- Sea ocean
- Dangers at sea
- Interesting sights
One of the favorite vacation spots of our compatriots is the Thai island of Phuket. There are many places for beach relaxation in Thailand, but Phuket has amazingly beautiful beaches, photos of which are published by numerous travel magazines, picturesque nature and decent inexpensive hotels. The Andaman Sea in Phuket, which is part of the Indian Ocean, is loved by divers around the world. The list of marine life that can be seen here when diving is very large.
Sea ocean
Phuket in Thailand is chosen for recreation by both tourists looking for extreme entertainment and married couples with elderly relatives and children. The Andaman Sea off the coast of the island warms up well: the water temperature is kept at comfortable levels of 25-28 degrees all year round. In search of a clean and calm sea, it is better to come to Phuket from September to May. In the summer months, monsoons are frequent here, which bring with them rains and high waves. Also, the water loses its transparency during high tides, when silt and sand rises from the depths.
The high season in Phuket starts in November and lasts until March. This time is best for swimming and scuba diving.
Although Phuket is in the tropics, there is a refreshing breeze blowing from the Andaman Sea all the time, which allows it to withstand intense heat and humidity. Destructive storms are rare. Usually, only the echoes of those storms that shake islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans reach the island of Phuket. However, while resting at the resort, on the shores of the Andaman Sea, you should remember that at its bottom there is a dormant volcano that can wake up and cause great disasters.
Dangers at sea
When swimming or diving in the Andaman Sea, you should be aware of the dangers that can lie in wait for unlucky swimmers.
You should be especially careful about:
- strong currents during the monsoon season. At this time, a red flag appears on the comfortable beaches of the island;
- jellyfish "sea wasp", which is found in the waters off the eastern part of Phuket. The jellyfish is small - about 15 cm in diameter, but poisonous. Touching it can cause paralysis of the respiratory tract. Medusa is not aggressive and does not look for its victims. Usually people themselves stumble upon it in the water;
- other poisonous jellyfish. Some species can sting even when washed ashore. Phuket has a lot of jellyfish in summer;
- sea urchins, which are abundant in shallow water. You can accidentally step on a sea urchin without seeing it in the water. Its needles pierce deeply into the body and are characterized by increased fragility, so you should not remove them yourself - it is better to consult a doctor;
- starfish and cone shellfish. Their touch is not fatal, but rather unpleasant;
- sun rays, which become even more aggressive, reflecting from the sea surface. The tropical sun instantly causes burns, so sunscreen should not be neglected.
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Interesting sights
For more than 30 years, the Siri Nat Marine Reserve has been operating in Phuket, with an area of about 90 km2. Less than one third of this area is land. The rest of the territory covers coastal waters. The Marine Park is open to tourists. It is here that the famous Nai Yang Beach is located, where you can enjoy the sun and sea air in the company of sea turtles.
Another interesting attraction for tourists is a trip through the mangroves that can be found along the coast in the north and northeast of Phuket. Vacationers willingly ride boats along the canals that were formed during the tide in the mangroves.
A large number of cozy coves are located at the western end of the island. Sometimes such small bays protrude into the land for several kilometers. The coasts of the bays with secluded sandy beaches attract rare tourists. The bays alternate with narrow rocky headlands.
Many tour operators offer tours to the nearest islands - Phi Phi, Similan and Coral. For example, during a two-day excursion to the Phi Phi Islands, which costs about 4,000 Thai baht, you can see the coast, which became the backdrop for the events of the Hollywood movie "The Beach", dive on one of the coral reefs, chat with wild monitors, visit the beach disco.
