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.
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: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
275 Sightings
J
44
F
35
M
66
A
47
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: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
239 Sightings
J
50
F
32
M
50
A
44
M
9
J
5
J
0
A
7
S
5
O
2
N
14
D
21
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 12
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
401 Sightings
J
85
F
55
M
87
A
54
M
14
J
3
J
4
A
6
S
7
O
14
N
29
D
43
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 130
AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish
259 Sightings
J
46
F
41
M
46
A
37
M
12
J
6
J
4
A
8
S
6
O
8
N
19
D
26
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
234 Sightings
J
59
F
22
M
47
A
33
M
14
J
4
J
4
A
2
S
6
O
0
N
19
D
24
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
221 Sightings
J
47
F
27
M
45
A
40
M
8
J
2
J
5
A
5
S
6
O
1
N
16
D
19
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 90
Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish
201 Sightings
J
54
F
24
M
46
A
28
M
10
J
3
J
4
A
5
S
4
O
3
N
4
D
16
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 130
Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish
174 Sightings
J
44
F
24
M
45
A
27
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: 8
Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
Bannerfish
174 Sightings
J
39
F
19
M
39
A
19
M
10
J
3
J
4
A
4
S
4
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: 20
iStock-stephankerkhofs
Porcupinefish
148 Sightings
J
35
F
12
M
23
A
24
M
11
J
2
J
3
A
3
S
5
O
0
N
12
D
18
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.
