Dive in and Enjoy Water Sports in Phuket

Phuket is surrounded by warm, clear and calm waters. This makes it the ideal location for water-lovers to indulge in a whole array of fun and exciting water sports. We’ll list all the most popular water-based activities in Phuket, tell you where you can find them, how much they’ll cost, and whether knowing how to swim is required to take part in them. 

The prices listed are approximate costs, as different vendors may raise or lower prices, particularly during this time. Also, because of the pandemic, not all vendors may be operating. You should call or check online to determine the availability of the water sports in Phuket that you want to experience before heading to their locations. 

As your days on the island will be mostly sunny, particularly if you’re visiting in the high season of November to April, please be sure to wear waterproof sunscreen at all times. Other than that, a swimsuit is all you’ll need to enjoy a wet n’ wild holiday on the tropical island of Phuket. 

Parasailing Offers a Birds-Eye View of the Coast

Everyone's seen pictures of tourists soaring high above the turquoise waters of the island in a parasail. There's really no trick to it, and it's offered at several places along Patong Beach as well as on Karon Beach. To ride a parasail, an instructor will provide a life jacket and put you in a harness which is then connected to the parasail.

Two people can ride at the same time. The instructor will then climb into the rigging and steer the parasail as it’s towed by a boat around Patong Bay. 

No swimming is required, and it's safe for both young kids and the elderly as you leave and return to the safety of the beach. The best time of year is November to February when the winds are calm. The typical ride lasts around five minutes and costs between THB 800 and 1,300, depending on the vendor. 

Explore the Undersea World by Snorkelling

Snorkelling is often one of people’s favourite activities in Phuket, and there are so many places around the island to explore. Practically every beach on the island offers a reef teeming with colourful fish. Snorkelling gear can be rented for the day at most dive shops on the island for around THB 300.

Swimming is generally a requirement to snorkel, but the smaller kids in the family can enjoy wading in shallow water and looking at the fish through a snorkelling mask. 

But some of the best snorkelling adventures in Phuket involve a boat ride out to the islands in Phang Nga Bay. Many of the speedboats supply snorkelling gear as part of the cost of the trip, which can be around THB 2,500 and 5,000, depending on the size of the boat and your destination. 

Explore the Coast by Kayak

Kayaking can be enjoyed in two ways. You can rent a kayak for around THB 100 to 200 an hour from vendors on Patong Beach and explore the calm waters of the bay at your leisure. Or, you can take a boat trip out to the islands in Phang Nga Bay. These boat trips will include a few hours in a kayak exploring the islands, beaches and caves.

They cost around THB 2,500 to 5,000, depending on the length of the trip and the destination. 

Whichever way you want to experience kayaking, swimming is not a requirement as life jackets are provided. But smaller kids can become tired on longer trips, so it's best to simply rent a kayak off the beach to find out if younger family members are up to the challenge before booking a trip to Phang Nga Bay.

Experience the Thrills of Jet-Skiing

Renting a jet-ski in Phuket is a fun way to beat the heat and experience the thrill of skimming across the waves. Plenty of vendors rent jet-skis all along the beaches of Patong, Karon, Bangtao, Kata and Surin at any time of the year. 

Swimming isn't a requirement, and the vendor will provide life jackets for you and a passenger. Expect to pay about THB 1,000 to 1,500 for 30 minutes of fun. Also, be sure to check the condition of the jet-ski before riding. Take a photo and point out to the vendor any pre-existing damage. 

Ride the Waves on a Windsurfer or Kiteboard

If you’ve never tried your hand at windsurfing, the best place to get your feet wet is right on Patong Beach. Most of the vendors charge around THB 2,500 an hour to rent a windsurfer. They’ll also teach you the basic techniques to change direction and recover after a spill.

Be sure to check that there is at least some wind before you rent a board. A gentle breeze is best for beginners, but no wind at all, and you'll just sit in one place!

Kiteboarding is an increasingly popular activity in Phuket. Most of the vendors rent equipment and provide lessons (which every beginner should take advantage of) on Rawau and Nai Yang beaches. Full equipment costs per hour are around THB 1,400 and a day of lessons reach around THB 4,000. 

Knowing how to swim is not a requirement of either sailboarding or kitesurfing, and the vendor will provide a life vest. The water is relatively shallow, but you should still feel comfortable being in water that’s over your head. November to February are the prime months for both sports because of the flat seas and gentle breezes. 

Try Your Skills at Wakeboarding on Your Holiday

There used to be two facilities on artificial lakes that invited you to take to the waves on a wakeboard. But sadly, Anthem Wakepark near Patong has permanently closed down due to the economic effects of the pandemic. Still, Phuket Wakepark near Kathu remains open!

Phuket Wakepark is a large facility that offers wakeboarding on a lake facilitated by two continuously-moving cable systems. There are obstacles along the route that the cable systems travel including jumps and rails that will keep the more experienced wakeboarders entertained. 

The wakepark offers different training lessons and coaching programmes, and they even have kid’s weekends and 5-day Wake Camps where children from 6-15 years old can become old pros at wakeboarding.

Their prices differ depending on how much time you want to spend on the water and the amount of training you need. 

But for first-time visitors, you can get 30-minutes of private training, and two hours of time on the "big cable" for a promotional price of only THB 500.

This is an excellent way to find out if this sport is right for you.

Hourly and “Happy Hour” rates include a wakeboard, life vest and helmet. Although knowing how to swim isn’t really required for wakeboarding, you should be comfortable in water that’s over your head. Phuket Wakepark is open all year round. 

Rental for the Holidays has lots of modern and spacious condos for rent across Phuket. Choose a condo close to the beach to enjoy all the water sports offered in this tropical paradise.