Shark Point – The Iconic Dive Site of Phuket
For many divers visiting Phuket, Shark Point is at the top of the list. These stunning pinnacles half way between Phuket and Phi Phi attract tons of life from the featureless areas surrounding it. It’s named after the leopard sharks that like to rest on the sandy bottom in the day time. They’re not so common as they used to be. After a decline in numbers for a few years, they’re becoming a common sighting again.
Even without the sharks it can be a wonderful dive. The pinnacles are festooned in soft corals, huge gorgonian sea fans and barrel sponges that host a wealth of different species. There’s at least 5 pinnacles but we only dive pinnacle 1 & 2 on a regular basis. The remaining pinnacles are a little too deep for a three dive day with no sheltered areas to complete the safety stop. Don’t worry the first two pinnacles are more than large enough to accommodate a full dive.
huge gorgonian sea fans at shark point
Anything Goes On The Shark Point Dive
Shark Point really is a dive site where you can expect anything. As well as the leopard sharks we can find grey bamboo sharks tucked in under the corals and although very infrequent we do get some whale shark sightings. Cuttlefish, kuhl’s stingrays and some very large yellowtail barracuda are all common sightings.
huge yellowtail barracuda reside at shark point
The small animals are also there in abundance, there’s 4 different species of clownfish, tigertail seahorses, peacock and spearing mantis shrimp as well as plenty of nudibranch’s although it’s hard looking down when there’s so much going on around you.
Large schools of snapper and chevron barracuda come close to the pinnacles when there is a bit of current. Squirrelfish and copper sweepers fill the overhangs and small caves. Everywhere you look there is something to find at Shark Point.
Tigertail Seahorse At Shark Point
Shark Point is a definitely a dive site to drift along and take the whole scene in. With good visibility it really can be a spectacular dive site and definitely one of the best in Thailand.
We visit Shark Point 4 times per week. Every Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Get in touch with Local Dive Thailand now to secure your spot.
