Thrilling Watersports In Phuket For Adventure Enthusiasts

The calm and balmy water of the Andaman Sea is ideal for snorkelling. This fun activity is also one of the easiest and most popular watersports in Phuket. Just dive in to explore the colourful marine life, beautiful tropical fishes, spectacular corals, and other sea animals.

Level: Easy
Location: Similan Islands, Patong in Kathu, Ao Sane, Kata Noi, Laem Singh, and Paradise Beach
Swimming: Not mandatory
Best Season: November to April

Scuba diving is among the must-try watersports in Phuket as the marine life in this region is considered one of nature's trophies. The marine life is colourful and vivid, brimming with hard and soft corals, tropical fish, sea turtles, stingrays, barracudas, sharks, and giant manta rays and much more. There are numerous PADI and SSI certified diving centers to help you learn and enjoy scuba diving in the turquoise blue waters.

Level: Easy
Location: Patong Beach, Racha Yai Island, Racha Noi Island, Similan Island and Phi Phi Islands
Swimming: Mandatory
Best Season: December to April

Perfect for the inexperienced and first-timers sea kayaking is the easiest of all available watersports in Phuket. It is a leisurely way of sightseeing in and around the water-bound regions of Phuket. Here in Phuket, you can Kayak around and through nearby islands, limestone caves with stalactites and stalagmites, hongs (accessible on low tides), and karsts. Guided tours are available where you can relax while experienced guides paddle you around. You can enjoy surreal views of the islands, witness the wildlife of mangrove forests as well as the magnificent marine life through clear waters.

Level: Easy
Location: Phang Nga Bay, James Bond Island and Hong Island
Swimming: Not mandatory
Best Season: October to March

Surfing is not as popular as the other watersports in Phuket, but it is gradually gaining the admiration of enthusiasts. The activity is enjoyed during the tourism off-season with high tides and fewer tourists around the beaches. You can rent surfboards and ride the high-speed waves at the famous surfing beaches of Karon and Kalim. Affordable surfing lessons are also available for beginners.

Level: Moderate
Location: Bang Tao, Kalim, Kata, Kamala, Laem Singh, Nai Harn, Karon, and Surin Beach
Swimming: Mandatory
Best Season: April to October

Those interested in trying challenging watersports in Phuket can give windsurfing a shot. Put the strong winds of monsoon to good use and cruise through the enormous waves. The sport is thrilling and requires a lot of strength. You can also enrol in windsurfing courses under certified instructors.

Level: Difficult
Location: Rawai Beach
Swimming: Mandatory
Best Season: July to September

Kitesurfing is one of the most advanced watersports in Phuket. It requires you to maintain balance on a soft board attached to a steerable kite while gliding over the waves. The right weather conditions for this adrenaline gushing sport are the high speed of monsoon winds. You can use them to your advantage to cruise over the waves and leaping high.

Level: Very Difficult
Location: Kalim Beach, Kata Beach, Chalong Bay and Kite Zone at Muang Phuket
Swimming: Mandatory
Best Season: June to September

Motorbiking but on water, is what jet skiing is and Phuket's beaches offer plenty of it. You can enjoy a leisurely ride or whiz around at high speeds on the Andaman Sea. You can rent the motorized water vehicle from a licensed operator and smash the waves. The exhilarating experience is worth a try even for non-swimmers.

Level: Moderate
Location: Patong Beach, Kata Beach and Kamala Beach
Swimming: Not mandatory
Best Season: September to April

Wakeboarding is a fun but difficult watersport. Once you get a good grip on it, you can show off with some cool moves as you whiz along the waves. Phuket has wakeboarding parks where you can experience and practice the sport in a safe environment. You need to learn to balance your body on a wakeboard while holding onto a cable tied to a speedboat. With some focus and practice, wakeboarding is sure to become one of your favourite watersports in Phuket to get your adrenaline pumping.

Level: Moderate
Location: Thalang, Karon, Kathu, and Patong Beach
Swimming: Mandatory
Best Season: October to May

Flyboarding is one of the newest watersports in Phuket and ranks among the difficult ones. It is a very physically intensive motorsport. The sport is ideal for adventure junkies and is quite addictive. You get to hover over the sea with the help of a powerful jet spray attached to your feet. The high-speed water gushing through the pipes helps you to manoeuvre while performing stunts in the air.

Level: Difficult
Location: Patong Beach
Swimming: Mandatory
Best Season: November to April

Watersports in Phuket such as parasailing let you experience the joy of flying while enjoying the birds-eye view of the sea. There are several operators that provided guided watersports in Phuket. For parasailing, a parachute is attached to a speedboat that takes you along the coastline while you hover over the sea. This is a great activity for couples and families to enjoy together.

Level: Easy
Location: Kata, Karon, Kamala, Surina, Patong Beach, Racha, and Coral Island
Swimming: Not mandatory
Best Season: May to October

The simplest yet quite entertaining among the watersports in Phuket is the banana boat ride. An inflatable banana-shaped boat is tied to a speedboat that takes it around the Andaman Sea. The boat has seating space for 6 to 8 people, including an instructor. The adventure of this sport lies in trying to stay on the boat while smashing the waves. Banana boating is very kid-friendly, as well. The ride is fun, economical and safe as each rider is given a life jacket.

Level: Easy
Location: Patong, Kata, Karon, Rawai, and Surin Beach
Swimming: Not mandatory
Best Season: September to April

Paddleboarding (SUP) has quickly gained popularity in Phuket over the years. The sport requires body balancing skills and physical fitness but can be learned quickly by anyone. You can rent the paddleboarding equipment and take a few lessons. It is fun to battle the waves while surfing and paddling through them.

Level: Difficult
Location: Phi Phi Islands, Karon, Thalang, and Phang Nga Bay
Swimming: Mandatory
Best Season: September to April

Sportfishing is the ideal sport for those interested in indulging in some leisurely activity in Phuket. Relaxed yet competitive sportfishing is a fun thing to try. Phuket offers many sea fishing spots with wonderful fishes like Blue and Black Marlin, Trevally, Sailfish, Reef Sharks, Dorado, Razorfish, Rainbow Runners, Dog-Tooth Tuna, Mackerel, Jacks, Swordfish and several varieties of Bottom Fish. You can charter a boat and spend some me-time or join a fishing trip for some Big Game fishing.

Level: Easy
Location: Racha, Surin, and Similan Islands
Swimming: Not mandatory
Best Season: June to March