Surf Guides, Tips & Local Phuket Surf Info
Surfing, bodyboarding, maps, repairs, rentals and a few things learnt the hard way.
Updated for 2026
Saltwater Dreaming has been around Phuket surf since 2000, so this section pulls together our main surf guides, local beach info, maps, photos and useful bits for travelling surfers.
Some of it is polished. Some of it is old-school. A bit like us really.
Surfing Thailand
Thailand is not Indonesia, and that is probably a good thing for beginners. Phuket gets small, friendly waves during the southwest monsoon season, with warm water and sandy beaches.
Start here if you want to understand the Phuket surf season, where the waves break, and what to expect before you turn up with a board under your arm and too much confidence.
Phuket Surf Beaches & Local Guides
Phuket has a handful of beaches that work for surfing during the season. Some are better for beginners, some are better left alone unless you know what you are doing.
Our local beach guides cover places like Kata, Karon, Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao, with practical notes on waves, crowds and conditions.
Surf Lessons & Surfboard Rental
If you are coming to Phuket and want to learn properly, we run surf lessons at Bang Tao Beach during the surf season. It is a good beginner beach with small, easy waves on the right days.
We also have surfboard rental available through our Phuket surf shop, with boards suited to local conditions.
Maps of Phuket & Surf Areas
Our Phuket maps are some of the oldest and most useful pages on the site. They are handy for working out beach areas, travel routes, surf spots and where things sit around the island.
Not fancy, but useful. Which is more than can be said for some maps.
Surfboard Repairs & Surf Gear Help
Travelling with surfboards is great until the airline staff treat your board bag like it owes them money. Our repair pages cover basic surfboard damage, spray painting and useful tips for keeping your board alive.
Surfboard Repairs Spray Paint a Surfboard Surfboard Repair Gear
Bodyboarding Tips
Bodyboarding is a good way to get into the waves, especially for kids, beginners and people who do not feel like standing up and falling down every five seconds.
These guides cover basic bodyboarding, turns, safety and getting more out of small beach-break waves.
Surfing Photos & Thailand Galleries
A mix of old Phuket surf photos, Thailand travel photos and galleries from around the region. Some of these go back a fair way, which is half the charm.
Online Shopping & Surf Gear
Our online shopping section is separate from the Phuket surf shop. It includes surf books, watches, DVDs, repair gear and other bits we have written about over the years.
Some links may earn us a small commission, which helps keep the old Saltwater Dreaming beast alive and pays a few phone bills.
Travel Thailand
Phuket is still a holiday island first and a surf island second. Our travel pages cover beach areas, guesthouses, local information and older Thailand travel guides from the site.
Start With the Surf, Then Wander Around
This website has been built over a lot of years, so not every page looks brand new. But there is plenty of useful Phuket surf and travel information tucked away here, especially if you like digging around a bit.
Start with the surf guides, check the maps, look through the photos, and if you need lessons, rentals or gear, you will find those links along the way too.
Need Help With Surf Lessons, Rentals or Gear?
If you are coming to Phuket during surf season and need lessons, board rental or surf shop help, get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.