PHUKET: An elderly Japanese tourist was found dead in the water off Patong beach tonight.

His body was brought to shore about 7.30pm opposite the Ocean Plaza shopping mall, towards the southern end of Patong.

It's understood a search for the man was begun when his gear was found on the sand. Police were called in and a search began.

The man's body was taken to Patong Hospital where an examination should determine the cause of death.

He is the third foreigner to be found dead in the sea off Patong so far this year.

Earlier this week, an autopsy in Bangkok determined that Dutchman Stephan Henricus Maria Buczynski, 26, drowned at Patong beach on January 13.

Two days later, an 87-year-old Swiss man was found dead in the water.

Residents said Patong Bay was calm today and hundreds of people enjoyed the beach. It's not known whether the man went swimming during the day or after dark.

Statistics for drownings on Phuket in 2012 have yet to be provided by Phuket's Public Health department.

Phuketwan's reports show eight tourists drowned at Phuket's west coast beaches between mid-May and mid-June, as the monsoon change swept in.