Assi

Have you ever considered a boat trip? Especially if you are with your family, there is nothing better!

You need to maintain a salt content of around 2500 - 3500 PPM (parts per million), depending on the chlorinator companies specifications. This can be tested with a testing device, available on Lazada. With the same tester, you can also check the ph level, which for salt water pools should be around 7.6, please note the level will always become more alkaline (higher), so having some hydrochloric acid at home to add occasionally would keep the ph at the ideal level. DO NOT USE THIS ACID IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF ITS DANGER!

Ideal chlorine level is at 1.0 and again any pool shop will sell you the test kits, so you can check yourself.

Ever since the National Parks are closed, illegal fisherman - mostly in longtail boats move in and fish out with nets and bottom fishing what they can get. The "guards" employed by the national park authorities open their hands for freebie fish and that's it.

When the next high season approaches there is only tiny fish left, the rest is gone - stolen by the illegal fisherman - supported by the national park rangers.

These guys not only fish with harpoons, they use nets and also destroy the coral at the same time.

This "sport" is not new and has been going on since ever, the problem is their equipment is becoming more sophisticated, so the damage these illegal fisherman cause is getting much worse.

If you are flying into Phuket, why not stay here? We have wonderful beaches, and near Naiharn Beach reasonable accommodation, close to the beach. From Rawai you can take cheap excursions with a private longtail boat to the nearby islands which offer nice snorkeling. 

Near Patong you have Freedom beach, which is pristine and just South of Kamala beach you have some rocky places with nice snorkeling.

You just need to be aware, that during the Summer monsoon, the waves on the West coast are quite large and it is not safe to swim.

Ko Racha Yai has great snorkeling on the East side, which will be flat calm during the SW monsoon, but I would recommend to stay in some resort and go snorkeling either in the morning or late afternoon, as it is packed with tourist boats during the day, but fun to watch thousands of Chinese floating in the sea with their life jackets on. Quite spectacular to see!