Phuket
Protected Area
Povilla Forest Reserve
Why dive here
With 116+ marine species recorded in the area - including dugongs, eagle rays, great white sharks, manta rays and mobula rays (devil rays) - Phuket offers some of Loyalty Islands's richest reef diving. Water ranges 24-29°C, warmest January, February, March.
Phuket in the Loyalty Islands isn’t about dramatic drop-offs, but a surprisingly rich reef that begs for a slow, unhurried dive. We love meandering through the smaller canyons and tunnels here, where the light plays off the gorgonian walls, making them seem to pulse. Keep an eye out for the vibrant Christmas tree worms popping out of the porite coral heads; they’re truly striking. This spot is a macro photographer’s dream, with plenty of cowries – the lined-lip and carnelian are our favourites – and we’ve spotted orangutan crabs in the bubble coral more than once. The maximum depth of 20m means you get plenty of bottom time to really explore. We’d suggest going in the morning; the visibility averages 20m, and the early light really enhances the colours. It’s an easy, relaxing dive, perfect for those who enjoy taking their time and discovering the smaller wonders.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Phuket
Phuket Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Phuket, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-20.94, 165.47) (8km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
25°C
77°F · Range: 23.4–27.1°C
Current Speed
8.06 cm/s
Direction: S (187.1°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.052 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
35.08 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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