Phuket — The only waves available here are storm driven, and occur only during the monsoon season from June to October. You simply have to be lucky to catch good waves here.
The best conditions occur after the monsoon winds have blown from some days, then suddenly stop. The swells continue coming for several days after the wind falls, and even themselves out to form some excellent breaks. But they will usually only last about thee or four days following the end of the wind, getting smaller each day. This happens off and on during the monsoon, and the surfer just has to be hanging around to get lucky.
Subject: Re: Thailand Surfing?
Date: 1997/05/06
Author: Peking Duck
There is potential in Thai isles in the Andaman Sea. I will be down that way later this month with my wife and we’ll get the local scoop on this and get back to everyone. I think the Andaman Sea heading towards Burma might be interesting, but it is hard to support the junta right now. There is surf in Bangladesh, but I read there are some major shark problems. In one case, a pack of sharks attacked a fishing boat. The story was reported by AP, Afp or Reuters, so there must be some truth in it. India is totally untapped. There are hopes of holding an ASP event in India, pending sponsorship. John
From: CatBasah
Newsgroups: alt.surfing
Subject: Re: Any surf in Thailand ?
Date: 7 Feb 1996
I’ve surfed on Phuket Several Times. The waves were waist to head high, mushy and pretty weak. There are just too many islands between Phuket and Indian Ocean swells. The best break I found was at the south end of Karan Beach.
I’ve surfed there a few times. Karan Beach on Phuket island has a “break”. The best I ever saw was 2-3 ft mushy waves, with on shore wind. Nice Island, but I wouldn’t plan a surf trip there.
Subject: Re: Any surf in Thailand ?
Check out koh-pangan which is off the island of koh-samui i was there last feb. and it was small but rideable. there are even some boards laying around you can borrow. if you do get down there and don’t find any surf try this. go down to the sunrise beach ask for Benny, buy off him some shrooms after 15 minutes go down to the beach and check it out..
Subject: Re: Any surf in Thailand ?
I have met a few regulars whom travel there for business and surf as well, and assure me that there are small, but good waves in and around Phuket especially.
I have been to Phuket and there is no surf that I know of or I would have been rippin’. Phuket is a resort island with hotels on most of the coast. There are also sea fleas or something in the water that give you some nasty bites.
Now if you can get down to Indonesia (Bali), then you will find some very good waves.
Subject: Re: Waves in Thailand?
Well, I hope you like wind surfing, or snorkeling because there is not much waves in Phuket. The “mousson” (sorry I don’t know the term in English, I mean the rain and storm season) comes later (july august) and even then I didn’t see much swell. Anyway if you take your board have a look in the bays in between Patong and the Club-Med as it is the most exposed part of the island.
