Diving in Phi Phi Islands
Wonderful Local Sites
Koh Phi Phi remains one of the best loved holiday resort destinations in Thailand, not just because of the beautiful beaches, bays and islands made famous by moves such as 'The Beach', but also because of the excellent diving Phi Phi has to offer.
The islands lie in a national marine park dive sites here differ substantially from the other destinations we offer in Thailand with dramatic limestone walls decorated with healthy soft corals, gorgonians branching out from the many colourful walls and dives ending in shallow coral gardens where all manner of marine life frolic among the soft corals and sponges.
Phi Phi diving promises sightings of delightful small creatures such as pipefish, seahorses and razorfish as well as their larger cousins like leopard sharks, reef sharks, crocodile long-toms and turtles. The combination of convenient sites which suit all skill levels, its beautiful movie-set beaches and the laid-back charm of the location make Phi Phi a delightful spot for divers and their non-diving companions.
Highlights
From the Phi Phi Islands you can visit some of Phuket's best dive sites such as Shark Point and Kingcruiser Wreck, but here are some of its own great dive sites:
Bida Nok - Considered by many to be the best site in Phi Phi, Bida Nok is a small cliff islet whose walls plunge dramatically into the sea where they are festooned with soft corals and sponges creating a patchwork of purple, yellow and green. The reef itself is exceptionally healthy and is home to numerous moray eels, bird wrasse and bearded scorpionfish to name a few. Appearances by larger fish are common with leopard sharks and grey reef sharks frequently sighted.
Bida Nai - This is another beautiful Phi Phi Islands dive site full of interesting creatures and underwater topography. No sooner will you be in the water than you will be making your way into a swim-through crowded by thousands of tiny glassfish. You will cruise over fields of staghorn coral, looking out for black tip sharks and leopard sharks as well as hunting trevallys enjoying the rich supply of baitfish. End your dive in a delightful shallow reef where cuttlefish, crocodile long-toms and squid will entertain you throughout your safety stop.
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How to Dive Phi Phi
The dive sites can be visited by daytrip boats from Phuket or Krabi (both 40 km away), and of course from Phi Phi itself, so you can combine your desired number of dives with a stay in one of our recommended resorts in any of these areas. If you are short of time and want to get to see a little bit of the island itself, there's also a 2 day overnight trip which allows you to stay on the island for 1 night.
Diving Season
The Phi Phi scuba diving season is year round with the peak time and conditions being during the months of January and May. The weather varies outside that period when there is a greater likelihood of rain but conditions are still often excellent.
Reef Summary
Good for: Wall dives, dive value-for-money, snorkelling and non-diving activities
Not so good for: Wrecks and advanced divers
Depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 5 - 20m
Currents: Gentle
Surface conditions: Can be choppy
Water temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience level: Beginner - intermediate
Number of dive sites: ~15
Distance: ~45 km east of Phuket (3 hours), 30 km south west of Krabi (2½ hours)
Access: Day trips and liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 5 - 7 days
Dive Site Descriptions
If you want to read more detailed site descriptions please visit our Phi Phi diving pages:
• Koh Phi Phi tourist information
View a map of:
• Phi Phi Islands - Thailand
• Scuba diving vacation enquiries
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