Phuket in Thailand has nearly the same size as the the island of Singapore and about 70% of Phuket island are forested hills. The highest peak on the Phuket island is Mai Tha Sip Song which reaches 529 meters above sea level, the rest of the island are low plains mainly in the center and south of Phuket island.
Phuket is also the largest island in Thailand but at the same time the smallest province of Southern Thailand. Phuket is surrounded by 32 smaller islands that all together occupy an area of 543 square kilometers. The island is connected to the mainland of Thailand by two bridges, the Sarasin Bridge and Thoa Thep Krasatri Bridge. To the south and west Phuket borders the Andaman Sea, and the Krabi Sea to the East.
Phuket's weather conditions are dominated by monsoon winds that blow year round. It is therefore always warm and humid with two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy season begins in May and lasts till October, during which the monsoon blows from the southwest. The dry season is from November through April, when the monsoon comes from the northeast. Highest average temperatures, at 33.4 degree Celsius, prevail during March. Lowest averages occur in January, when nightly lows dip to 22 degree Celsius.
Phuket diving sites number among the very best to be found in the world. In fact, many of the top diving magazines vote the diving sites of Phuket among the top ten in the world. Diving Phuket's warm clear blue waters is best enjoyed from mid-October to May, when the calm seas and rain free days make Phuket diving off Ko Kaew Noi, Ko Rajali Yai, Shark Point a truly unique experience.
Diving around Phi Phi Island, near Phuket, is one of the highlights for any serious dive itinerary, the Phi Phi Island diving sites takes the diver to one of the most famous diving sites of Asia and many resorts on Phi Phi Island are geared towards diving.
Diving of Khao Lak, near Phuket, will introduce the diver to many new varieties of fish and coral. Diving in the Khao Lak area is a exploring a relatively unspoiled diving site offering much natural scenery not found in other diving sites of Thailand. Khao Lak is one of Thailand's premier marine national parks.
Many scuba diving companies in Phuket offer full training courses and equipment rental, so that experienced and amateur divers can come diving the waters around Phuket without the need to bring more than their swimsuit and underwater camera.
Simple scuba equipment, fins, mask and snorkel, can be rented on a daily basis from nearly all hotels and diving shops all over the island.
