compared to many other bars around. This truly is a great place to spend the evenings as there is never a rush and you do not need to go anywhere else as the bar staff can get your whole holiday planned for you while you just sit back with a Mai Tai or Margarita and enjoy your holiday.

If you are looking to go on one of the great similans trips either snorkeling or diving ( season is 15th October till 15th May) then as many trips depart in the afternoon then here at Thailand Divers Mermaids bar you can just walk in, sit down and order yourself a well deserved drink, look at when the next similan islands liveaboard trips departs and you can be off on a similan islands liveaboard that very afternoon. Holidays do not get better than that.

Diving and snorkeling not your thing?? No worries. Phuket game fishing is some of the best in the world to and many people come each year just to try to tangle with a Sailfish or Black Marlin. At the very least you should go home with a nice Tuna for your tea. Plus James Bond island or Phi Phi are always very popular places to see. Then if you want a day or two away from the beach there are plenty of land based trips too. ATV tours,  White water rafting, or Phuket city tour, Elephant trekking and for the photographers then there are some great Phuket safari tours.

 Day trips, overnight trips into the Khao Sok national park where you can do a river / lake safari or jungle safari spending the night in a bungalow in a jungle clearing or on the banks of the lake. OR a 3 day Khao Sok safari taking in both the jungles and lakes. this really is a photographers dream trip.  All of this is so simple. Just ask the waitress. Then you are collected the following day from your phuket hotel in the morning and returned that evening. if you are traveling around then its also possible to return you to another guest house phuket after the trip.

What ever you plans for you holiday to Phuket Thailand then you need to make a stop in Mermaids Bar to get the latest information and all the best tours and Phuket day trips all in one place. The chances are that once you discover Mermaids bar then you will be using their services to plan and book the next days trips and excursions as you go while sitting back, watching the sunset and generally enjoying life. Holidays do not get better than this.

Escape From The Masses This High Season. Dive Great New Sites You Will Not Have Been To Before.

Here at Thailand Divers in Phuket Thailand are very proud to have so many loyal customers who return year after year. This does not only show how great Phuket scuba diving is but the expertise of our instructors.

The scuba diving Thailand has to offer is some of the best there is and Phuket Thailand has some of the best there is anywhere. There are many places to go diving Phuket as there are many dive centres all doing the same thing. These are the popular sites all that have great diving. The down side is during the peak times these sites can get a bit busy. This is where the skill of the instructors comes in. When you go scuba diving phuket with any instructor you will have an ok days diving. But you go diving with a great instructor you will have a great days diving no matter what the weather or number of other divers there are.

The other option that we here at Thailand Divers are looking to do is when you come to Phuket diving is to introduce them to totally new dive locations that are not being used by the masses. Places that are known by the local fishermen or dive sites long forgotten. Scuba diving in Thailand is a special trip for all and we aim to provide the best there is. Now we have special trips for experienced divers running every week. This way you can dive in exceptional dive sites without going to the similan islands as there are places that offer this level of diving close to Phuket but with out the masses you get on the Similan islands liveabaords.

Yes the similans are great diving and thee is no better place for a liveabaord than the similan islands Thailand as they cover such a large area you can have a week there experiencing the similan islands diving. But they are a very long way to go for a day trip. Here in phuket with the right phuket dive shop you can find this quality of diving right on your doorstep. Thailand Divers can pick you up from you patong beach hotel and have you diving in such great places while you can still smell the breakfast coffee.

We now not only offer the best diving and instructors but we also can offer you the best patong guesthouse or patong hotel  in the same place as the best diving. Yes we now are offering places to stay too. Places that are quiet, stylish, very well priced with quality well above the price to. All close to the town centre. Our guesthouse Patong will really be a perfect oasis and a great place to relax after a days diving.

Check out the specials both diving on and off the water as if you want the best diving with the best guides and on the best locations then Phuket Thailand with Thailand Divers is all you need. Think Similans Thailand then think Thailand Divers as no matter how many times you have been diving in Phuket we can always get you somewhere new.

Thailand Divers Is Now Your One Stop For Everything You Need For A Top Holiday To Phuket Thailand

This year with Thailand Divers we have totally expended our services. These days we do not only offer the best scuba diving Phuket has as we have done for the last fifteen years.  We still offer all PADI courses with the best Phuket diving instructors on the island as well as day trips to all the best locations for certified divers.

We still run both day trips and liveabaords out to the Similan islands everyday of the high season. The similans are open for six months each year from mid October till mid May.  The similan islands national park offers scuba divers and snorkelers some of the best diving on the planet.  Clear water and such a huge abundance of marine life that can keep even the most seasoned diver happy.  A similan islands liveabaord can be a quick over night trip to a massive ten day diving adventure.

One of the new things on the program this year is the fact that we can now do the open water course on a similan island liveabaord. The open water similan trip starts with the class room session in the morning and pool session in the afternoon. Then that very evening you board a boat heading out in to the tropical sunset for a three day trip that on return will have you as a full certified open water divers.  Think scuba diving, think similan Thailand and you will have the best possible diving location to complete your open water course.

Then as we have always done we have a vast collection of non diving tours. Just pop in to Thailand divers phuket dive shop and you can book all the trips and tours you will want to do like James Bond island] or Phi Phi Bamboo snorkelling tour.

 We are always updating what available from over night safari trips into the Khao Sok national park to sunset dinner cruises or horse riding on the pristine white beaches. ATV driving, white water rafting, canoeing, Zip lines and Phuket city tours.

Now we have covered all the diving options and over twenty other tours that can keep everyone busy for weeks on end. The last thing that we get asked week in week out is where is a good place to stay.  Patong beach hotels vary such a lot both in what people want and expect. Here at Thailand Divers we do listen to all out customers and have found a small selection that offer clean, comfortable quality places to stay without paying top prices. All our patong hotel choices are very well priced for the quality of hotel.

When looking for a guest house Patong most of our customers looks for friendly service close enough to the bars, restaurants and shopping but far enough away to get a good nights sleep ready for the next days diving.  Our Phuket hotel selection will complete the holiday experience. The best diving, the best tours, the best Patong guest house prices and all with the best staff. Thailand Divers no really is your one stop shop for your holiday to Phuket Thailand.

DISCOVER SCUBA DIVING in Phuket WITH THAILAND DIVERS 

For those people who want to Discover Scuba Phuket is the ideal location. The sea is so warm and clear that even the most nervous person forgets their fears as there is so much to see under the water. In Phuket diving is made easy and so much fun. You dont even need to be able to swim to take part in this program as it is not a license course. We teach you the basics, some safety skills and the safety theory then take you into the tropical waters with an expert instructor. The key is the instructor. When you learn to dive in Phuket  with Thailand Divers you can be sure of getting a top instructor and not a gap year student doing something fun or a high season worker. They must be a career instructor who knows the dive sites and how to make the day safe and fun. For teaching then the more experience the better and as all Thailand Divers instructors are experienced career instructors then you can be sure of always getting the best. This latest review says it all.

“Simply Amazing!”  5 of 5 stars

I had contacted Thailand Divers through Facebook prior to our holiday & they were really helpful! They gave me all the info I needed as a first time diver & were really easy to talk to! My girlfriend & I chose to do 3 dives at Phi Phi & when we arrived at the pier we were instantly greeted by our amazing instructor. He took us to the boat where we had a short briefing about discover scuba (as i said, we were first time divers) before getting some food before our first dive. Once we were in the water & learning all the basic techniques and skills that we needed to know. My Girlfriend was unable to do the skills at first & began freaking out saying she couldn’t do it, but the instructor reassured her that she could. He took the extra time needed making sure she was comfortable in the water & even if we didn’t have as much time to actually dive down on our first dive, it didn’t matter. What mattered was the fact that the instructor patient with us the whole time while we were learning the skills  let us learn at our own pace so that we could enjoy the process of it all. Once we got to our second dive we were much more confident & spent most of the dive under water getting down to our 12 meter limit. I cant put it into words how amazing & serene it is watching all the fish, turtles, & other marine life just swimming & watching how they live under there. Its really something you have to experience for yourself. Overall we had an amazing day & seen so much marine life, we seen 3 turtles, 2 black tip reef sharks, an eel and a huge variety of fish! Wish we could do it again already! highly recommend this company to everyone!! Thanks again for the amazing day guys!!

The best possible way to decide which dive center to use when you want to learn to dive in Phuket is to look online at what other people think. Every dive shop Phuket has many, can all say they are the best. But what counts is what the people who dive with us think. So have a check on Trip advisor and have a chat with the dive center in person as all the good ones have a live chat function on their website. This way you can get a feel for the quality on the center by what they are asking you rather than just trying to get your money.  There are a few very good dive centers in Phuket Thailand.

So when you are thinking of things to do in Phuket then there is no better place to discover the underwater world than Phuket Thailand.  Scuba diving in Phuket  with the best makes all the difference. Thailand Divers only uses experienced instructors then you will be sure to get the best instructors and training when diving in Phuket.

Amazing New Jelly Fish Found. Surely One of The Most Beautiful Creatures on Earth

The great thing with scuba diving in phuket or anywhere in the world come to that is the fact so much of the ocean is undiscovered. Each year thousands of people come to places like phuket scuba diving for their annual warm water diving fix. Some go to places like the similan islands on a liveaboard so they can spend 2-8 days diving to maximize their time underwater. Places like  diving richelieu rock are listed by National Geographic as one of the top 10 location in the world so it only goes the quality of the diving all around the area. The diving around phuket thailand is some of the best there is.


As divers we know that two thirds of the planet is covered in water and of that we have explored only the very smallest amount. Every time we enter the water we can see totally new creatures. All we need to do is to know whats new and whats not. There are places like james bond island that lie just north of phuket thailand that has many tourists everyday. These places still have much to explore as there are so many islands in the area and so many and all the tours go to the same places. Another example is bamboo island which people go to for great snorkeling as part of a say trip to Phi Phi island tour. Even at places like these we here at Thailand Divers with our instructors are still finding fish that we have never seen before and cant be found in any books.





Then imagine what its like to be one of those who really are exploring unknown waters. The latest type of jelly fish found really could be mistaken for alien life. This creature lives 2.3 miles below the surface in a place that is so dark that very few living things will ever see it.Its been found in the Mariana Trench which located deep in the Pacific Ocean between the Philippines and southern Japan.  Thats a real shame is it surely must be one of the most beautiful creatures on earth.





If people need another reason to to learn scuba diving in phuket other than to see creatures as stunning as these then I can not think of one. To be able to do the open water course similans inphuket thailand is an amazing place in itself but to do it diving Richelieu Rock is a once in a lifetime chance. When diving here you will be sure to see things that you are convinced no one has sen before. Here at Thailand Divers is one of the few places that the open water course live aboards similans optionin the similan islands is available. No matter what your experience from total novice to people with ten thousand dives diving in phuket offers so much. If you dont get in the water then you can never see over two thirds of the planet and you could be missing out on seeing things like this.

The Reality in Phuket Thailand in Low Season With Thailand Divers

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. The dry season is “high season”.  But low season is not how most people think of it. Yes it  is monsoon season but that does not mean that everyday is driving rain and storm force winds. What it really means is that between the end of May and the end of October you may get some rain. This is why scuba diving in phuket 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 area from November to May for amazing diving and live aboard trips from phuket scuba diving.

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 day. 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.

This again is why the diving is fine here all year round as all the scuba diving in phuket 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. Genrally 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.

What is it That Makes Night Dives so Mysterious??

What is it That Makes Night Dives so Mysterious??

I dont know about you but for me I always dreaded night dives. I dont know why but since I started diving in phuket all that changed.  I dont know if it the stunning sunsets that we get here in phuket thailand. The fact that the sea during the day is so crystal clear you can see the bottom 30 meters below but as soon as the sun gets low and the shadows lengthen. The sea becomes looks black like oil. Its the mystery of not knowing what you are plunging into.  What are you going to see. In the day time you can see whats below and have a good idea what you are going to see. But at night, in your mind you could be anywhere exploring strange new waters for the first time.

phuket scuba diving trips are mostly day trips so the chances are small to find a boat running night dives. However when on a live aboard not only do you get 4 dives per day but you get the chance to be the first in the water at sun rise and be the last to surface long after the sun has gone down.
The sense that you have no idea just what you may come across or what may be behind you just feet away and you cant see it. That is what is so great about spending a few nights on a live aboard. You get the chance to be the first in the water at sunrise and the last out on the night dive and you get to see all in between.

Phuket thailand has so much more to see underwater at night that so many divers miss. There is just as much at night as there is in the day. So when planing a few days in phuket scuba diving then it really is worth checking out the liveaboard option. No hotel transfers before and after diving, relax in your cabin between dives and most of all see all the night creatures that all the other divers miss. scuba diving in phuket is so much more than the popular day trips that all divers do at some point. Now its time to see all the things that everyone else does not see.