Phuket

sxygirl · #1 23-05-2005, 10:00

hey all, when i lived in patong for summer of 02 i actually never tried to snorkel because my stupid boyfriend didnt want to....so, is it possible or are the waves too choppy everywhere?? thinking of a possible very spontaneous trip in late summer. any snorkel info would be awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

LivinLOS · #2 23-05-2005, 12:22

The rainy season can create some 'churn' and lower visibility..

My experience says tide does a lot also for beach / close snorkeling.. Patong has an ok reef as does Kata and the north end of Kamala beach.. All ok places that can be swum out to without any difficulty..

Taking a day trip to Raja / Maya and (surprisingly) less so coral island is also great for surface reef life..

ashley · #3 23-05-2005, 12:52

Sexygrl:

Like LivinLOS said, the rainy season can put a bit of a damper on snorkling plans at that time of year. But it could be hit and miss. I have been snorkling in and around PhiPhi and it was great.
An awesome experience is at Maya Bay (beach filmed there) and at Shark Point which is just off of PHIPHI Don. It is best to go in the morning when the tide is high and you could very well be snorkling with a few black tip reef sharks. Some are said to get up to 2 meters long. Although I did not see any that big. WOuld have scared the crap out of me!! I did see a deadly sea snake while snorkling there, the long tail boat captain was waving his arms trying to tell me to get out of the water. I swam down and let the snake swim along the surface to the rocks. After that I had had enough.
The Phuket and PHIPHI area really do has some wonderful snorkling areas. Give it a try!

Also, I will be in Vegas at the start of October for a bachelor party. Hope to meet up with you while I am there!

Cheers,

Ashley

wakeboycam · #4 23-05-2005, 14:55

Talking about PhiPhi. Do you know what the situation is there now ? Is it open for tourists again or am i a bit naive now.

barfly · #5 23-05-2005, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

The rainy season can create some 'churn' and lower visibility..

My experience says tide does a lot also for beach / close snorkeling.. Patong has an ok reef as does Kata and the north end of Kamala beach.. All ok places that can be swum out to without any difficulty..

Taking a day trip to Raja / Maya and (surprisingly) less so coral island is also great for surface reef life..

NO! Patong beach has very dangerous undercurrents/rip-tides during August and people die every year. Last time I was there in August an Oz navy man went for a midnight swim and was never seen again and that is not unusual at that time of year. Not sure when the dangerous currents start and stop, though.

stevem · #6 23-05-2005, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by barfly

NO! Patong beach has very dangerous undercurrents/rip-tides during August and people die every year.

Last week Patong beach was actually closed for a few days during he bad weather, but needless to say there where still farang in the water swimming. I guess a red flag doesnt mean alot in some countries.

andy50 · #7 23-05-2005, 17:47

i used to drink in a bar in karon owned by 3 uk guys, one told me that a guy who was a customer, went for a swim in karon bay at the wrong time of year, ,with his russian g/f and was swept out and drowned ,don,t do it sxy girl!,we all love you!

sxygirl · #8 24-05-2005, 00:28

ok then....sounds like the whole snorkeling idea just sh**the bed as they say. well last time i was there in summer i went to bb pool with meiuw behind vip asia and it was fun. so u cant go in the ocean at all??? are there safer beaches like nai harn or laem singh or somewhere where i wont surely drowned??? any safe beach info would be greatly appreciated boyz

dawsey · #9 24-05-2005, 00:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by sxygirl

ok then....sounds like the whole snorkeling idea just sh**the bed as they say. well last time i was there in summer i went to bb pool with meiuw behind vip asia and it was fun. so u cant go in the ocean at all??? are there safer beaches like nai harn or laem singh or somewhere where i wont surely drowned??? any safe beach info would be greatly appreciated boyz

Nai Harn along with Karon is one of the worst for undercurrents during monsoon season.
I guess if the red flag is flying then stay out the water.

Nic · #10 24-05-2005, 07:14

I think red flags are put up automatically during certain periods irrespective of sea conditions.

Red flags flew on Patong and all the Kata beaches for all of July. I figured it meant there was no lifeguard present to check and maybe take it down.

To be honest I swam/snorkelled every day and had at worst surfable waves and at best nearly millpond seas.

That said I heard plenty of warnings off people smarter than me about currents and a high death rate of swimmers.

My two cents...

sxygirl · #11 24-05-2005, 07:48

ok well i guess i will stick to the pools. livinlos....can i swim with u and ur girl??

LivinLOS · #12 24-05-2005, 09:55

Of course..

I hear of these currents and undertows a lot.. I think it has far more to do with half drunk unfit farangs who may not be strong swimmers or get in the water that often, getting a moderate undertow or rip and panicing etc..

My brother goes and finds 12 foot face waves breaking over 18 inches of coral and spends all day playing in it even goes night surfing if the moon is right or midwinter Europe surfing ice seas when its actually snowing (hes mad).. I cannot believe anything I have seen in Phuket waters would be anything like the rips and pulls there..

Conditions permitting we can check out a few little spots I go to or could even book up a snorkel day with coralseekers.. I want to have a go at that little james bond under water contraption that they advertise with the surface breather.. Looks a laugh..

sxygirl · #13 24-05-2005, 18:40

yay!!!!!!! i have a swimming buddy!!!!!!!!!!

tintin · #14 24-05-2005, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy50

i used to drink in a bar in karon owned by 3 uk guys, one told me that a guy who was a customer, went for a swim in karon bay at the wrong time of year, ,with his russian g/f and was swept out and drowned ,don,t do it sxy girl!,we all love you!

That last is proberly a bit exareted...

IRISH JONNY · #15 24-05-2005, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintin

That last is proberly a bit exareted...