Explore Kata Beach

On Phuket’s west coast is the picturesque Kata Beach, that boasts scenery typical of pristine tropical paradise, with its white sandy beaches and warm turquoise water. It’s one of the most popular holiday destinations in Phuket, alongside Karon Beach.

Dive centers and resorts that cater to all budgets are in abundance here, and liveaboard trips often take Phuket-dwellers to nearby iconic sites like the Bida Islands, King Cruiser, Shark Point, Anemone Reef, the Phi Phi Islands and the Racha Islands. Dive courses are similarly just as easy to find, and beginners will enjoy taking their open water course in calm, shallow diving conditions in Kata and its surrounding dive sites. Experienced divers can also benefit from advanced courses, with a number of suitable training sites easily accessible by boat.

What’s more, macro lovers here can rejoice, as Kata Beach dive sites are home to some of the rarest tiny critters in Thailand. Nowhere else in the kingdom will you find such a high quantity and quality of macro life.

Upcoming Events

  • Dive Activity

    Diving in Kata Beach

    Diving here typically involves easy reef diving, shore, muck, and fantastic night diving. It’s said to be the macro diving capital of Thailand, so for those that adore tiny critters, only places like Anilao and Raja Ampat can rival Kata. For wreck diving, wall and cave diving, you’ll need to head further afield on some of Phuket’s day trips.

    Top Wildlife Sightings in Kata Beach

    The usual tropical favorites can be seen at Kata Beach, such as colorful hard and soft corals and sponges at the beautiful reef site, along with a myriad of reef fish like angelfish, anemonefish, lionfish, and even cuttlefish, stingrays, eels and sea snakes.

    Turtles and black tip reef sharks have also been sighted, and it’s macro critters galore, including nudibranchs, shrimp and seahorses. Reports of super rare creatures come fairly often, including mimic octopus, seahorses of varying sizes, snake eels and much more.

    Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 200

    Moray Eel

    Moray Eel

    288 Sightings
    J
    44
    F
    40
    M
    73
    A
    48
    M
    15
    J
    3
    J
    4
    A
    7
    S
    6
    O
    2
    N
    22
    D
    24

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 27

    Barracuda

    Barracuda

    245 Sightings
    J
    51
    F
    33
    M
    51
    A
    46
    M
    9
    J
    5
    J
    0
    A
    7
    S
    5
    O
    2
    N
    15
    D
    21

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 12

    Lionfish

    Lionfish

    417 Sightings
    J
    87
    F
    57
    M
    94
    A
    58
    M
    14
    J
    3
    J
    4
    A
    6
    S
    7
    O
    14
    N
    30
    D
    43

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 130

    Pufferfish

    Pufferfish

    272 Sightings
    J
    46
    F
    45
    M
    51
    A
    40
    M
    12
    J
    6
    J
    4
    A
    8
    S
    6
    O
    8
    N
    20
    D
    26

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 100

    Parrotfish

    Parrotfish

    248 Sightings
    J
    60
    F
    25
    M
    53
    A
    36
    M
    14
    J
    4
    J
    4
    A
    2
    S
    6
    O
    0
    N
    20
    D
    24

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 28

    Clownfish

    Clownfish

    234 Sightings
    J
    52
    F
    30
    M
    52
    A
    43
    M
    2
    J
    2
    J
    5
    A
    5
    S
    6
    O
    1
    N
    17
    D
    19

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 90

    Angelfish

    Angelfish

    213 Sightings
    J
    54
    F
    30
    M
    52
    A
    31
    M
    10
    J
    3
    J
    4
    A
    5
    S
    0
    O
    3
    N
    5
    D
    16

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 8

    Bannerfish

    Bannerfish

    183 Sightings
    J
    39
    F
    22
    M
    46
    A
    22
    M
    10
    J
    3
    J
    4
    A
    4
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    13
    D
    20

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 130

    Butterfly Fish

    Butterfly Fish

    180 Sightings
    J
    44
    F
    25
    M
    47
    A
    30
    M
    2
    J
    3
    J
    4
    A
    3
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    4
    D
    18

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 20

    Porcupinefish

    Porcupinefish

    153 Sightings
    J
    35
    F
    14
    M
    25
    A
    24
    M
    11
    J
    2
    J
    3
    A
    3
    S
    5
    O
    0
    N
    13
    D
    18

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 25

    Boxfish

    Boxfish

    99 Sightings
    J
    13
    F
    21
    M
    25
    A
    25
    M
    2
    J
    3
    J
    2
    A
    5
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    3
    D
    0

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 110

    Snapper

    Snapper

    91 Sightings
    J
    26
    F
    19
    M
    25
    A
    1
    M
    8
    J
    0
    J
    2
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    0
    D
    10

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 7000

    Crab

    Crab

    89 Sightings
    J
    14
    F
    11
    M
    29
    A
    18
    M
    1
    J
    0
    J
    2
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    1
    D
    13

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 130

    Pipefish

    Pipefish

    87 Sightings
    J
    11
    F
    0
    M
    28
    A
    17
    M
    9
    J
    0
    J
    2
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    8
    N
    1
    D
    11

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 120

    Cuttlefish

    Cuttlefish

    83 Sightings
    J
    22
    F
    4
    M
    23
    A
    0
    M
    1
    J
    0
    J
    2
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    18
    D
    13

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 350

    Damselfish

    Damselfish

    76 Sightings
    J
    26
    F
    0
    M
    28
    A
    0
    M
    1
    J
    2
    J
    3
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    3
    D
    13

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 80

    Stingrays

    Stingrays

    61 Sightings
    J
    17
    F
    5
    M
    14
    A
    10
    M
    1
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    2
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    1
    D
    11

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 250

    Scorpionfish

    Scorpionfish

    61 Sightings
    J
    21
    F
    10
    M
    19
    A
    1
    M
    2
    J
    0
    J
    3
    A
    3
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    2
    D
    0

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 3400

    Shrimp

    Shrimp

    59 Sightings
    J
    11
    F
    11
    M
    12
    A
    0
    M
    1
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    1
    O
    0
    N
    12
    D
    11

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 250

    Grouper/Basslets

    Grouper/Basslets

    58 Sightings
    J
    17
    F
    0
    M
    13
    A
    0
    M
    1
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    4
    S
    5
    O
    0
    N
    0
    D
    18

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 85

    Surgeonfish

    Surgeonfish

    57 Sightings
    J
    24
    F
    0
    M
    15
    A
    1
    M
    1
    J
    0
    J
    3
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    1
    D
    12

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 40

    Triggerfish

    Triggerfish

    38 Sightings
    J
    21
    F
    0
    M
    12
    A
    1
    M
    2
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    2
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    0
    D
    0

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 3000

    Nudibranch

    Nudibranch

    35 Sightings
    J
    12
    F
    0
    M
    18
    A
    0
    M
    1
    J
    0
    J
    3
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    1
    D
    0

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 150

    Sweetlips and Grunts

    Sweetlips and Grunts

    32 Sightings
    J
    13
    F
    0
    M
    11
    A
    1
    M
    2
    J
    0
    J
    3
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    2
    D
    0

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 90

    Goatfish

    Goatfish

    25 Sightings
    J
    15
    F
    0
    M
    1
    A
    0
    M
    2
    J
    0
    J
    2
    A
    3
    S
    1
    O
    0
    N
    1
    D
    0

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 3

    Cornetfish

    Cornetfish

    22 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    11
    A
    1
    M
    8
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    2
    D
    0

    The best Months to dive in Kata Beach

    Air temperatures range from 25°C-32°C, and water temperature is around 29°C all year, thanks to a sublime tropical climate experienced in Phuket. The high season runs from around November to April and experiences less rainfall.. Liveaboards are also abundant in this period, and make trips to the Similan and Surin Islands from Phuket. Waves and current are at their calmest, and visibility at its best in the area, making this season the best time to dive.

    The low season from May to October has rougher seas and reduced visibility, but divers won’t be disappointed, as critters don’t disappear, and the water is ever-warm. Also, bargains on accommodation and diving can be had too, which is a plus.

    Dive Centers

    Dive Sites