Phuket Seashell Museum

Phuket is famously home to some of the most colourful marine life in the world. The Phuket Seashell Museum, located within a slingshot of Rawai Beach, hosts some of the most interesting and valuable seashells from across the globe. Being such an avid fan of all things aquatic, I was very excited to check out this famous museum in its full glory. When I heard that the museum owns more than 2,000 species, I was salivating.

When I found out that they also have fossils over 380 million years old and the only left-handed Noble Volute ever discovered in the world, I was rendered almost speechless. Seashell collectors would chop off one of their fingers to have a quarter of what the museum owns – it really is that comprehensive! It was really inspiring hearing how the Patamakanthin brothers took 40-years of globetrotting to the four corners of the globe to collect these items, simply as a labour of love.

Seashell connoisseurs have gone on record to state that the Phuket Seashell Museum collection is one of the most extraordinary the world over. Another thing that I found to be a great feature was the way the items were presented to the public, which really accentuated the shells, encased in dome shaped glass and placed upon blue velvet. I was immediately impressed with one of the main centerpieces - Golden Pearl from an Indian Volute shell – which at 140 Karats is not only valuable but profoundly beautiful.

The pearl was found off the west coast of Phuket Island at depths of between 40 and 80 meters. The pearl is one of its kind and its uniqueness has to be seen to be really appreciated. The most prized and unique possession of the museum is the left-handed Noble Volute.

What’s so amazing about this item is that is the only one of its kind to be discovered in the world – which was a great scoop for the museum. I was in awe at some of the fossilized shells on display. The dates of these prehistoric items date as far back as 15 – 380 million years. The large group of “Orthoceratites” was found in Imouzzer, Morocco, with the largest piece approximately 380 million years old from the Devonian Period.

When you start to realize how old these fossils are, you can’t help but be impressed with a slice of pre-ancient history unfolding in front of you. The Phuket Seashell Museum is not only for marine-life enthusiasts, such as myself, but also for those who have a deep and meaningful appreciation of beauty and history. This is also a great place to take the family because of the educational aspects of the museum.

Phuket Seashell Museum, 12/2 Moo 2, Viset Road, Rawai, Muang, Phuket 83130 THAILAND