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  • Activities, Destination

WATER SPORTS IN PHUKET

Phuket is a top tourist holiday destination with glorious beaches, stunning views, superb weather, great nightlife, culinary wonders and even a hint of culture. Add to the mix a well-developed infrastructure and it’s easy to understand why it’s so popular.

The best time of year to visit Phuket is between November and April, it’s bright sunshine and blue skies in the daytime are perfect. Ocean conditions are also spectacular with crystal-clear sea and no large waves as commonly seen from May until the November. The weather is good most of the year, even when it rains it’s hot! This means that most people spend a lot of time at the beach and looking for other ways to keep cool.

The coast offers a nice breeze and is superb for swimming and snorkelling, and for water lovers there are lots more fun activities and sports to enjoy in the warm, clear waters of the Andaman Sea.

Diving Tropical Waters

Phuket is an idyllic place to join a scuba diving course or upgrade your skills. It’s rated amongst the top 10 diving destinations in the world and there are some excellent centres on the island to help you achieve this.

We have some very impressive dive sites suitable for both experienced divers and beginners, with day trips from Phuket to the Racha Islands and Phi Phi Islands running throughout the year.

Two of the most famous sites around Koh Phi Phi for advanced divers are the King Cruiser wreck and Shark Point where Leopard Sharks can be spotted. If you’re keen to venture further, sign up for a liveaboard dive cruise to the Similan and Surin Islands.

Kiteboarding & Windsurfing

If you prefer to be on top of the water, then try your hand at kiteboarding or kitesurfing. The southwest coast, with its shallow warm waters, gentle breeze and wide bays, offers the perfect place to learn, whilst more experienced kite surfers tend to go to Nai Yang and Layan beaches in the northwest of Phuket where the waves can be bigger.
Windsurfing is also a sport for the more adventurous, November to February is the best time as the winds are consistent and the seas flat. You can find places on most of the west coast beaches to rent equipment or teach you the basic techniques with some theory, and then off you go to practice out on the water. It won’t be long before you find yourself racing along at a decent speed.

Surfing the Sea

High season in Phuket is nearly over by the end of April and as the island’s visitors start to head home the beaches become much quieter and the waves higher, perfect for surfing. The end of April to September are generally the best months to surf on the west coast, from Nai Harn Beach, right at the southern tip of the island, all the way up to Kamala, Bang Tao and Surin Beaches. The favourites are Kata Beach, renowned for its reliable surf, and it’s common to see surfers at Kamala Beach too.
In Kata is the Surf House, perfect for beginners as the ‘Flow Rider Simulator Machine’ is a safe fun place to learn the surfing skills essential for the open sea. They also host the annual Phuket Surfing Contest with big cash prizes. Over at Kalim Beach they have the Kalim Surf Contest, and Kamala Go Surfing Contest at Kamala Beach.

Stand-up Paddle Boarding

Increasingly popular in Phuket for a number of reasons is stand-up paddle boarding, it’s a relaxing recreational activity, you don’t have to be super fit, and it’s a great combination of exercise and fun. It’s also an environmentally-friendly activity where you can appreciate nature with minimal impact.

No previous experience is needed, just a basic lesson or two to pick up the best techniques. You’ll be taught how to stand up without falling off, paddle and steer, it’s quite easy really. Join an organised tour, or rent a board outside of Catch Beach Club on Bang Tao Beach and paddle at your own leisure

There are a number of different places to paddleboard in Phuket. You can venture out into the open sea as the waters are very still, explore the shallow bays, follow the headland around to small coves and reefs, or if you’re feeling brave, paddle over to a nearby uninhabited island. An alternative option is to paddle in the waterways through the mangrove forests on the east coast and you may even encounter some wildlife.

Phuket is one of the most picturesque places in the world, what better way to explore than an adventure on its stunning waters?

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