Thailand is a great place for water sports. Some of of the kingdom's bays provide the rips required for surfing. Phuket’s Kalim and Kata beaches provide surf suitable for Intermediate level surfers while Karon and Kata Yai beaches are suitable for starters. While never going to compete with the surf in countries like Australia, Thailand’s surf is good enough for those with limited experience. Straightforward waterskiing is available in Thailand, as is surfboarding - where people ride a short, very broad water ski while being towed by a motorboat. Surfboarding opportunities are available at various locations in Thailand, particular favourites being Pattaya and Koh Samui. Jet Skis are really enjoyable, allowing you to navigate the waves like you might ride a motorbike. A number of tours of islands around Phuket are done on Jet skis, enabling people to get into the inland waterways and alcoves they might not usually be able to see. Kiteboarding – a curious blend of parascending and surfing where you are dragged behind a large canopy that is driven by the wind – is one of the fastest growing water-based activities in the kingdom. Professional kiteboarding instruction and equipment is available on Koh Samui and in Hua Hin.

Jet Skis on Phuket

There are five Phuket beaches where you can legally use a Jet Ski - Karon, Patong, Kata, Kamala and Bangtao beaches. You have to be a bit careful when renting a Jet Ski on Phuket. You should only rent from licensed Jet Ski operators and their licenses should be available for inspection. You could be fined for renting from a vendor without a license. Anyone operating a Jet Ski in Phuket is also supposed to hold a 'Second Class Helmsmen of Power Driven Sea-going Vessels' certificate. If you have not got one (which we can assume most people do not!) there is seldom a problem.

However, if you have an accident it is more serious. Operating a Jet Ski without such a certificate means if you have an accident you could pay a fine of 10,000 Baht! If you are worried about this, just go on a Jet Ski as a passenger. Phuket law dictates that if you travel on a Jet Ski even as a passenger you must wear a life jacket that has a whistle - not a bad idea anyway really! In addition, according to the law, you should not go further than 500 metres away form the coastline - again, pretty much commonsense. Likewise, if sea conditions are such that a red flag is raised to people stop swimming, you are not allowed to use Jet Skis. again, a very practical law which most people should be happy to follow.

Yellow Submarines!

What does it take to make a perfect Phuket experience? Answer: Blue skies, white sand, turquoise water. and yellow submarines. That's right - yellow submarines really do exist beyond Beatles lyrics and drug enhanced inner journeys. They are especially prevalent around Phuket where they take visitors on trips to explore the undersea world and marine life. Depending on which company you use, submarines leave from Rassada Pier or Chalong Pier for trips of over two hours, going out about every two and a half hours.

These are no miniature submarines - air-conditioned and technologically advanced, everything is very comfortable and there's ample space for up to 48 passengers and plenty of portals available to stare out into the unknown world in front of you. This is especially good fun for the kids who get so much out of the trip, but of course everyone enjoys themselves. The submarines have external cameras and LCD screens inside showing passengers vivid images of what's going on beyond the hull. According to one source the tourist over 10,000,000 people have been on submarine tours and there hasn't been a single accident, making this one of the safest forms of travel available. You are in good hands, whatever the conditions. Don't miss the chance - we don't all live in Yellow Submarines, but we can at least spend a couple of great hours in one!