Phuket is blessed with eye-catching clear waters that spread over several miles. Of course, the beaches in Phuket are one of the biggest attractions that both locals and foreigners love to enjoy whenever they are on the largest island in Thailand. Like other places around the world, you are probably concerned about the safety of the beaches in Phuket.
Overall, the beaches in Phuket are relatively safe as they don’t have many strange creatures that may put the lives of visitors at risk. However, you should note that the water can be unsafe during some periods because of rip currents. Therefore, despite the safety of Phuket beaches, you need to be careful whenever you want to use them.
If you are planning to visit any of Phuket’s beaches, there are some essential things you must be aware of. So, this post will shed more light on those things.
Are Phuket beaches safe?
As noted early, Phuket beaches are generally safe as long as you observe some essential safety measures. The majority of Phuket beaches don’t pose any danger for most parts of the year. But some parts of the beaches can be dangerous, so each user must avoid them to stay safe.
Phuket beaches are parts of the Andaman Sea, which may have waves that can swell up to more than 5 feet. There have been lots of reports about issues that some tourists experienced when at Phuket beaches. In 2018, the Phuket News reported that a tourist died at Kata Beach. The news agency also noted that more people die at different Phuket beaches annually.
But the good news is that most Phuket beaches have numerous lifeguards. Hence, these professionals always come to the aid of tourists whenever there is a problem. As stated by Travel Fish, you should stay away from the beaches of Phuket from May to October as the beaches are usually most dangerous in these months. If you want to swim or do other watersports on Phuket beaches, you are advised to only do so between November and April.
Apart from the aforementioned dangers, pickpockets and thieves also lurk around the beaches. This is especially true during the peak season when lots of people will visit the beaches. So, keep this in mind and safeguard your belongings when you are at the beach.
Is Patong beach safe to swim in?
Yes, Patong beach is quite safe for anyone to swim. According to Thailand Travel Essentials, about 10 safeguards are available at Patong Beach each day. So, you can count on them to help you whenever you are swimming.
Nonetheless, when you are at Patong Beach, you should consider the following when swimming:
- Observe the red flag are and make sure you stay away from them.
- Make sure you take note of the warning signs about jellyfishes. The bites of these creatures can lead to sickness or even death when left untreated for a long period.
- Avoid hitting your feet on underwater rocks by wearing suitable water shoes.
Like other Phuket beaches, the safest months to swim in Patong Beach are from November to April.
How do you know if a beach is safe to swim in?
Although most beaches in Phuket are usually safe to swim in, you must understand that they may be unsafe in some cases.
Here are some tips that can help you to know if a beach is safe to swim in or not:
- Check out the flags
Basically, some beaches have green flags that will indicate that the beaches are safe to swim in. So, whenever you see green flags, you can swim on such a beach.
A red flag, on the other hand, indicates that you should not swim on the beach. If you should swim on such a beach, you may be putting your life at risk. Also, a red and yellow colored flag is telling you that the beach is not entirely safe to swim in, but there are lifeguards to help you. So, you can swim on a beach with a red and yellow colored flag with caution.
- Follow the instructions of the lifeguards
Lifeguards are well-trained and experienced professionals that understand lots of things about swimming on beaches. So, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask them about the safety of a beach before swimming it. Similarly, if they tell you anything about a beach, you should believe them and follow their instructions.
- Watch out for signs of rip currents or risky waves
Rip currents happen when there is a breakage of waves away from the shoreline that forces water to circulate strongly. Generally, it is usually difficult to swim when there are risky waves and rip currents. Lots of people have lost their lives on dangerous beaches with rip currents. According to the CDC, the water with rip currents will have lots of small, rough waves or full of dirt and debris. In addition, it may be foamy and discolored.
If you want to protect yourself at any beach in Phuket, it is crucial to avoid any beach with rip currents or dangerous waves. Don’t be overconfident and disobey the warning signs or instructions of lifeguards.
- Consider the weather
The weather can also tell you whether swimming on a beach will be good or not. For example, if the weather forecast tells you that there will be storms, you don’t need anyone to tell you that swimming on a beach will be dangerous. In such a situation, you should you need to avoid swimming.
Where can you swim in Phuket?
To swim in Phuket, you can visit any of the following islands:
· Kata Beach
- Patong Beach
- Surin Beach
- Kata Noi Beach
- Bangtao Beach
- Ya Nui Beach
- Freedom Beach
- Banana Beach
- Paradise Beach
- Kamala Beach
- Nai Harn Beach
- Karon Beach
If you want to swim in Phuket without going to the beaches, you should consider the swimming pools in some of the resorts and hotels on the island.
In conclusion, the beaches in Phuket are safe. However, you must be aware of some risks associated with swimming or doing other things on Phuket beaches.
