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Phi
Phi Divesites
Phi
Phi Islands (Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi
Le), some 40km (25mi) southeast of
Phuket and about 2hrs by motor boat,
are among the most beautiful islands
in the world. They also have some
excellent dive sites between 10m and
30m (33 and 98ft), with a visibility
of 15m-25m (49-82ft). In particular,
the islands offer several cave dives
and many impressive wall dives. In
addition there are many hard and soft
corals and an abundant marine life.
In the tropical reefs one can see,
among other fish, white tip sharks,
lepopard sharks, turtels, sea snaks,
sting rays and moray eels.
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Shark
Point
Shark
Point consists of three pinnacles
lying north to south which between
them have a high proportion of both
Hard and Soft Corals in all depths.
All manners of reef residents animate
the otherwise fixed patterns of color.
Sea Anemones for instance Sway Back
and Forth in mild currents and wave
erratically in stronger flowers. Between
the pinnacles the Seabed is fairly
barren. The Leopard Sharks rest here
and many a diver has had the wonderful
experience of observing at close hand
this harmless bottom feeder. A required
interaction continues at the sites
many cleaning stations which are hosted
by a multitude of Cleaning Fish and
Shrimps. Regular customers include
a variety of Snappers, Jacks, Trevally,
Mackeral and the occasional Barracuda.
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The
Anemone Reef
Next to Shark
Point Phuket is a completely submerged
pinnacle referred called Anemone Reef.
The pinnacle is now only the half
the size of what it used to be, but
the marine life has stayed put and
relocated to host a different Sea
Anemone, or slithered into the confides
of another rocky ledge or crevice;
the concentration of marine life throughout
the site has seemingly increased two-fold.
The shallowest part sits in a mere
seven meters below the water's surface
and is literally covered in Sea Anemones
hosted by numerous species of Clown
Fish, though closer inspection reveals
even more symbiotic residents including
tiny Anemone Crabs and clear Cleaner
Shrimps, only visible by their translucent
internal organs. As far as the corals
go enormous healthy Gorgonian Sea
Fans backdrop hovering prides of Indian
Lionfish and large clusters of radiant
Soft Corals more than adequately disguised
paired Harlequin ghost Pipe Fish.
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Wreckdiving
King
Cruiser
The
structure of King Cruiser attracts
a high diversity of marine life and
the formation of an artificial reef
is well underway; numerous invertebrates
have taken to shelter beneath small
sheets of Peeling Paint and Morays
lie in wait under rows of seats, now
acting as lairs.
Around the barnacle-encrusted frame
are schools of Juvenile Fish which
seemingly increase in size and number
with every visit. Daylight penetrates
the majority of the wreck but there
is still a number of areas that would
be better explored with the aid of
an artificial light source.
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Racha Yai
& Racha Noi
Raja Yai about 1½ hours South
of Phuket is a beautiful tropical
island with a lot of good hard coral
reefs, colorful shallow water coral
gardens and a great opportunity for
some enjoyable drift diving. There
are several excellent dive sites particularly
suitable for the beginner and snorkeler,
making this island a favorite destination
for everyone.
Raja
Noi offers in addition to Raja Yai's
attractions some truly spectacular
sites with giant underwater boulders
and scenery almost like the Similans
and a great chance to see manta rays
and whale sharks.
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Koh
Dok Mai
This
small, jungle topped island lies halfway
between Shark Point and Phuket. It
provides some of the best wall diving
in the area with sea fans, soft corals
and colorful sea life decorating its
underwater cliffs.
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