Karon Beach, (AKA Karon Noi Beach), situated on the west side of Phuket island, is the third-longest beach in the region. Located in southern Thailand, it’s south of Patong and north of Kata. All are popular holiday destinations, however, Karon attracts the most tourists to its large white sandy beaches.

Karon Beach has amazing spots for diving and snorkelling at its southern end, that are mostly shallow and very easy for beginners and advanced divers alike. Locals recommend sites like Karon Beach Reef, Karon Rock, and nearby Koh Po as morning dives for the best experience, as you’ll see just as many critters as you would at Racha Yai Island, without having to splash the cash nor spend the entire day diving. Dive operators here also run daily boat diving trips to nearby hotspots, like the Koh Racha Islands (Yai and Noi), Phi Phi Islands (Phi Phi Leh and Phi Phi Don), Koh Bida Islands (Bida Nok and Nai) and the world-famous King Cruiser Wreck, Shark Point and Anemone Reef, which are often dived back-to-back. Phuket-based liveaboards also depart for the iconic sites of the Similan and Surin Islands.

Dive centers and resorts that cater to all budgets are aplenty in this bustling location. Operators offer dive courses in a variety of languages and are relatively inexpensive. It’s great for beginners to obtain an open water license thanks to calm seas and minimal current, while seasoned divers will enjoy advanced courses or speciality training, like wreck and cave diving, due to several fantastic training sites
 

With a year-round tropical season, diving is always possible in this region. Air temperatures range from 25°C-32°C, and the water temperature is around 29°C all year. The high season runs from November to April and experiences the least rainfall. Liveaboards also run during this period, especially to the Similan and Surin Islands. Waves and currents are at their calmest, and visibility at its best. The low season from April to October has choppier seas and reduced visibility, but the diving is still great as critters remain unchanged and the water is warm. Plus, you’ll find great deals on diving and accommodation.

Karon and the entirety of Phuket diving typically involve reef diving, wall diving, wreck diving and boulder diving. At any dive site, expect magnificent numbers of diverse creatures, along with impressive topography. Shore diving is possible off Karon Beach itself, while dive operators in the area generally offer boat diving trips to sites further afield.

Expect to see a variety of hard and soft corals, sponges and sea fans. A myriad of tropical fish like angelfish, batfish, pufferfish, lionfish, scorpionfish, anemonefish, schools of snapper and barracuda all populate the colorful reefs. Other curious cuties include octopus, seahorses, cuttlefish, stingrays and various eel species, and macro beauties like nudibranch and shrimp.

Karon Beach Reef is a beautiful, easy shore dive, coral formations and exceptional marine life thrive. It’s a good spot for dive courses, night diving and underwater macro photography. Karon Rock, just off the southern end of Karon Beach, entails two enormous boulders covered in coral and sea fans, that hosts a wealth of marine life. Koh Poo, accessible by boat, is a pretty site that’s similarly home to amazing corals and fish species.