Question What are the areas of interest surrounding Phuket?

[Cornbread O'Malley]

I am about to book a liveaboard embarking out of Thap Lamu Pier and am thinking about staying for a few days after completion of the liveaboard charter. I have some questions as I firm up my plan of stay:

1. Excluding the resorts and bars of Phuket, what other areas of interest can you suggest?
2. What do you think of doing a few day-boat dives around Phuket after my liveaboard?
3. What about Khao Sok National Park? Worthwhile?

I appreciate your suggestions and information.

 

[Centrals]

Stay at Khao Lak and visit Khao Sok National Park.
Do not waste your money and time on any day trip out from Phuket. But if you do want to dive out from Phuket then make sure the operator does not take outsider. 30+ divers on a dive boat is no fun. Some operators will pool divers from various shops when business is low.
Stay at Phuket Old Town as there is airport bus from Bus Terminal 2 to the airport.

 

[Doc Harry]

We did a 10-day charter out of Phuket, and then stayed in Phuket for more diving. Great day trips out of Phuket!

Diving the wreck of the Boonsung is spectacular. So may fish!

A dive trip out to Phi-Phi islands is also fun.

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• Doc Harry
• Feb 29, 2012

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• Doc Harry
• Feb 29, 2012

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• Doc Harry
• Feb 29, 2012

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

...if you do want to dive out from Phuket then make sure the operator does not take outsider. 30+ divers on a dive boat is no fun. Some operators will pool divers from various shops when business is low.

My window for the trip is March or April 2025; I'm guessing that's the high season?

Diving the wreck of the Boonsung is spectacular. So may fish!

Fantastic pics!

 

[Centrals]

My window for the trip is March or April 2025; I'm guessing that's the high season?

It is but please deal directly with the operator and ask that particular question. BTW, big boat means plenty of divers even from the same shop.
Staying in Khao Lak has another advantage ie. daily bumpy ride to dive Similan. You might want to dive certain site again after the LOB, it won't be cheap but the option is there.

 

[BigJeff]

There are a few things to do around Phuket, including some great places to eat.

I have not been to Khao Sok but several friends have and they enjoyed it.

The day trips out of Phuket are fine, they are mostly a full day out and it just depends what is around at the time, last December the water was cooler that normal and it brought out some interesting animals even at Racha Yai (more a beginner site).

Would recommend Koh Doc Mai, Shark Point, Anemone Reef and the longer daytrip to Phi Phi.



Here are some Pics from last December, mostly from Racha Yai...

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[Cornbread O'Malley]

@Centrals Thanks for the insight!

@BigJeff Nice pics!

I talked things over with my dive buddy, and we decided to give Phuket a go before heading out on the liveaboard. We have bookings for The Junk.

What dive shops or dive operators in Phuket can ScubaBoarders recommend?

 

[Centrals]

Koh Phi Phi can offer those sites that are too far for the day boat from Phuket eg. Koh Bida and may be Koh Haa or even to Hin Daeng/Muang(quite a distance).
Junk has very good reputation.

 

[BigJeff]

Thanks for the compliment,

I have been diving (for many years) with a company called SeaBees, they are based in Chalong near the big pier but send cars to the hotels for pick-up and drop off.

They have their own boat with good facilities and food.

 

[Pearlman]

^^ I second that. It’s been more than 7yrs but Seabees left a lasting and very good impression on me…