School me on diving in Phuket in early March.

[oraph]

so looks like i'll be in Phuket for about a week in early March. Not sure if ill have time to do a liveaboard.. if i do, i am looking for a 3day one.
so...
1. what are the best places to dive in Phuket in March
2. any 2-4 day live aboard trips you can recommend?
3. what are the best day trip spots? from my research (Shark Point and Phi Phi) anything else?


thanks

 

[Quero]

I'd still recommend a liveaboard if possible. We do have a few 3-day ones.
In reply to your specific questions:

1. The number one dive site in the Kingdom is Richelieu Rock. Other signature dive sites are Tachai Pinnacle, Koh Bon West Ridge, and Elephant Head Rock, to name a few. Boonsung Wreck is also pretty amazing.

2. It depends on your dates.

3. The Bida islands of Phi Phi, Shark Point, Anemone Reef are my favorites for daytrips from Phuket. My favorite combo trip is Shark Point/Anemone Reef/Koh Doc Mai. Some people like the King Cruiser wreck, but it's not in my own top 5.

 

[stevenl]

If you do a liveaboard, make sure you include Richeliieu Rock in the itinerary. If that is not possible on your dates I would prefer daytrips from Phuket over a liveaboard.

 

[Scuba Cat Diving]

There are 3 and 4 day trips available, generally to get to Richelieu which is a great dive you need a 4 day trip, but a couple of 3 days also include it. There are 3 day trips to the south andaman too, this includes Hin Daeng Muang and JKoh haa as well as the Anemone, reef / shark Point and Phi Phi. These are less crowded than the north liveaboards but offer great diving at this time of year. It really depends on what exact dates you are here and which boats can fit your itinerary. The best boat for one person may not be the best for another, it depends on what you are looking for.
Daytrips to Phi Phi, anemone reef, shark pint and Koh Doc mai are good from Phuket, but Phi Phi is a longer travel time.

 

[oraph]

what are the chances of actually seeing a whale shark at Richeliieu Rock?

 

[Quero]

Slim. However there is a lot of other stuff to see there from schools of jacks and barracudas to seahorses, sometimes manta rays; all kinds of reef fish, and lots of crustaceans, plus corals. It's a really great dive site.

 

[stevenl]

what are the chances of actually seeing a whale shark at Richeliieu Rock?

In March better than in the rest of the year. But last years the chances of seeing a whaleshark have been best at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang.