Patong beach is welcoming a large contingent of beachgoers, mainly foreigners from India and the Middle East. Despite a bit of rain over the past week, the visitors have been enjoying the water sports, jet skis and paragliding, as well as jogging on the famous 3 kilometre long beach. But all the activities have been under the watchful eye of the duty lifeguards.
Red flags are places along the beach at all non-swimming spots and the lifeguards were all on stand-by to warn the swimmers and stop them from swimming the the dangerous zones. The swimmers were suggested to move to the yellow-red flag areas.
Some of Phuket’s west coast beaches can develop dangerous rips on some days and the lifeguards are always on the lookout for rips as they develop.
More about Phuket’s monsoon and the rainy season HERE.
The head of Patong beach lifeguards said that whenever the weather is clear, there are always plenty of beachgoers heading to Patong Beach.
“This is a good sign for the recovery of the local economy.”
He said that he often sees Indian, Middle East and Australian tourists and few Thais during the weekends or long weekends.
He said sometimes the weather announcement from the Thai Meteorological Department does not match with the real location (Phuket-GO recommends weather.com for reliable weather, or check the free live Phuket radar at any time for real-time weather).
Sometimes, the thunderstorms are far offshore whilst the weather at the beach is still fine for activities. And a storm or downpour may only last 30 minutes or so.
He said the lifeguards are on standby along the beach at all times and red flags are put at all risky spots to prohibit beachgoers from swimming in those areas. The yellow and red flag indicates the spot where people can swim under the care of island lifeguards.
Today is the start of a 5-day long weekend. Today and tomorrow are important Buddhist holy days and there is an alcohol ban in place around the island for Wednesday and Thursday.
