Koh Doc Mai, which translates to Flower Island in English, is a small limestone island located between Phuket and Shark Point. The underwater topography is very similar to what you can see above water - the east side is a shallower, sloping coral garden, the west is a fabulous wall dive, and the side that we normally dive on. If you like macro dives, you won't be disappointed here, we regularly see tiger-tail seahorses, cleaner pipefish,
a variety of moray eels, frogfish, octopus, cuttlefish, ornate ghost pipefish, different kinds of nudibrancs, as well as a host of different kinds of shrimps - cleaner shrimp, durban dancing shrimp, coral banded shrimp, tapestry shrimp, and harlequin shrimp.
If you have a look in the cracks and crevices in or at the bottom of the wall you may also be able to spot a bamboo shark - sometimes you can see a few of them squeezed in together resting in preparation for their nocturnal hunting.
If that isn't enough for you, there are plenty of reef fish along here, all the usual suspects - butterflyfish, angelfish (have a look for juveniles of the blue ringed and emporer angelfish), bearded scorpionfish, lionfish, rabbitfish, etc, and also look out from the wall for schools of longfin trevally, chevron and forster's barracuda...and, if they are in the area, it's not unusual to see whale sharks hanging around this island :)
To add to all this (as if you need more!) there are also two caves. The northern cave entrance is quite small and can be difficult to get in and out of, so this is suitable only for more experienced divers. However, the southern cave has a bigger entrance and is more easily navigated by newer divers...but always remember to check your air and decompression time before entering any enclosed space!
We have trips every day which take in Koh Doc Mai so contact us if you'd like to check out this spectacular dive - info@calypsophuket.com :)
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