Phuket, Thailand Review of Scuba Diving, Sites, Dining and Accommodation

Marina Phuket Resort, located on the south end of Karon Beach is a jungle oasis amid the chaotic beach areas of Karon and Kata Beaches. Approximately 45 minutes drive from the airport, Marina Phuket Resort has garden and sea view bungalows surrounded by a tropical jungle. The reception area of Marina Phuket Resort is located on the main road, providing easy access to shops and restaurants with a 24 hour mini-market just outside the entrance. Although the resort sits between the main road and Karon Beach, the jungle setting creates a quiet escape with no traffic noise. Karon Beach can easily be accessed by road or near the On-the-Rock restaurant at the Marina Phuket Resort.

There are two restaurants at Marina Phuket Resort. On-the-Rock serves lunch and dinner from 10:00 am - midnight and has a view of Karon Beach and the Andaman Sea. Sala Thai restaurant serves breakfast and dinner, with Thai dancing and entertainment several nights per week. Sala Thai also overlooks the pool and offers drinks and snacks throughout the day. Breakfast is served at Sala Thai and includes American, English, Chinese and Thai options, along with eggs cooked to order.

In March 2010, the Marina Phuket Resort offered an Internet rate of $144 USD per night for the garden view room. The Internet rate included round-trip airport transportation, breakfast and a dinner for two, from a set menu with 2 options. The garden view room is small, but clean and set in the jungle, with a private patio to enjoy the sounds. Make sure to bring insect repellant as there are many mosquitos! There is a safe in the room and adapters for some of the outlets. The electricity and air conditioning only runs when the key is inserted in the slot to activate the power. There is free wireless access in the reception area and at the pool, as well as 5 computers with Internet to use in the tour information office near reception.

The Marina Phuket Resort is very accommodating if you would like to check out for a day or two for a visit to the Similan Islands or Ko Phi Phi. The reception staff will store bags, pack a box breakfast for early departures and make any additional arrangements needed. During our stay, we made 2 separate reservations so that we could dive the Similan Islands. Upon returning back to the Marina Phuket Resort, the reception staff remembered our names and had everything ready to promptly check back. Even one of the servers in the restaurant remembered our room number from one stay to the next (a few days later).

The only negatives at Marina Phuket Resort during our stay in March 2010, were that three of our wake up calls were missed when we requested them in person versus the one we scheduled by phone in the room. Also, in one of the garden view rooms the air conditioning did not work very well.

Overall, the Marina Phuket Resort is highly recommend due to the location, peaceful environment and friendly, accommodating staff.

Hungry Corner restaurant located about halfway down Karon Beach and walking distance from Marina Phuket Resort, serves a variety of meals at a reasonable price. The fried noodles with shrimp for 120 BHT is very good as is the chicken curry, which is a milder curry than you would find in an Indian restaurant. The menu also offers pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads and Thai dishes. Hungry Corner is always busy and prompt. The downside is the vendors who will walk up to tables trying to sell their items.

Karon Beach offers many shops, restaurants and Thai massage shops. Thai massages and foot massages run 250 BHT per hour (approximately $8 USD) at the majority of the shops. The foot massage also includes a few minutes on arms, neck and shoulders - a definite must do after a busy day of exploring.

Walking south along the road from Karon Beach will lead right into Kata Beach. The majority of Kata Beach sits in front of Club Med, but the town itself is similar to Karon Beach. The Karon and Kata Beach areas are chaotic and touristy, but less so than the larger Patong Beach to the north. All beaches offer chairs and umbrellas for rent, massages on the beach and many small restaurants and food carts.

Travelling over to Ko Phi Phi (pronounced Pee Pee) can be arranged through most hotels or directly at the ferry dock. There are ferries and speed boats that will make the journey. Ferries to Ko Phi Phi take approximately 2 hours and make a scenic tour around Phi Phi Leh before dropping snorkelers off at Long Beach on Phi Phi Don and ending at the main dock at Tonsei Pier on Phi Phi Don. Phi Phi Don Island is just as cluttered and chaotic as the other beaches in Phuket with shops and restaurants packed in. There are no roads or cars on the island, so if staying at a hotel in town, a backpack is your best option or hire someone to bring bags by cart. It's worth a visit and there are several nice resorts on the beach for those interested in staying on Phi Phi Island. Phi Phi Leh is not developed, but does have a beach with snorkel tours from Phi Phi Don.

There are many dive shops on Phuket and Ko Phi Phi and most do not need advance reservations, but do need to know the evening before if you would like to dive. Most of the smaller dive shops all book diving through South Siam Divers. Boats go to a handful of sites daily, with trips to sites further away on a set schedule each week. Boats may have up to 30 divers, but dives are guided with 4 divers per guide. Diving at Racha Yai is a nice way to start the trip with easy diving and abundant fish life.

Phuket Scuba Club is owned by a South African couple who are very helpful and prompt at responding to emails!! Phuket Scuba Club has two locations, one right on Karon Beach and one in Kata Beach. Phuket Scuba Club also books through South Siam Divers. The trip from Karon Beach to the Similan Islands is a 2 hour drive to Khoa Lak then a 1 hour speed boat to the South Siam live-aboards.

All Similan Island diving is done from the live-aboard and can be done as a day trip or for as many nights as you would like. The South Siam 3 is a standard live-aboard with simple staterooms, shared bathrooms and a very simple sun deck. All meals are included and beer is on the honor system for 50 BHT each. Make sure to bring a towel because they are not provided on the boat. The diving around the Similan Islands is spectacular with most dives as drift dives. A favorite site is East of Eden - a nice slow drift dive, with so many fish it's like being in an aquarium. The Chinese wall is another spectacular site with wall structures that are very large, solid pieces of rock. Scuba diving the Similan Islands is a must do and spending a few nights on the live-aboard is highly recommended!

Overall, Phuket is a great place to visit for beautiful beaches, shopping, snorkeling and scuba diving.