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Overview
 Diving
in the Phi Phi islands offers shallow and deep reefs, wall and
drift dives, and remarkably diverse marine life - something for
every level of diver. Visibility ranges on average from 10-25
metres with weak to moderate currents. Water temperature is warm!
(A constant 27-30C average throughout the year) with depths ranging
from 10 - 30 metres.
In addition a wide variety of tropical fish, soft and hard corals,
there are huge sea fans and, on the sandy bottom, leopard sharks.
For non-divers the Phi Phi area offers superb snorkelling,
with the opportunity to see not only beautiful coral gardens but
also some of the larger fish at shallow depths.
Local operators offer day dives around Phi Phi and the neighbouring
islands with longer trips available on liveaboard dive boats to
further destinations like the Similan Islands and Burma. Take
a look at the our listings for more
info.
Dive Sites
At Ko Pida Nok, expect to see
leopard sharks, turtles, moray eels, ghost pipe fish and outstanding
hard and soft coral. Plus a chance to see the unexpected whale
sharks and manta rays. As one side of the island is very shallow
and the other drops off to 30 metres, this site is suitable for
all levels of diver.
Ko Pida Nai - Although the sister island to Pida Nok
just a few hundred metres away, this island is very different
underwater. Large fallen rocks have created several swim-through
and submerged islands, building an ideal habitat for marine life,
and a fascinating dive.
Where: 50 minutes from Ton Sai Bay
Conditions: Visibility averages 20 metres.
Dive depth: 19 to 30 metres
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Yes Shark Point (Hin Bida) does live up to it's name,
well 95% of the time. This rock which justs breaks the surface,
attracts a lot of Leopard sharks and often Nurse & Reef sharks
as well. A small, submerged outcrop some 8 kilometres southeast
of Phi Phi Ley, it's a favoured spot for Whale Sharks around February
/ March.
Where: 60 to 70 minutes from Ton Sai Bay
Conditions: Good visibility, averaging 20 metres.
Dive depth: 12 to 18 metres.
Garang Heng - A small submerged reef just east of Phi
Phi Ley and a excellent backup to Shark point so if you are unlucky
there, Garang Heng has a healthy reef with anemones, soft corals
and of course, sharks.
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Maya Bay - With a maximum depth of 18 metres and plenty
of fish life and rocks to look under, Maya provides a great dive
site for the inexperienced diver. Heading out of the bay, the
underwater landscape changes with large caves 30+ depths.
Maya South starts as a shear wall down to 30 metres with a small
over hang and caves along the bottom. Further along, fallen rocks
have left channels with the rocks towering above you on both sides,
creating a very dramatic dive. A suitable dive for the more advanced
diver due to depth.
Four pinnacles starting just below sea level and dropping down
to around 30 metres characterise Hin Dot (Chimney Rocks)
on Phi Phi Don's southern headlands. Often quite dark due to the
volume of fish life above you, but some interesting marine life
under the rocks near the bottom where several nurse sharks have
been discovered. These enormous towers are famous for their large
schools of fish. Other fish populations include groupers, pufferfish,
lionfish, squid and bearded scorpionfish.
Where: 15-20 minutes by boat
Conditions: Visibility 8-20 metres.
Dive depth: 10-34 metres
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King Cruiser Wreck. Built in Japan 30 years ago, King
Cruiser was a comfortable catamaran-hull passenger-cruiser with
4 decks until she sank on the 4th May 1997 in near perfect weather
conditions. An easy dive, King Cruiser has large openings that
allow easy access to the spacious interior. The propellers (deepest
point) rest 30 metres deep with the most interesting areas around
the passenger decks between 10 and 20 metres.
Hin Pae is a relatively shallow dive site - 10 to 15 metres
deep. Its shallow depth offers excellent snorkeling. Hin Pae is
sometimes called Baby Shark Point, because even snorkellers have
the opportunity to see different types of sharks. The main topography
includes boulder and brain corals, with many holes and tunnels
for moray eels to pass through. Soft and hard coral provide shelter
for a rich variety of coral fish. Crabs, lobsters, angelfish,
groupers, snappers and surgeonfish are also residents of this
area.
Access: 10 minutes by boat from Ton Sai
Conditions: Visibility 7-15 metres.
Dive depth: 8-16 metres
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