Phuket is very nice and one of the most visited diving areas of Thailand so the sites are developed, well known and safe. The diving will not be very deep or courageous but you'll get to see several things that Cozumel doesn't have like Clownfish and Anemones.
I've been there 6+ times - Phuket has some nice sites for day trips like Anemone Reef, Koh Doc mai, Koh Racha and Phi Phi Islands. I'd stay away from the King Cruiser wreck as it was a bit crowded with several boats at the site at once and quite a few divers in the water.
Day trips are very nice and they usually feature local fruit for snacks like pineapple and mangos (much sweeter than what you get in the USA).
Here's a great website by an American, John Williams, living there who recently co-wrote the new Lonely Planet Dive Guide to Thailand - Siam Dive and Sail - Siam Divers DAY TRIP WEBSITE.
Great descriptions and photos of what to expect
Most tourists that go to Phuket Island stay around the town of Patong which has a center section of open bars with girls that you may want to avoid - CANDO's advice is right, this may be a bit too blatant for your new wife. Just down the coastline a mile or two are very secluded areas of Karon and Kata that are nicer places with sandy beaches.
If you need any trip advice or reservations, I've used John Williams to assist in choosing/booking trips and his comments have always been 100% correct for what I was looking for.
For an even better idea of what the scenery is like, rent the movie "The Beach" turn the sound down (awful storyline) and enjoy the photography - striking blue water with limestone islands rising vertically out of the water encrusted with lush greenery.
I've been there 6+ times - Phuket has some nice sites for day trips like Anemone Reef, Koh Doc mai, Koh Racha and Phi Phi Islands. I'd stay away from the King Cruiser wreck as it was a bit crowded with several boats at the site at once and quite a few divers in the water.
Day trips are very nice and they usually feature local fruit for snacks like pineapple and mangos (much sweeter than what you get in the USA).
Here's a great website by an American, John Williams, living there who recently co-wrote the new Lonely Planet Dive Guide to Thailand - Siam Dive and Sail - Siam Divers DAY TRIP WEBSITE.
Great descriptions and photos of what to expect
Most tourists that go to Phuket Island stay around the town of Patong which has a center section of open bars with girls that you may want to avoid - CANDO's advice is right, this may be a bit too blatant for your new wife. Just down the coastline a mile or two are very secluded areas of Karon and Kata that are nicer places with sandy beaches.
If you need any trip advice or reservations, I've used John Williams to assist in choosing/booking trips and his comments have always been 100% correct for what I was looking for.
For an even better idea of what the scenery is like, rent the movie "The Beach" turn the sound down (awful storyline) and enjoy the photography - striking blue water with limestone islands rising vertically out of the water encrusted with lush greenery.
