At the North end of Kata Beach there is reef which can be seen breaking the surface at low tied. It is shallow, large and well worth exploring either with a mask & snorkel or, as I prefer, with scuba equipment. Even if you have never dived before. In high season (November to April), this is a perfect spot to do a PADI Discover Scuba Diver course.
The reef itself is mainly hard corals such as Lobed pore coral, brain corals and bush corals. Some soft corals can also be found along with Sea Anemones populated with Skunk Anemone fish.
Kata Reef always seems to come up with something on every dive which makes it so interesting. Just last week in one dive I found: cuttlefish, razor fish, ornate ghost pipe fish and bent stick pipefish. Juvenile, adolescent and fully grown oriental sweetlips and regular schools of Forster's Barracuda circulate slowly above. Huge schools of catfish, sea horses and harlequin shrimp have all been seen on the reef on other occasions.
Qualified or not, it is always best to dive with a guide or instructor to be kept safe from potential dangers but also to see the best things down there. Contact us here at Sea Fun Divers and we can arrange this and any dive equipment for you.
Once you get dropped at the beach, get yourself kitted up leaving your mask, snorkel and fins to carry. Don't forget to arrange your pick up time, then do your buddy checks and walk straight across the beach from the ramp directly info the sea. Walk in until about waist deep and then put your mask and fins on. Look straight out to sea. You will see a white buoy 150 – 200 meters out. Lay on your back and take a casual swim out to the buoy. Once there catch your breath if you need to and then descend down the line. For safety take a Divers Buoy with you as there can be some boat and jet-ski traffic. Once down on the bottom, about 2 meters deep, head North Westerly. In a couple of minutes you will pick up the reef and, I suggest, follow it out deeper keeping the reef on your right and the sand underneath you.
I usually follow the reef out for about 30 minutes, or until I have used about 75 – 80 bar of air, and then come back in over the top of the reef. At high tied your maximum depth will be no more than 9 meters so you can do really long dives here if you wish.
nice opinion.. thanks for sharing....
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