SSI Phuket

General Phuket Intro :
 

Fondly referred as the "Pearl of the Andaman", the island possess remarkable beauty with tropical hillsides in the north and along the south and west.

Once renown for its tin mines and rubber plantations, visitors now arrive looking for a place to relax and explore the scenery. 

You can still find rubber plantations but gone are the tin mines. The popular beaches are Patong, Kata and Karon, situated on the western part of the island with tidal mud flats in the east.

The island is 530 sq km in size and is large enough to be a provincial center. Commuting by car is easy and the roads are good.

General Diving Phuket Intro :
 

Phuket rates among the top 10 scuba diving destinations in the world. Spectacular reefs, Unusual underwater rock formations, and a huge variety of marine life providing great opportunities for divers at all levels.

The surrounding islands such as the Racha Islands and the limestone formations of Phi Phi offer vibrant ecosystem teeming with marine life.

Wrecks, wall dives, Whale Sharks, Hard and soft corals, Boulders, cliffs and caves. Each dive site offers something special for all.

Phuket is often referred to as the 'Pearl of the South' and for scuba divers it's certainly the crown jewel of the Andaman Sea; one of the most renowned diving regions in the world. This island paradise lies only 8o north of the equator, enjoying a tropical climate with average water temperature of 24oC (78o F) with an unmatched variety of aquatic life. The best time for diving is between October and May between the two monsoons, but good diving is available all year. A fleet of dive boats now roam the azure blue water of the Andaman Sea that for thousands of years served as the main trade route for merchant vessels, pirates, explorers and missionaries from India, the Arab nations and Europe on their way to China, ancient Siam (Thailand), and Japan. In spite of its strategic location and long maritime history, many areas of the Andaman Sea remain largely unexplored. This underwater frontier continues to yield exciting new dive sites that are only now being made available for sport diving. Even today, in some areas like Hin Daeng to the south of Phuket and the area around the Burma Banks to the north, and virtually the entire Mergui Archipelago, you may enjoy the added pleasure of being one of the first ever to dive in many sites.

Getting to Phuket :

Although Phuket is an island, getting here is very straightforward. The majority of tourists arrive through Phuket International Airport. However, you can also get to Phuket by road, rail (in a roundabout way), and of course by sea if you have your own boat.

 
By Air

Flying to Phuket is the simplest way of getting here. Phuket is served by an international airport with an increasing number of scheduled and charter flights arriving from Europe and Asia, as well as a dozen daily flights from Bangkok. There are now a number of low-cost airlines providing cheap flights to Phuket including Bangkok,Kuala lumpur and Singapore.

By Bus

Buses from Bangkok take approximately 14 hours. Government buses can be boarded at the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) in Thonburi. Prices are very reasonable and it pays to spend a bit more for the more comfortable buses. Private tour companies also operate coaches and minibuses. Many of these can be booked at Khao Sarn rd in Bangkok.

By Car

Hiring a car in Bangkok and driving down to Phuket is a great way to explore Thailand's peninsular. The 867km journey will take 10 hours or more, but it would be a shame not to explore a few of the towns and places of interest along the way.

 
By Train

There is no rail link between Bangkok and Phuket but you can get to Surat Thani and take a bus to Phuket. Trains in Thailand are slow, but cheap and very comfortable (unless you travel third-class). Make the journey in an overnight sleeper and you will have not lost too much time... read more

Accommodation :

Divers Inn is a friendly hotel in Phuket offering clean, comfortable accommodation.

Centrally located in Karon beach close to all the facilities with a great range of shops, restaurants and nightlife.

Large modern clean rooms (30sq m) All with private bathrooms, Satellite Tv  and a mini-bar to keep your beers and choccy cool!

Divers Inn is the perfect location for your visit to Phuket. We offer free breakfast, low prices and a great atmosphere.