Monsoon and Sea Safety in Phuket and Phi Phi Islands
Part of the Phuket and Phi Phi Islands travel guide — see every topic in All Phuket and Phi Phi Islands Guides.
Phuket has two main seasons. From about November to April the weather is dry and the sea on the west coast is usually calm. From about May to October the southwest monsoon brings rain, wind and big waves. The monsoon is still a good time for quiet beaches, green hills and lower hotel prices, but the sea becomes dangerous. Every year people drown on Phuket's west coast in this season. This guide explains how to stay safe.
Read the flags
Lifeguards on Phuket's main beaches use coloured flags. A red flag means the sea is dangerous and you must not swim. Red and yellow flags mark the safer area where lifeguards are watching. In the monsoon season, red flags are often placed along most of Kata, Karon, Patong, Surin and Bang Tao. Many drowning victims ignored the red flags or swam far from a lifeguard tower. Lifeguards usually work only in the daytime, so do not swim at night or early in the morning before they arrive.
Rip currents
A rip current is a narrow, strong flow of water that runs away from the beach. It can pull even good swimmers out to sea very fast. Rips are hard to see. Look for a calm-looking gap between breaking waves, darker water, or foam moving out to sea. If you are caught in a rip, do not swim straight back against it. Stay calm and float. Swim along the beach, parallel to the shore, until you are out of the current. Then swim back at an angle. Raise one arm and shout for help.
Rain, wind and storms
In the wet season, rain often comes in short, heavy bursts, followed by sun. Some days are clear, others are grey and stormy all day. Strong storms can stop ferries and boat tours. Roads can flood quickly, and hill roads become slippery, so take extra care on a scooter. Check the weather forecast every day and follow warnings from the Thai Meteorological Department and your hotel. If a boat trip is cancelled for weather, accept it. Boat companies stop trips because the sea is not safe.
Safer options in the wet season
The monsoon does not mean you cannot enjoy the water. The east coast and Phang Nga Bay are more sheltered than the west coast. Hotel pools are a good choice on red-flag days. Surf schools at Kata run lessons in the monsoon months with trained instructors, in areas they know well. Cafés, the old town, cooking classes and viewpoints are good on rainy days. If you want to swim in the sea, ask the lifeguard first where it is safe that day.
Monsoon and Sea Safety at a glance
| Getting there | West coast beaches are most exposed; the east coast and Phang Nga Bay are calmer |
|---|---|
| Hours | Lifeguards work in the daytime only; never swim at night |
| Cost | Free advice from lifeguards at the towers |
| Best time | About November to April for calm sea; about May to October for big waves |
| Emergency | Tourist Police 1155; ambulance 1669 |