ANEMONE REEF

Anemone Reef dive site is a limestone Pinnacle located 1 mile Northwest of Shark Point. Anemone reef is part of a marine sanctuary with excellent diving and marine life this prohibits boat to Tie up or drop Anchor anywhere near this dive site is a must for any Scuba Diver on Holiday in Phuket, it gets its name from the Magnificent Sea Anemones which populated the Limestone Pinnacle to form one of Thailand’s best reefs. Anemone Reef is also known as Hin Jom having a North to south dive plan or orientation.

ANEMONE REEF DIVE SITE & HISTORY

Anemone Reef Dive Site became part of a Marine Sanctuary in 1992 and is one the most popular of the local dive tours located 1 hours or 16 miles East of Phuket from Chalong Bay.
The reef is dominated by a single species, the upper part of Anemone reef is covered with a carpet of sea anemones called the Magnificent Sea Anemone ” Herteractis Magnifica” hence the name Anemone Reef.

Anemone reef supports a similar Marine Ecosystem to that of Shark Point with a diversity of coral reef life such as moray eels, seahorses, leopard sharks, clown fish, and 5 species of anemonefish

The “Skunk Anemone fish” being dominant, followed by the red saddleback hiding in the Bulb tip anemone”Entacmaea quadricolor” that’s not so common anemone that’s very hard to find growing in Thailand.

The Clark’s Anemonefish likes to stay close to the shorter Anemone Cryptodendrum Adhesive, and the Sebae Anemone fish likes the spindly tentacles of the corkscrew anemone that is normal to be seen in the sandy bottoms for protection.

The last and most popular is the False Clown Anemone fish seem to be low in numbers may be due to overexposure to divers with large strobe cameras and videographers lighting. Porcelain crabs are also present as well as Lionfish the feed on small silversides.

Anemone reef was also Big news 1997 when the King Cruiser a car ferry running daily from phuket to Phi Phi Islands ran off course and struck the reef Cause the large vessel to sink – we now have one of the best ship wreck living reefs in Thailand.

WHAT TO SEE AT ANEMONE REEF DIVE SITE

The site can best be described as a remote submerged limestone pinnacle consisting of numerous rocky ledges and plateaux that are covered in Anemone’s, along with some soft pink (Dendronephthya sp.) and purple corals. Anemone reef hosts a variety of marine life both large and small as well as and the famous leopard sharks that are often found resting on the sandy bottom. You will also see Big eyed snapper, Gold Band Fusiliers, Scrawled File fish, Barracuda, Seahorses, dense groupings of Spot fin (Pterois antennata) Lionfish along with a healthy selection of marine life.

ANEMONE REEF DIVE SITE CONDITIONS

The depth can be between 4m- 28m and visibility 5m – 25, currents mild to moderate/ strong. A full range of currents can be experienced from flat mill pond like to strong ripping, using dive charts and Tide tables you can avoid the strong currents with careful dive planning coming from the dive tour leaders and boat captain.

The site is Suitable for beginner to intermediate divers, located not far away is the neighbouring Shark Point Dive Sites which are also good for Macro Photography both Anemone Reef and Shark Point Dive Site a favourite choice for scuba diving in Phuket.

Anemone Reef Facts

Rating: 3-4 star
Distance: 16 Miles from Phuket
Depth: 6-28m
Visibility:5-15m
Current: Slow to strong
Experience level: Open water certification should take private Dive master
Topography” Limestone Rocks covered with Anemones
Marine Life – Seahorse -Leopard sharks Turtles
Highlights: Odd Whaleshark Sightings

Sea Conditions: you can dive anemone reef during the NE monsoon season (Nov- May) although on some days strong winds may be present in December, however with a good weather forecast day trips from Phuket are possible most days of the year.