Kath joined the boat mid afternoon to meet  Tim and Donna, repeat customers since 1999, and Amit who had just completed the South trip. The remaining nine customers were brought to Scuba Adventure by John Stanley who was the Dive Master for the trip. It was great to have an international group with people from Germany, Switzerland, India, America, UK, Australia and China.

With the briefings completed, cabins allocated and equipment prepared it was time to chill out and enjoy the overnight cruise to the Similans.

The first morning brought a surprise! Jack, our engineer called Kath to the dive deck where we had an unexpected guest, a banded sea snake!! Customers grabbed their cameras and then it was gently persuaded to leave the boat.

Banded Sea Snake – Louise Murray

The first dive of the morning, the check dive, was on Anita’s Reef. Lovely easy dive going with the current toward the boulders. With everyone comfortable we then headed to Koh Bon. John and his group of Advanced Open Water students were dropped in the bay together with Tim and Donna while the others were dropped on the ridge. The wall area approaching the ridge was covered in glass fish, so much so that it was difficult to see the reef. Two Giant Moray Eels were out in the open fighting. As they tried to bite each other their bodies became intertwined.

Moray Eel – Phil Lineker

This dual lasted for several minutes before on retreated in defeat. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any mantas, but around the reef had so much activity. John’s group was lucky enough to see two Napolean Wrasses. Third dive and Koh Tachai Pinnacle. Thankfully there was very little current. The Pinnacle was prolific with marine life as always. One thing that was unusual was a tight group of Silver Jack spiralling towards the surface. It was a tornedo of fish!!!! The advanced students were to get an extra navigation dive on the reef as part of their course. The forth dive was to be a night dive on Koh Tachai Reef. Some were apprehensive as they had never been on a night dive before, but this was short lived once they started diving. The highlight of the night dive was an octopus that we were able to watch for a while. These are incredible creatures that have the capability to change not only colour but texture.

Octopus – Cedric Saveuse

Day 2 and an early start with the engines firing up at 4.30am. Our destination Richelieu Rock. The visibility here was awesome. During the two dives we saw a host of things including a Seahorse, various shrimps, tomato clownfish, bent stick pipefish, cleaner pipefish, cuttlefish, the list is endless. Our eyes were constantly scanning as the previous day there had been 3 whale sharks spotted on the Rock, but unfortunately we were not blessed. As we wanted to maximise the chance of seeing Manta Rays and Whale Sharks we headed back to Koh Tachai where we had two action packed dives with hunting predators, Napoleon Wrass’, Red Tooth Trigger fish dancing like confetti.

Manta

Day 3 brought an early start on Koh Bon. The ridge still covered in glassfish was action packed as they were being hunted relentlessly by the larger fish on the reef. It is an impressive to sight to see the bait ball swirling in all directions to avoid being caught. Towards the end of the dive on the ridge the first Manta Ray made its appearance. It slowly past the ridge and headed out into deeper water. Kath saw it as she was on her safety stop so a decision to stay for one more dive was made as not everyone had had the opportunity to see it. We were dropped on the north part of the reef and we headed towards the ridge. As you can imagine the second dive was filled with excitement with the possibility of seeing this majestic creature. We unfortunately didn’t see it, but we still had a great dive. As we came on the boat the crew were quick to tell us that they had seen the manta from the boat shortly after we had jumped. At this time there were more boats on the dive site, so a group decision was made to move to the Similans.

Sea Horse – Cedric Saveuse

Dive 3 was on Three Trees on Island 9. Kath drew her map with the marine life they were likely to see on the reef and then the customers played the guessing game trying to identify them. (Maybe she should take some drawing lessons!!!) We crossed the sand to the outer boulders, which is a very scenic part. Here Paul spotted 3 Seahorses sat in a fan. A lovely bonus!! There was a nice gentle drift on the sloping reef, so with no effort we watched the countless fish as we passed by. Our final dive of the day was West of Eden on Island 7. This site has some very beautiful hard and soft corals and it is like diving in an aquarium. However, there were two major highlights to this dive. In the shallow area we could not believe our eyes when we saw what could only be described as a swarm of parrot and surgeon fish. There were hundreds all tightly packed. We hovered and watched them for quite a while and then they peeled off in a line and swam further along the reef.

Kath and the Turtle

Then came the ultimate turtle experience. On seeing the divers he stopped eating and came to investigate. This curious turtle was so relentless in it’s approach to the divers, especially Susan, that it had to be gently pushed away several times. Customers managed to get some great photos.

Susan and the Turtle

Day 4 and a decision had been made the previous night by the customers that the early morning dive should be on West of Eden again as there was so much to see. So, at 6.45 we went for our dive. The reef was just waking up and we were witness to some great hunting action around the stunning coral blocks. There was a current, so instead of turning around at the corner we continued around the Island where there were some schools of Rainbow Runners in the deep together with some large Tuna cruising by. Our final dive of the trip was Shark Fin Reef. This is the furthest south we can dive in the Similan Islands. This reef is known for the stunning topography of the huge granite boulders that stretch for about a kilometre. It is constantly adorned by neon blue fusiliers that run like a train along the reef. Our main highlight of this dive was seeing a shark…not just a shark….one that Kath had never seen in the Similans Islands. It swam straight through the group. Amit had video footage of it, so we were able to identify the shark as a Silver Tip.

The Similans

This trip was a very social trip with customers even conducting dive briefings. Although, only a few of us saw the Manta everyone was more than happy with the diving. We had such diverse marine life and behaviour that this trip will be remembered by all. Michael, Cindie and Ron decided to book for the next trip south to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Under the guidance and Instruction of John, Cindie, Ron and Xin completed their Advanced Open Water. Xin also completed her Digital Underwater Photography and Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialities. Congratulations to them all!

MV Scuba Adventure South  1st March – 4th March 2014

This South Andaman trip on MV Scuba Adventure was a reunion trip of previous customers with a few more joining us. Kath, the tour leader was so happy to see Peter, Hannah, Andre, Matthew and Gareth who had dived with us previously. They were joined by Atle, Kristin, Liina and Orjan.

MV Scuba Adventure left Chalong Pier with flat calm seas and headed to Phi Phi where the first dive was going to be as a check dive.

Phi Phi

The first dive of the day was Koh Bida Nok. We were woken early so we would miss the day boats from Phi Phi. As we dropped in along the NW side we saw a leopard shark just sitting on the bottom. The customers were able to take their photos easily and then we continued the check dive. We really enjoyed this dive as there is so much to see on Bida Nok. This dive site offers a diverse topography and marine life, so macro is great as well as looking out into the blue to see trevallies and other predators hunting their prey. Dive 2 was on Koh Bida Nai, a sister Island to Kho Bida Nok. So the topography is virtually the same. A few minutes into the dive we were graced by the resident black tip reef sharks. We had 2 swimming around us. Three sharks in two dives…..must be a good luck omen!!!

Leopard Shark

After the dive we headed for Koh Haa. We were going to dive Koh Haa Yai (The Cathedral). When we arrived the National Park boat came to us to collect the money. As they were alongside we heard Captain Pu screaming that there was a Whale Shark and we should jump in and snorkel. Kath jumped in first, but unfortunately it went deep. It was seen by everyone from the surface. Fingers crossed that it would return. We did the caves at Koh Haa and then continued the dive along the reef. The soft corals here are stunning with a spectrum of colours. A great dive site for macro. Andre and Onjan were so lucky that they saw the whale shark on the safety stop.

The Cathedral Koh Haa – Cedric Saveuse

The night dive on Island 2 was just as exciting. Kath had found Harlequin Shrimps a few weeks ago so she was on a mission to show the divers these rare crittiers and she did. Gareth managed to get some fantastic shots which we hope we will see later. Liina did her night dive for her AOW and Matthew completed his

Night Dive Speciality. The rest of the group surfaced and then Matt and Kath had lights out for 3 minutes. A very enjoyable experience….lots of sparkles in the water.

Hin Muang

Day 2 and we headed out to Hin Muang and Hin Daeng . Our first dive on Hin Muang was a lovely dive with minimal current and then surprise a manta cruising by. The manta didn’t return and it did look as if it was on a mission!!! Gut reaction was that it was heading to Hin Daeng. Dive 2 with flat calm seas and the sun beating down…need to get into the water. We started the dive along the wall and then…..MANTA!!!! Kath briefed about a cleaning station on Hin Daeng and low and behold the mantas were there all 4 of them. What an incredible sight. Words will never express the experience the divers had. One manta just hung for 20 minutes above a rock whilst being cleaned by cleaner and moon wrasse. The divers were able to take photos and witness something they may never see again. The tour leader was blown away!!! Reluctantly we had to end the dive but we were hoping for more on the next dive and it delivered!!!

Hin Daeng

Next dive on Hin Daeng and a few minutes in the water and then MANTA…sorry no MANTAS all 4 of them just circling on the sloping reef. No need to go any further. The mantas were amazing!!!!! What a fantastic experience. Who needs to see the rest of the dive site? We came for this and Hin Daeng delivered!!! Pete, Hannah and Kath did the safety stop with mantas surrounding them. It has to be the longest safety stop on record. How can you end a dive when there are 3 majestic creatures playing with you? Time to end was when Peter was on 10 bar…..

Manta Rays

The last dive of the day was Koh Haa Neau. Here there is diverse topography from the limestone to the plate reef. There are copious amounts of anemones here and at sunset they start to close like cocoons showing their beautiful colour. There is a huge school of resident 5 line snappers and twin spot snappers which is a sight to be seen. The reef is lovely offering big eyes, lion fish, moray eels and we also saw 2 banded sea snakes. Part of the group turned back at 100 bar to do a leisurely dive back to the limestone area where the chimney was. Kath, Andre, Matt and Peter did the chimney. It goes from 16m to 7m and opens up into a chamber full of big eyes. A lovely experience for divers.

Koh Haa – Cedric Saveuse

Day 3 and first dive on King Cruiser Wreck. It has now become a lovely artificial reef with lots of soft corals and marine life. Nudibranch are prolific on the walls and the honeycomb moray eel has been seen here, which is quite rare in Phuket waters. The current was minimal and the dive was great. Next dive was Shark Point. Oh my, what a current…we flew around part of the pinnacle, but then we had calm. Each and every diver was looking at the finer things in marine life. Garth found a nudibranch Kath had never seen before on one of the lines on Shark Point. Shark Point ha such an abundance of marine life. The corals and barrel sponges are stunning. A beautiful dive site even in strong current. Final dive at Koh Doc Mai and a wonderful one it is for macro. We  had an easy drift checking out nudibranch, banded coral shrimps, white eyed moray eels, yellow margin moray eels and so much more. Gareth found a nudibranch that Kath had never seen before.

Nudi – Koh Doc Mai

Kath has done the South trip many times, but this was her best yet. Hannah described it as  a  “WOWZER” trip ………………..Kath would totally agree with that!!!!!! Let’s hope that manta madness doesn’t stop in the South

MV Scuba Adventure North Andaman 19th Feb to 23rd Feb 2014

We were joined by our new customers on MV Scuba Adventure at Chalong and then we headed overnight to the Similans with calm seas. Our check dive was on Anita’s Reef. This is a beautiful sloping reef with pristine white sand that is home to many garden eels and rays. The main feature is the stunning coral pinnacle that is covered in a gorgeous plethora of corals. The trevallies and rainbow runners were in hunting mode as there were so many glassfish. After the dive we headed to Koh Bon were we did two dives on the Reef and the West Ridge. Lovely dives with fantastic visibility, but alas no mantas. However, the marine life was prolific with beautiful schools of five line snappers, golden trevallies, lion fish, mantis shrimps and so much more. We then heard a whale shark had been a spotted at Koh Tachai Pinnacle on the radio, so we headed there for our last dive of the day. Koh Tachai Pinnacle is Kath’s favourite dive site and for good reason. It is a dive site that can throw the unexpected. With no current it was kind to the divers as it was minimal however, the action was amazing with the predators hunting in a frenzy and the resident huge school of barracuda was spiralling close to the pinnacle in a hypnotic way.

MV Scuba Adventure

Day 2 and it was decided that if there was a chance to see a whale shark we would do our first dive on Koh Tachai Pinnacle. We were the only divers initially on the pinnacle and it was the most amazing experience ever….1 whale shark great!!!! 2 whale sharks!!!! 3 whales sharks!!!! 4 whale sharks on the same dive….How fantastic is that?? We were blown away. When the divers surfaced a group decision was made to spend the rest of the day on Koh Tachai and every dive delivered multiple whale sharks, trevallies, and huge school of barracudas. This was Koh Tachai at its’ best.  During the surface intervals we were snorkelling with them as Captain Pu managed to secure the prime mooring. What a fantastic experience for the non divers and the crew on the boat. Kath was one of the first in the water after breakfast with the snorkelers.

Whaleshark

The next morning the engines started at 5am and then we motored to Richelieu Rock for 2 dives. This is a gorgeous pinnacle in open sea. The diving was excellent with wonderful visibility. Richelieu is great for all marine life from predators to macro. We saw a host of things including barracudas, banded pipe fish, seahorses, cleaner pipe fish, a brown and white bent stick pipe fish, mantis shrimps, many different shrimps, the list is endless. Then back to Koh Tachai for whale sharks and yes we got them as soon as we jumped in 3 in total!!!! They are the most beautiful creatures. To see them glide through the water effortlessly is a delight for any diver. Kath and Matthew Cooper had the most incredible end to a dive when they were on the top of the pinnacle. Kath turned around to see the biggest manta she had ever seen coming straight for them. Screaming through the regulator Matthew turned to see this magnificent beast coming directly at them. A great way to end a magical dive!!!  When we left the site as there were many boats and we decided to leave on a high and head for Koh Bon. This was a great decision as we had heard on the radio that there were manta rays. Maybe they would still be there. Captain Pu told us he was going to drop us on the reef and all we can say is thank you Pu. We were in the water for a very short time when we saw a glimpse of a manta in the distance. A few moments later we were interacting with 2 mantas spiralling amongst us. These majestic creatures were putting on a show and they did it so well. What a fantastic end to a wonderful day….couldn’t beat that.

Manta

Day 4  and back to the Similans. Our first dive on West of Eden was a gentle dive with very little current and great visibility. This has some wonderful coral blocks and massive granite boulders which is home for a host of beautiful smaller reef fish and tiny critters such as nudibranch. A good start to the day. Then to our final dive on Shark Fin Reef, a gentle drift along the fantastic granite rock formations. Shark Fin is a stunning dive site for the topography. The amount of fusiliers on this dive site is incredible, they are like a train that never stops… The powder blue surgeon fish are amusing as they try and play with the bubbles exhaled from the divers. A lovely dive for the end of a wonderful trip.

It has to be said that this trip was exhilarating, exciting and it certainly had the WOW factor. How many whale sharks do we normally see? This was one that gave us 4 on one dive site. We did 6 dives on Koh Tachai Pinnacle and 5 of them delivered the most amazing experience that we will never forget….multiple whale sharks!!!!

Enriched Air

There is also congratulations to be given to Matthew Cooper who completed his Enriched Air Speciality on MV Scuba Adventure. All the customers walked away very happy people and so did the Tour Leader.

SIMILANS, KOH BON, KOH TACHAI AND RICHELIEU ROCK 7^th Feb to 11^th Feb 2014

Thank you Kath and Nicolas for a great trip on boat MV Scuba Adventure to the Similans this week

What a fantastic trip.

On board for the 4 days 4 nights were Steve and Jo, repeat customers of Scuba Cat Diving, last time they were on board MV Scuba Cat where Steve proposed to Jo underwater. That was 5 years ago as well as Wendy, Andreas, Mikkel and John.

MV Scuba Adventure – photo Steve Willett

After a very successful check dive on Anita’s Reef, Island 4 in the Similans they headed straight to Koh Bon as Captain Pu had heard reports of a giant manta sighting.

Similan Islands – photo Steve Willett

Needless to say, a couple of hours later they were there enjoying the moment with the manta and 30m visibility. Very lucky indeed, they had the manta to themselves.  During the second Dive on Koh Bon the manta made came back and joined them all to say goodbye!

Manta Ray

The next day Richelieu Rock had fantastic visibility with so much action. Many glassfish being hunted by their predators, school of barracuda’s, bent stick pipefish, cleaner pipefish and SO much more including the tiniest sea horse sitting on a sea fan. They did 3 dives there with minimal current.

Ghost Pipefish – photo Steve Willett

Back to Koh Tachai, for the sunset dive. “Just like being in another world” quoted Jo Willett. The huge school of barracudas were there for the duration. Kath’s favourite dive site delivered with the trevally feeding frenzy, snappers, napoleon wrasse & marble groupers. This site was repeated the next morning and the highlight saw 2 large schools of barracuda merging together. Thankfully Koh Tachai was also kind with almost no current.

Sunset Dive – photo Steve Willett

Koh Bon, for the third dive of the day and yet again…. Mantas!!!!

The gangsters of the ocean, the Trevallies were feeding on glassfish and for good measure a Napoleon wrasse graced them with its presence.  When they surfaced there were many other liveaboard boats, the decision was made to leave the manta experience on a high and head back to the Similans, Christmas Point on Island 9 to enjoy the unique swim through’s. Amongst other things Kath spotted a white tip reef shark as it swam straight across her.

Feeding time

Next West of Eden, Island 7…. they didn’t need to go diving! A teeny-tiny whale shark came alongside MV Scuba Adventure, 2m maximum! (Doesn’t sound tiny does it!) The lucky customers were kitting up on the back deck when it came to say hi.

Whale Shark

Day 4, Deep Six for the morning dive. Hoping to see the whale shark as it was in the area the day before. Great swim throughs and a white tip spotted again by Kath at 27.5m. Unfortunately, no one else saw it. Many fusiliers and banner fish.

The last dive of the Northern trip was on Shark Fin Reef, declared as “incredible” with 40m visibility. It was like diving in an aquarium. The neon fusiliers were like a train that never stopped!!! They were very fortunate to see a bump head parrot and an eagle ray. What a treat!

Huge Congratulations to John who completed his Advanced Open Water on board Scuba Adventure.

Some lucky customers were staying onboard to continue their Andaman Sea adventure with us to Hin Dueng, Hin Mueng, Koh Haa, and Phi Phi

South Andaman Sun Set – photo Steve Willett

Phuket is one of Thailand many islands situated on the southwest coast of it. It is 860 km south of Bangkok. It is located in the Andaman Sea which is a part of the Indian Ocean. It’s the biggest island in Thailand and it is considered as a province, the island is 49 Km long and 21 Km wide, the total area of it is 570 Km2. All around it there are so many islands which the most famous is Koh Phi Phi.

It’s connected with the mainland of Thailand with Sarasin Bridge which crosses the 600 meters of water which makes Phuket an island. Phuket is composed of granite and sedimentary rock and there are so many hills covering the landscape, the most famous is the one with Big Buddha on the top, from there we can have a view of all over the island.

The island has about 70% coverage by forest which is generally located on the west coast.

The western coast also has several sandy beaches, while on the east coast beaches are more often more muddy and smaller. However, east coast is a considerate “green” with a lot of mangrove forest.
Near the southernmost point is Laem Promthep (Brahma’s Cape), which is a popular sunset view point.

Patong Beach

One of the most popular tourist areas on Phuket is Patong Beach on the central western coast due to easy accessibility to its wide and long beach. Most of Phuket’s nightlife and cheap shopping are located in Patong and the area has become increasingly developed.

On December 26 2004, the tsunami scrapped one of the most famous beaches of Phuket. However, thanks to a burst of energy on the part of the population, has been rebuilt and cleaned at a record pace. Indeed, there is few or no trace of this tragic episode. Patong is considered the most dynamic range for outings and shopping sprees, especially with the big Jungceylon mall or places like the Hard Rock cafe and Tiger Bar.
Cultural pluralism is everywhere in the city, so you can drink and eat Italian or sauerkraut in some parts of the city. Most shops are open through the day and late into the night. All conditions are met in the city so that the services offered to tourists will be open 24 hours.
This bay 4km crescent-shaped is covered with fine white sand and is suitable for the practice of all water sports

Kata beach
Space, water sports available, local restaurants on the beach and a village atmosphere characterize Kata. Undoubtedly intended to relax rather than an active and sporty holiday, this wide range curve is currently divided into 2 bays, Kata Yai and Kata Noi, seperated by a rocky headland, Kata Yai is a range of two kilometers of white sand lined with trees and a few restaurants, while Kata Noi, the smaller beach, offers seclusion and tranquility.
Unlike Patong, Kata development was done slowly and with emphasis, with small guesthouses, some resorts, local restaurants and small shops plus some original attractions such as Dinopark Minigolf.
Club Med, established more than 15 years, is located in the center of the main beach and effectively preclude an ugly swing. The city center is located just off the beach with shops and events around the Kata Corner at the north end. The southern tip is occupied by restaurants on the beach and hotels.
There is a bus service between Kata and Phuket Town in the day. It is an ideal beach for family holidays and snorkeling practice in high season.

Karon Beach

Just 10 minutes south of Patong Beach is a long stretch of white sand, Karon. The second largest beach in Phuket is quiet, with many very good local restaurants and a wide range of accommodation, from family pension to resorts offering various sports and leisure activities.
The nightlife is not as varied or colorful than Patong. At Karon, people come to enjoy a good meal, drink on the terrace with friends or daydreaming while watching life unfold before their eyes. And if you fancy a change of scenery, it’s easy. Kata village is easily accessible on foot, and Patong is not far by car for a lively evening.
The beach is wide, space is not lacking and it is rarely crowded. Refreshments, fruit, sarongs, all this is offered by street vendors and local restaurants are located on the beach. So needless to move, unless it be to rent a jet ski or go snorkeling to explore the marine life of the southern end, where a coral reef stretching toward Kata and to a small island off (Boo island.)
Sand is a unique phenomenon in Karon – as you walk on the white sand, you will hear squeaking! Nobody seems to know why. From November to April, Karon offers perfect conditions, but from May to October, bathing is sometimes dangerous due to currents, so be sure to watch the flags.

Kamala beach
During the past years, Kamala Beach has changed dramatically from the small fishing village with buffalo trotting along the deserted beach in a small town lively and active. Many hotels have opened here and there, from the most luxurious to the cheapest, but all offer a great quality / price and excellent service, typical of Thailand and Asia report.
To get to Kamala, a distance of fifteen minutes drive north of Patong on a beautiful renovated road you can admire the stunning views of Kamala Bay with its turquoise waters and sandy white beach.
Kamala is divided into two bays. The main beach is a crescent with 3 km of pines on its first half and coconut or palm sugar on the other. A little further south, the second track is smaller and more isolated and home to the Terrace Resort Kamala Beach.
There are two routes to reach the village: “Kamala Road” wide and busy road passing through the outer and lined with small shops, grocery stores and gas stations, it leads to the famous Fantasea Park and continues to Laem Sing and Surin Beach
The second, “Kamala Street” is narrower and quieter. It crosses a small bridge near a newly built Thai Temple, through the school of Kamala along the bay and enters the heart of Kamala. Surrounded by many small and large restaurants and bars, it is nice for a stroll in the evening because of low traffic (unlike Patong Beach). Grocery stores, tailors, souvenir shops, diving centers and travel agencies offer their services throughout the day and are often open until late at night.
The beach is wide and sandy, with tropical blue water like you see on postcards. Chairs with umbrellas are available everywhere at low prices. You will not really bother by the hawkers here who know how to be discreet and do not insist if they refuse. However, if you’re tempted, do not forget to haggle tight!

Phuket Town
The city of Phuket, Thailand, was founded a little over a century by Chinese traders and Malays came to exploit the tin mines around the port of Phuket close being more adapted to receive larger vessels than the traditional port city of Thalang. Despite the difficulties inherent in growing a thriving city, and despite the massive fire that destroyed much of the city, Phuket town grew and prospered to become the commercial and social center and political of the island.
The early 20th century was a period of positive growth for Phuket. The exploitation of tin mines prospered, and caring and very competent governor Rasada Korsimbi contributed to the diversification of the economy of the island. Being the capital city of Phuket its modern expansion grew quickly; its streets mark out significant buildings and boats around the world did stop in its busy port.
Today, the main attractions of Phuket Town are the old Sino-Portuguese buildings, Chinese and Thai temples of refined architecture and popular markets. Most buildings downtown date back about a hundred years ago, during the first period of prosperity for the operation of tin. Their architecture, the so-called Sino-Portuguese, denotes the mixture of Chinese and Western influences. This style is also common to all mining in the Malay Peninsula coastal regions. These characteristics constructions are longer than wide, and the entrance is decorated with finely crafted fantasy lattice. You’ll see some lovely examples Dibuk Road, and if you walk up, you will pass the most important of them: The Town (Phuket’s Town Hall), the Provincial Court (Provincial Court), and the Nakorn Luang Bank. But the most representative of the architecture of the early century public building in Phuket is the Governor’s House (Government House).
These past few years, Phuket has grown considerably, but has managed to retain its customs and origin from its multi-ethnic roots traditions. The best way to enjoy an overview of the city of Phuket is to walk up to the hill of Rang Hill, just north of the city.

Nai Yang Beach
This place is known for its impressive forest of tall pines. Hawkers of fruits and food settled around the park, doing good business, especially on weekends. As everywhere in the south of Thailand, if you find a beach frequented by Thais, you will also find many stalls where you can taste all kinds of grilled seafood and other good things. Nai Yang Beach is no exception. At low tide, if you swim you will find nearby a large coral reef that is home to many marine species. Here, shells sometimes back to shore, especially after a monsoon storm. Nai Yang Beach gives a very different impression of the southern beaches. The Pearl Village Beach Hotel in front of the beach usually hosts an elephant, giving you the opportunity of a little excursion on his back in the sea with a few sessions of watering for a few baht. Nai Yang is also the last step safari beaches of the north coast.

Nai Yang National Park
Located at the north end of the island, there are two beaches, Nai Yang and Mai Khao beach, and covers no less than 10 miles (16 km) of white sand. From above, at low tide, the sea can seem muddy compared to the transparency of the beaches further south, it is partly for this reason that these beaches are less popular with tourists and are less developed. Another reason is the shore that falls steeply on several levels, creating unpredictable and dangerous ocean currents during the monsoon season. This makes it an ideal place for giant sea turtles (Giant Ridley Sea Turtle), which can weigh up to 850 kg (1874 lb) and are shy creatures, so preferring to have a beach to themselves. Each year, between November and February, these lumbering giants haul out onto the beach at night to lay their eggs, digging holes with their flippers to bury. They can lay up to 200 eggs. This instinctive behavior is older than 90 million years. Unfortunately, the number of sea turtles by making an annual appearance continues to decline. To ensure re-population, awareness programs have been implemented for the people, and young turtles born in captivity are released. The turtles usually lay very late at night, but maybe you’ll get to witness the miracle of nature. Then be very discreet and try not to disturb them. The authorities are closely monitoring the eggs, moving many of them in areas of special hatch.

Rawai Beach
This narrow and picturesque bay is a favorite among Thais for picnics. They will gather around the stalls of seafood in the shade of trees. On the other side of the road, there are many Thais and Europeans restaurants where many residents like to spend their evenings. The beach is not great but the water is shallow and safe for children, sheltered from the wind. Many longtail boats and speed boats (outboard) are anchored and can be hired for trips to neighboring islands such as Coral Island which is 15 minutes by speedboat. Not far away on the road back to Phuket, the Museum of shellfish (Seashell Museum) may be of interest to collectors. Rawai is one of the few places where you can buy shells.

Chalong Bay
Quiet and serene, this bay offers all kinds of boats (sailboats, yachts and cruise ships) shelter against strong winds. It is also the starting point for excursions to the famous islands such as Phi Phi, Coral Island, March Thon Island, Racha Islands and to dive sites Koh Doc Mai and Shark Point. The bay teems with life at the first light of day until 9, when the boats leave for the day’s destination. Then again bustle back cruises and excursions between 16 h 30 and 17 h 30. At night, the restaurants of the pier attract busloads of tourists arriving after admiring the sunset from Promthep Cape.

Phromothep Cape
‘Prom’ is the Thai name referring to the Hindu god Brahma “signifying purity and «Thep»is the Thai word for God. Promthep is a headland that plunges into the sea, forming the southern tip of Phuket Island. It is traditionally the first point on the coast that see the sea approaching the island.
No trip to Phuket is complete without taking a few photos of this magnificent panorama. The best time to visit is the sunset over the Andaman Sea. But do not miss the sunrise if it is possible, because many people find it even more spectacular and the crowd is less dense. The view is almost irresistible for a photographer, especially when the bay reflects the colors of coral reefs, changing shades of the waves crashing on the boulders.

Prom Thep Cape