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!

Never Give Up On A Dive Day Just Because Of The Weather

How many of us have looked out the window and said no diving today??

 Here in Phuket Thailand this week so many people did just that. Early morning was driving rain and wind and so many just turned over and went back to bed. BAD MOVE. Phuket in low season can produce some amazing diving and many who live here prefer diving phuket in low season. Less people and better still less boats and noise for the wildlife. This brings the more shy creatures out to play. 

This was really the case this week for two very lucky divers and their instructor. They day was a bad one weather wise in the morning. But as the boat left Phuket and headed out to some of the smaller Phuket islands things started to improve. The wind and rain stopped and the cloud started to break up. On dive number one ant Racha Yay in bay number 1 all the normal suspects turned up. Giant morae eels, sting ray, nemo, lion fish, parrot fish, butterfly fish and all the rest. 

Then back on the boat for a big hot lunch and prepare for dive number two. Everyone who comes with us phuket scuba diving knows we always love our big lunches. This was a great dive down to the collection of three wrecks all close together so can all be done in one dive. First the Harubi which was an old snorkel boat, then the wooden wreck of an old speed boat and lastly the massive bow section of a cargo vessel that sunk 3 years ago and towed to Racha Yai for diving. 

Then back to the boat for another light snack before dive three. A nice easy dive on the shallow reefs and the start of home run reef and this is where we bumped into a very friendly turtle that was just happy to swim along with us for a good portion of the dive. Yes we do see a fair few hawksbill turtles on the many phuket tours that we run from phuket and the Similan islands are a breeding ground so on the similan islands liveaboard trips then you do get a lot. This friendly guy was part of the group. swimming all around us, between us and going where we went. This is what makes Phuket diving so special in low season. The creatures are used to divers but dont like the crowds and noise of high season. So when it comes to the quiet times they all come out and interact with us. 

After this excellent dive it was back to the boat for afternoon tea and a look at the photos of the day. BUT the best was yet to come. When scuba diving Thailand most people think you need to go on big cruises to places like the Similans get the good stuff. Not in low season. Suddenly the captain sounded the horn and turned the boat on a new direction. 

Just a hundred meters away was a Minke whale. The boat cut the speed and had a course alongside but keeping its distance. The whale was having none of it and came to investigate. The whale was swimming just thirty meters along side the boat quite happy. 

In recent years there have been many types of whale sighted just off of phuket by the dive boats including Orca's, Minke whales, pilot whales, Omura's whales, Brydes whale and this year a Blue whale was sighted. This makes a phuket safari whale watching a real possibility as the number of different types seen here each year is growing all the time.

 This means now that the wildlife in the water is as good as that in places like the Khao Sok national park.  Each year many people come to phuket for the standard James bond island tour or phi phi bamboo. These are good tours but to get the best out of your stay in phuket thailand you need to do a tour like the Khao Sok safari trip and if you can combine this with a phuket day trip on the water too then who knows what you will see. 

May be a day game fishing phuket will get you in areas where whales can be spotted too. Doing any of these great trips where you can get out into a marine national park or the Khao Sok national park during the day. Then back in your phuket hotel or phuket guest house in time for dinner is an excellent way to explore.

 The one thing thats certain is the great sunsets that low season provides is second to none. 

Thailand Divers Now Offers The Complete Holiday Package, Hotels, Tours, Dive Tours and PADI Courses.

This season and for many to come Thailand Divers has been doing all it can to introduce new divers to the underwater world.  Phuket Thailand is the perfect location with warm shallow reefs with almost unlimited sea life to see.

This makes anyone wanting to discover scuba diving Phuket is the ideal location. We have large comfortable boats with great food to match the great diving phuket has on offer.

Phuket diving is a great place for all types and experience of diver. Great wrecks to stunning reefs no matter what you like scuba diving phuket is the place for you.

The on top of that just off the north west coast we have the Similan islands. This offers some of the best diving on the planet. The similans are a chain of nine islands with gentle sloping reefs and perfectly clear water for most of the year. Think similan Thailand and you will have the best diving you will find anywhere. A normal similan liveabaord will take in the similan national park, the surin islands and a day diving richelieu rock. A few days diving from a similan liveabaord will be the highlight of any scuba diving trip.

Then for non divers we have many different day tours to all the best locations loke James Bond island, Phi Phi Bamboo island, elephant trekking, ATV riding and even one or two day safari trips into the Khao Sok national park. Thailand Divers now has a fun filled holiday for divers and non divers alike.

The last thing that you need to have a great trip and makes for a top holiday is the hotel. Guess what Thailand Divers has spent time to source out the best Patong beach hotels too. We now offer many great patong hotels that have been raved about by our customers. We are only showing ones that have proved to offer quality and service well above the price tag.

We are looking for a guesthouse Patong that is very comfortable and in quiet streets but close to the town centre too. These will be the hidden oasis that many people walk past and dont know they are there. They must offer a good nights sleep so you can be well rested but close to the shopping and restaurants too.

Our Patong guest houses and amazing hotel patong has on offer should make the finishing touches to a perfect holiday.

Shark Diving In Phuket Thailand with Thailand Divers.

Phuket Thailand has some of the best scuba diving Thailand has to offer. From the sweeping shallow but stunning reefs of the Racha islands to the soaring pinnacles of places like richelieu rock that can bee seen in the similan islands. Phi phi island is a location well known from the movie The Beach but for scuba diving phuket its a great location to go diving with sharks. Both reef sharks and Leopard sharks are common here.

           

Phi Phi Island consist of more than 25 dive sites, suitable for beginners and experienced scuba divers. Here you'll also have the best chances to swim with turtles and black-tip reef sharks. The islands of Bida Nok just to the south of Phi Phi Ley is a great location when scuba diving thailands oceans.                                                             

  

The stunning view of the majestic limestone rocks, plunging into the clear water is an experience itself and the astonishing nature opens up and continues under the surface. Here you'll find some of the best Thailand diving sites, like the two small and world-famous islands of Bida Nok & Bida Nai. Or what about visiting Palong and Maya bay, known from the block-buster movie "The Beach" with Leonardo De Caprio? Here you'll also have the best chances to swim with turtles and black-tip reef sharks. On your dive trip to Phi Phi islands you will experience some of the best scuba diving phuket has with dramatic walls and pinnacles and coral fields with more life than you can imagine. Diving in Thailand at Phi Phi Islands can be done all year around (many divers do!) and is both varied and spectacular.

Then the Similan island national park is in a class of its own if you are looking for the massive whale shark. The similans are home to Thailand liveaboards fleet. There are trips leaving everyday to the similan islands. From an over night trip to a massive two week safari. Similan island diving trips has it all. From the nine islands in the similan island chain to Koh Bon, Koh tachai, the surin islands and onto Richelieu rock. Join a similan islands liveaboard for the best dive trip you will ever have. Similan Thailand equals awesome diving.

The Similan Islands Are OPEN

Yes at last the similan islands are open again for scuba diving and snorkelling. The first boats are departing this afternoon (14th october) so they can be there in place for the early morning dive on the 15th. The Similan island national park has been closed since the last boat returned on the 17th of May.  As many scuba divers know the similans are the pinnacle of scuba diving locations.

These amazing islands make a chain of small isolated pin pricks of perfection out in the Andaman ocean.  Think of the Similan Thailand and you will get some of the best diving on earth. From the stunning coral reefs on the islands themselves to the soaring pinnacles of Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock with the Manta Ray and Whale Shark cruising lazily overhead.  This really is a scuba divers paradise on earth.

As you can guess these are by far the best islands in Thailand for both scuba diving and for snorkelling too. Warm shallow reefs teeming with life. Just do not forget to bring your camera. The best way to experience the Similan islands is on a similan islands liveaboard. These are plentiful both in numbers and in length of trip. From a quick over night to two weeks. There is no upper limit to the amount of time you can spend here.

The quality of the boats does vary on price from super delux to standard. But even the cheapest boats are very comfortable with air con cabins and great food with as much as you can eat. The one thing that is certain you will not loose weight on board.

Thailand liveabaords are some of the best in the world and they are so easy to access. Any good phuket dive shop will have a good selection of trips on offer and like Thailand divers the staff are available almost 24 hours a day via live chat option on the website to answer any questions that you may have.

There are many Phuket islands with in easy reach of the main island of phuket Thailand but the ones that should not be missed are the similan islands and the surin islands. Open for only six months each year and offering the best diving on the planet then you do need to book in advance to be safe of getting the dates you wish. But one thing is for sure it will be the best diving trip you will do for a very long time.

PADI Open Water Course

Learn To Dive In Phuket Thailand.

The PADI Open Water Course is really the first level of diving license thats available to all and valid globally. Here in Phuket Thailand we are very lucky as we have a stunning location we can dive and teach in all year round. The all year round warm tropical waters is one of the best locations to learn to dive in Phuket

The Open water course Phuket is a three day course which will cover theory, safety, skills and plenty of diving on the reefs around Phuket. Here at Thailand Divers we run the course over three days and offer it as a superior package.  Giving you 6 dives taking in the islands of Racha Noi, Racha Yai, Phi Phi and Shark Point over the standard package which contains the 4  coral reef dives required to complete the course which many Phuket diving centers offer. 

DAY 1    

   You are picked up from your hotel around 07:30am by mini bus and taken to the comfortable air conditioned classroom above the dive shop Phuket . Here you will meet your instructor for the next three days. In the morning you will be watching a DVD which will explain the theory, skills and safety aspects involved in diving. You will complete knowledge reviews in you Open Water Manual along with multiple choice questions on each chapter of the DVD. Then just before lunch there is the final exam which consists of the knowledge review questions and the multiple choice questions worded slightly differently. The Open Water  dive course Phuket is designed for people of 10 years and above so as you can imagine the exam is not very hard.

Then a spot of lunch before going to the swimming pool for the afternoon. This is the fun part when you really begin to learn to dive Phuket style.   This is the PADI course in perfect setting. Warm water, blue sky and warm sun. In the pool you will become aquainted  with your equipment and how to put it on and how it all works. Once in the pool the instructor will give you exercises to get you comfortable in the water and swimming with ease. You will then be taught all the skills you need to be a confident and a safe diver. You will have time to practice these skills so by the time you leave the pool you will be ready for the sea.

DAY 2   

    07:30am You are picked up from your hotel lobby again and this time its off to the boat. Once on the boat you can relax and have a nice cooked breakfast, tea, coffee and juice, croissants and toast. After breakfast its time to see what you remember from the day before. First we have to set up the equipment ready for when we arrive at the first spot. Now relax on the sun deck for a while and enjoy the stunning views. This is where diving Phuket differs from all the other locations.

Dive number 1

Today we are heading to the islands of Racha Noi and Racha Yai.  This more about just getting relaxed in the water. We stay on the surface and swim in a warm shallow bay. On the way we practice a few surface skills from the day before. Cramp removal, tired diver tow, snorkel regulator exchange and other skills that are needed on the surface. Next we hold a bouy line and slowly release the air from our BCDs and descend into the beautiful tropical waters. Fish everywhere. Remember to equalize, dont let go of the rope and breath. Once on the bottom the instructor gets us to add a tiny bit of air to the BCD so we are neutrally bouyant and off we go. All we are doing now is getting used to swimming and keeping an even depth. This is why diving in Phuket is the best place to learn. Its stunning underwater views makes it so easy to gain confidence under water under the ever watchful eyes of  your instructor.

Dive 2

As before down the rope and this time when we are on the bottom we have to do several skills that we practiced in the pool the day before. Mask clearing and regulator recovery in case we loose it underwater and regulator clearing so we can breath. Next off for another "fundive" doing the odd skill as we go.  

Now back on the boat for some lunch. the lunch is huge. it is a buffet cooked on the boat while we were underwater. It consists of a selection of Thai and Western dishes along with excellent soup, rice, noodles and vegetables. There is also a vegetarian option. 

Dive 3

As this is the superior course of 6 dives rather than just the 4 required for the license it can be a "fun dive" no skills but as we are off to Phi Phi tomorrow and the instructor says these will be much better dive sites it will be better to do skills this dive and give us more free time tomorrow. This is why in  diving in Phuket is a far better option as the course can be more flaxible to fit you, the conditions and the locations. This is fine by me. What we are doing this dive is practicing using a compass on the surface and underwater. We also do a CESA and alternate air skills.

Back on the boat and  again the chef has been busy. pancakes with banana or mango, chocolate sauce or maple syrup. Nice relax in the sun on the way back. Almost done as far as the skills go for our Open Water License. We have seen so much today already. Lion fish, parrot fish, Nemo, sting ray, barracuda, Morae eels, Cuttle fish, Damsel fish, sea snake and Harliquin shrimp but to name a few.

Day number 3

Today is the last day of the course and I am already a pro and totally addicted. As yesterday a huge breakfast, set up gear (now I am professional) and know the routine and off to the sun deck. Today we are off to Phi Phi  for 2 dives then off to Shark point for the last dive. Phi Phi is quite a long way so time for a nap in the sun. Phi Phi is stunning. Huge cliffs just rise up from the sea with lots of tiny coves and bays. 

Dive 4

This is the last training dive. Just a couple of skills left. The instructor was right. There were millions of fish all around us. Amazing. So clear as well and so much color. Until you dive here you will never believe what is was like. After about half an hour we come up shallower over some rocks. my instructor points to the side of us and my god. There were 2 sharks just meters from me. As I look there were more and more just swimming up and down. They were not minding us at all just swimming. I can not tell you how amazing that was, just too exciting.

                                                                                                                                                                                  Back on the boat for lunch and this time we were in the bay called Maya bay. This is where the filmed the movie The Beach, stunning

                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Dive 5.

Now I am a certified diver. My course is finished so no more mask on and off, no more equipment off and on. Now just diving. This place was named Turtle rock but the first thing we see is another Black Tip Reef Shark. Here there is a little bit of current so we dont need to swim. Just relax and drift along.  As we drift over the reef we do find a turtle and again they see so many divers they just look up at you then carry on eating. One even stops to look at us when the instructor points the camera at it. They are so beautiful.

                                                                         Dive 6. 

Shark point. This dive site is stunning. So much color everywhere. Corals, anemones fish and huge sea fans. We see 2 Sea horses on different sea fans, Ghost pipe fish. These are so pretty. A huge Barracuda, more sting ray and harliquin shrimps. Then around a corner lying on the sand was a Leopard shark. It looked like a leopard. Gold with black spots. It just lay there looking at us. Our instructor told us 1 at a time to come slowly forward and lie next to it. I was so close to it I could have touched it.  This 3 days has been the best 3 days of my life. 

I will always be in debt to Thailand Divers as not only did they get me my license but they organized it so well that I had the chance to see things that others will never dream of. Ok I was lucky as well but by going to Phi Phi for the second day and doing 3 training dives on the first day ment I can enjoy it so much more. I can not recommend getting your padi open water license when you are in Phuket enough and Thailand divers was amazing, the food, the boat, the diving and the staff. best holiday of my life. I will be back to do my Advanced Open Water Phuket for sure as I am now totally hooked on Scuba Diving. May be I can do the advanced course in the Similan islands as these are some of the best islands in Thailand and for that matter the world for diving an snorkeling in the world.