This is my first trip to Phuket and my first time writing a review. ><

This journey was undertaken by private car from Hat Yai, using Google Maps and Sygic (as a backup in case of internet issues, as it does not require internet access). There were four participants in the trip, with the main shared goal of seeing dolphins in the wild!

The equipment used to capture the images included a Nikon AW100 camera for underwater photography, a Canon 1100D camera with 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses, and a Wiko mobile phone.

As I arrived in Phuket a day before the cruise, I had ample time to explore the city.

After a 5-6 hour journey, we checked into our accommodation at Apk resort and spa in Patong. After settling in, we headed out to explore the area.

View from the accommodation

Next, we headed to the famous viewpoint, "Phromthep Cape".

We waited until the sun was about to set, but unfortunately, there were too many clouds to see the sunset. T_T

We then went shopping and looked for food at Chillva Market. This market is open from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM and is closed on Sundays. From Monday to Tuesday, it is a second-hand market, while from Wednesday to Saturday, it is a trendy Chillva Market. We went on Thursday to Saturday, so we only walked around the trendy Chillva Market.

The next morning...

Before departing from the pier, dark clouds gathered overhead, causing a brief moment of anxiety. At that moment, I must admit, I was extremely afraid. I feared not seeing any dolphins, not being able to dive, encountering strong waves, and getting seasick.

As the boat left the harbor, the sky began to clear. The guide informed us that people on shore had reported heavy rain in the city. He advised against relying on weather forecasts for offshore diving, as they can be unreliable, but noted that forecasts for the city were generally accurate.

Our first destination is right ahead: Ko Mai Thon!

According to the guide, this island resembles a log when viewed from above. It is also said to be the island with the highest chance of encountering dolphins due to its abundance of resources. The guide claims that no dolphin would want to leave this island because of its plentiful food supply. There are two pods of dolphins on the island, totaling more than 10 individuals. Recently, a new member, a newborn dolphin calf, joined the pod. Typically, dolphin calves swim alongside their mothers. (I saw them but couldn't capture a photo in time.)

As we drew closer to the island, something began to emerge on the horizon.

There it is!!! The main target of this trip, I didn't think it would appear so easily.

It appears to be welcoming us, but in reality, it enjoys playing in the waves created by the boat. The boat we are using is a yacht without sails, which has a small propeller and is turned off to drift with inertia when approaching the dolphin, so the dolphin will not be injured by the propeller.

As the dolphins began to swim away from the boat, the guide instructed us to whistle to call them back. However, no one dared to whistle, fearing it was a trick. Undeterred, the guide whistled himself, and to everyone's surprise, the dolphins returned, even closer than before. This unexpected response left us speechless, as we had never imagined such a simple method could be effective.

After Paul had played in the waves for a while, he left, and we continued our journey, getting closer to Ko Mai Thon until we could see the coral reefs. The guide then distributed life jackets and snorkels to us so that we could dive and see the coral.

Upon entering the water, the silver barb fish emerged to greet the visitors, as they had done when people used to feed them. However, feeding is no longer permitted, leaving the entire school likely disappointed.

A starfish camouflaged in the coral crevices, a sight that might initially appear unsettling.

Sea urchins are scarce here, and sea cucumbers are rarely seen, unlike in the Gulf of Thailand, where they are more abundant.

Parrotfish consume coral debris, which is then expelled as sand, contributing to the formation of marine sand.

This area is home to two Nemo houses. There may actually be more, but the guide only took us to see two. (Someone suggested that if you want to see a lot, try going to Lipe. You don't have to go on a long diving trip to see them on the beach. I haven't seen them myself yet.)

After visiting Nemo, we were far from the boat. For those who were too lazy to swim, there were rubber boats from the boat we were on to take us back to the main boat. And in the picture is the beautiful guide of this trip.

After observing dolphins, diving around Koh Mai Thon, and visiting Nemo, we sailed for another hour or so to reach Koh Racha. This island boasts a small sandbar and white sand beaches, but the coral reefs are not as beautiful as those at Koh Mai Thon. It's important to be cautious in this area, as there are jellyfish present. Additionally, the path leading to the beach is rocky, and all four of us sustained cuts from the rocks, either on our hands, knees, or feet, depending on how we fell.

The guide mentioned that there are sea turtles on Koh Racha, and if we were lucky, we would see them. However, we were not so lucky and missed the opportunity.

After the boat had been anchored for a while, an inflatable slide was brought out for the passengers to enjoy. The slide was attached to the boat.

As mentioned earlier, beware of jellyfish. If stung, the pain can be significant. However, you can inform the guide, who will manage the situation by pushing the jellyfish down with their fins. Some jellyfish are persistent and resurface, seemingly curious about our activities.

They came to try and play around.

After navigating through a rocky outcrop, we reached a small, secluded beach. As the tide rose, the white sand disappeared, leaving behind a tiny island.

Another guide who took care of us until we boarded the boat and were ready to continue our journey.

The journey continued to Laem Phromthep to watch the sunset from the boat. Unfortunately, the sky was filled with clouds, preventing the view.

Instead, here is a picture of Laem Phromthep, taken from the sea. ^^

Thank you for reading my review. If there are any mistakes, I apologize and will try to improve in the future. If I have another trip, I will continue to review it. ^_^