Racha Yai and other sites out of Phuket - visibility and conditions.

[Centrals]

They dive Similan and Surin/Richelieu, not Phuket. I linked them as an alternative to the speedboats that most Khao Lak shops use for day dives.

What a pity that Scuba Cat has packed up and left. Their basic LOB based in Similan was great especially for divers with limited time and did not want to dive those sites around Phuket.

 

[paddydiver]

Hi,
Looking to do a couple of day trip diving out of Phuket.

I wanted to ask what the current water conditions are at dive sites like Racha Yai, Phi Phi, Shark Point, et.c.

Is the visibility decent or is there strong green in the water, limiting visibility to less than 5m?

We are experienced divers, but would like relaxed diving, rather than in water cardio workouts with strong currents.

Is end of April an OK time to expect good diving out of Phuket?

Thanks

If you're in Phuket you definitely do not want to do a day trip to Similan/Richelieu rock.

Racha Yai you can mostly go with the current and drift dive, the viz is often good but the diving is really poor.

Racha Noi, the only good sites are prone to very strong currents (South Tip/Plateau and North tip)

Centrals hates Phuket! To be honest Shark Point, King Cruiser, Anemone Reef and Ko Doc Mai can be really good dives under the right conditions. The thing is they are very changeable in terms of vis and currents but nothing an experienced diver can't handle.

Most important thing in Phuket is to do a bit of research on the dive operator. Talk to them and see if it's their own boat and how many people they usually run with.

 

[Centrals]

Most important thing in Phuket is to do a bit of research on the dive operator. Talk to them and see if it's their own boat and how many people they usually run with.

And make sure you are staying near where the boat being moored(usually Chalong Bay). Pick up and drop off the divers from various beaches takes awful long time and songthaew is not the most comfortable vehicle.