Phuket Aquarium
For an alternative and fun attraction, visit the small Phuket aquarium located at the end of Cape Panwa, south east of Phuket Town. There is a wide variety of saltwater and freshwater fish and other marine life on display, as well as being the main centre for breeding and hatching endangered sea turtles back into the sea, an important part of the work they do. Thailand’s marine biological research station is also based there.
Children especially will love the aquarium, and it’s easy to spend an hour or two there. The fish include moray eels, angel fish, lion fish, huge groupers, lobsters, sharks and much more. On the walls are some educational displays, but the highlight is probably the 10 metre long walkthrough glass tunnel where you can see small sharks and some eagle rays. Outside is a short nature trail to reach the turtle hatchery, where you can see incubators and different sized turtles being reared, as well as some injured ones that are being nursed back to health. You can never really tire of the Phuket aquarium and even though it’s probably not a must-see attraction, it’s certainly worthwhile and visitors always seem to come away thoroughly impressed.
The aquarium is open daily between 8.30am and 4.30pm, and the entrance fee is 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for children.