discover Kata beach, phuket

Published 09/05/2024 #discover

     Kata Beach North is a dive site that offers a unique underwater experience with its combination of natural and artificial structures. The site is located at the northern end of Kata Beach in Phuket, Thailand, and is known for its easy diving conditions and shallow waters, which provide comfortable and extended dive times. During the best time of the year, from November to April also known as Phuket's dry season ☀️ , Van will guide you through the Kata site. The rest of the year, the wind picks up and the surfing 🏄‍♀️ season starts, but other dive sites in Phuket remain open such as Racha Bay or Phi Phi Island.

1. The Reef

     The reef at Kata Beach North begins about 10 meters from the shoreline and stretches out into the sea, running north to south. It features a gradual descent to a depth of 12-14 meters before reaching a sandy bottom. This hard coral reef is accessible either from the beach or by boat and is suitable for divers of all levels.

Bicolor Blenny, Ecsenius bicolor
Schooling barracudas, Sphyraena helleri

2. The Sand

     Beyond the reef, there is an extensive sandy bottom that hosts a variety of marine life. This area is particularly known for its macro dive opportunities, where divers can spot critters like flounders, seahorses, stonefish, and even mimic octopuses in their natural habitat.

Goniobranchus fidelis
Scorpionfish

3. The Cubes

     The cubes refer to groups of hollow concrete structures placed on the sandy bottom to form artificial reefs. These cubes attract a diverse range of marine life seeking shelter from predators and are located around 10-15 meters deep, creating an exciting environment for divers to explore... but stay clear of the sharp edges and hydroids.

     Thanks to the protected and warm shallow waters of Kata Beach North, divers can enjoy long dives up to 100 minutes, and have a high chance of encountering a wide array of marine life. Common sightings include barracuda, parrotfish, boxfish, pufferfish, and turtles. The site’s conditions also make it an ideal location for underwater photography, allowing divers to capture stunning images of the vibrant ecosystem. Considering the large presence of juveniles, it is nicknamed "The Nursery".

     The dive site is also part of a larger effort to protect and preserve the marine environment. Divers are encouraged to participate in conservation activities such as Dive Against Debris to help maintain the site’s health and biodiversity.

     At Bubbles & Lenses, we believe that underwater photography serves as a powerful medium for exploration, discovery, and storytelling, thus driving positive change for its preservation. That is why we have selected this dive site for your Advanced Underwater Photography Course.

KATA BEACH NORTH DIVE SITE

Diving type: beach (shore entry)

Depth: 10-15m

Water temp: 28-30ºC

Visibility: highly variable, from muck {<0.5m} to clear {>20m}

Ecosystem: Hard coral reef, sandy bottom, artificial reefs

Fauna: barracuda, parrotfish, pufferfish, surgeonfish, lionfish, scorpionfish, wrasses, sweetlips, groupers, flounders, nudibranchs, branching corals, brain corals

Suggested equipment: rash guard, SMB, camera, booties, dive computer