Hidden behind lush greenery and bamboo lies an uneven stretch of golden sand with gushing peacock blue waters swirling up to it. With waters as pristine and clear as those, it is understood that ocean activities and beach sports must be common and well cherished in the area. Famous for more than one reason, Phuket and its neighbouring islands are a beach lover’s dream destination. In addition to the flawless beaches, Phuket owns a rich culture and base of rituals and also has plenty of good restaurants, temples, nightlife and trekking.

Snorkelling requires one to know a bit of swimming, not with the fluidity of a fish but the ability to stay afloat and kick is essential. No beach lover feels that his or her holiday in Phuket is complete without dipping in with a snorkel in their mouth, a wetsuit on their back and goggles on their eyes. Though the best feeler of the underwater world is obtained by scuba diving, there is an abundance of marine activity just below the ocean’s surface in this area to keep a snorkeler glued and entranced.

Shoals of parrotfish, snappers, titan trigger fish and lionfish briskly swim by while anemones, sea fans and urchins boldly move about close to the snorkelers. Shrimps, garden eels and even moray eels will not escape a trained eye, though their presence is usually well camouflaged. Racha and Phi Phi islands can be accessed within twenty minutes or so by motor boat, where snorkelling is most famous. The seas here stand out due to the stag horn shaped, cabbage profiled and leaf like coral reefs.

A day excursion should suffice if you are not a marine species fanatic, but for those with a real passion to find the little mermaid who resides below the ocean waves, a comfortable stay at one of the islands is recommended.

For the travellers looking for luxurious holidays could easily find a well- appointed Phuket resort in the area without much difficulty. To add to the list of merriments in Phuket is the Anantara Phuket Resort Thailand, one of the pioneering accommodations in the island that has really laid the foundation for high class holiday residences. This has helped make every Phuket beach resort compete head to head on the luxurious living they offer.

Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry. Google+