Category: Phi Phi Islands

Diving Koh Phi Phi Islands – Koh Bida Nai is Koh Bida Nok’s Sister Island and they lay about 150 meters apart from each other with Bida Nai being to the north. To choose which the best dive site from these two is not easy and has to go down to any particular day. One day it’s Bida Nok the next its Nai taking the honours, both these sites will take your breath away.

[unordered_list style=”bullet”]

• Max depth: 30 meters
• Level of difficulty: Open water upwards.
• Visibility: 15 Meters
• Current: none to strong
• Recommended Season: All year round is possible
• Highly recommended when Diving Phi Phi!

[/unordered_list]

Bida Nai has a small bay where the boat drops divers, and as they descend there are two directions to turn. If south is chosen, then a quick swim over the sandy bottom and you will arrive at Fantasy Reef. No doubt, before even arriving here, you will have spotted several leopard Sharks, Trevally’s and Stingrays.

Fantasy reef, starts at around 18 meters and drops to about 27 meters, the visibility can sometimes drop to about 10 meters depending on the conditions. There are some huge boulders making up this lively little reef, in between each bolder there are huge Sea Fans and Whip Corals harbouring all sorts of little macro critters.

Above the reef circling is the resident school of Yellow Tail Barracuda. Best to keep your eyes on this lot, they are never still and when they spot something tasty to eat, watch them move, in the blink of an eye.

Coming back towards the main part of the Island you will find some very lovely little swim throughs. It is normal here to get lost in the amount of fish that this site teems with. As you get closer to the shallows again, Black Tips can be seen darting around, don’t blink or they will be gone too.

If you choose to do the other side, the north side of the island, then even more adventure awaits the diver. This side offers some spectacular wall and shallow cavern diving. Leopards Sharks have been observed mating in this area, best to give them a little respectful distance.

Head further round, and you will find some large submerged boulders teeming with life. As you venture further round you will find fantastic wall diving and then reef starts to slope off as you reach the back of the Island.

There are some of the biggest barrel sponges, and possibly hiding out in these purple sponges are Scorpion Fish, so it wise to be careful where one puts ones’ hands.

Other marine life here includes; Leopard sharks, Black Tip Reef Sharks, Yellow Tail Barracuda, Jacks, Tuna, Mackerel feeding on the masses of glass fish, Octopus, Cuttlefish, Seahorses, Ghost Pipe Fish, and hiding on the sand blue spotted stingrays.

Special features: great wall diving with many boulders to explore and swim-throughs to test your buoyancy.

Quick tip on the east side you will find many stag horn coral follow outward where you will find three large boulders with a Variety of reef fish  and great chance to see Leopard sharks.

Diving Koh Phi Phi Islands – More recommended Dive Sites

• Koh Bida Nok – Koh Bida Nai’s Sisiter Island
• Palong Wall, aka Coral Garden
• Phi Phi Islands

Koh Phi Phi Diving Sites – One of two islands lying south of Phi Phi Ley, with a small protected bay, Bida Nok is a scuba diving heaven. In the east facing bay, you will find a flat area free of any debris, which is ideal for beginners doing their first ever dive. It’s very shallow and calm with a huge sandy area.

[unordered_list style=”bullet”]

• Max depth: 30 meters
• Level of difficulty: Absolute beginner/ upwards
• Visibility: 15 meters
• Current: Weak to moderate.
• Recommended season: All year round is possible
• Highly recommended Koh Phi Phi Diving site!

[/unordered_list]

Stag horn coral covering the bottom surrounds this area and leads out to large boulders. With each fin kick, it drops deeper and deeper, a great wall dive on the south side waits. There may be some current here making it a fantastic drift dive too.

You could do your whole Advance Course on this one site, it has almost everything. It is possible to drop down to 30 meters, if necessary -Technical divers have been seen practising their skills here to. Here, you will find some huge boulders, and if you have good visibility, you can see the Tunas and Trevally’s hunting out in the blue, the action here never stops.

There is an ever increasing population of Yellow Snapper, the numbers are countless. And when they pass you, it is such a marvellous site, that it has been known to bring a tear even to the most hardened diver, simply stunning.

There are several small caverns to explore on the south west part of the island; also here, it is very possible to see Black Tip Reef Sharks. There is also a couple of very large Barracuda lurking, so get the camera ready.

Dive the other side of the island and you will have a shallower dive, which is no less beautiful. The North side of the Island is around twenty meters deep -maximum. After that the reef just falls away into the sand.

Out here is where the most leopards Shark sightings are; also numerous Blue Spotted Stingrays lay in wait for unsuspecting prey. Cuttlefish and squid can be seen here looking for food and adventure and a possible mate.

Also in the area, there is a couple of resident Hawksbill Turtles, who knows how old they are or how long they have been around. Black and White Coral banded Sea Snakes are always worth watching, while they skirt around looking for a tasty bite.

Further towards the latter part of the dive site, there is a huge over hang with massive Gorgonian Sea fans. Keep your eyes peeled for Pipefish in this area.

Marine life usually seen on this dive site include Leopard Shark sightings, as mentioned Black Tip Reef Sharks, Great Barracuda, King Mackerel, Dogtooth Tuna, Trevallies both Blue Fin, Silver and sometimes Giant Trevally’s.

Also large Groupers, Bearded and Raggy Scorpion Fish as well as the occasional Stone Fish: There are Titan Trigger fish, Blue Ringed Angel Fish, Lionfish, Morays, Puffer fish and of course plenty of Blennies.

Special features: there are a few small caverns to explore and some large boulders. If the current is running your way you can make it around this island, making an intriguing dive, one of the best in the area.

Quick tip: venture around to the south side move away from the wall out towards the big boulders and hover around 18m 60ft for a short while and you’re sure to see some King Mackerel, Tuna, Trevallies, Leopard Sharks are also seen cruising here.

Other Koh Phi Phi Diving Sites

• Koh Bida Nai – Koh Bida Nok’s Sister Island
• Palong Wall, aka Coral Garden
• Phi Phi Islands

Phi Phi Diving Sites by Colona Liveaboards – The six islands that make up the famous Koh Phi Phi Island group have to been seen to be believed. Many people have images of their idyllic beach buried deep somewhere in their mind, which they like to fantasize a visit, especially on wet and windy days. Such days when you wish you were somewhere else, Phi Phi is just that place.

Popular Phi Phi Diving Sites

[unordered_list style=”star”]

• Koh Bida Nok
• Koh Bida Nai
• Palong Wall, aka Coral Garden

[/unordered_list]

Phi Phi is a paradise Island, make no mistake about it. These islands are made up of sheer faced limestone walls, which are covered in lush green tropical forest. There are also many unspoilt and beautiful beaches to choose from.

So, you too can find your own little piece of paradise and call Phi Phi Island your own. Phi Phi is one of those places, when you finally leave, you will also be leaving a little piece of yourself there too.

Phi Phi, shot to fame in 2000 with the release of a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Carlyle, the movie, of course, is The Beach. The movie was shot on several locations around Thailand. Most of the attention however, was brought to the idyllic setting of Phi Phi; mainly Maya Bay.

The movie was about backpackers, drugs and sex in Thailand and was quite controversial at the time. Several high ranking politicians complained and wanted the movie banned, as it was deemed to give Thailand a bad name.

There were also several lawsuits regarding the production and the way Maya Bay was used during filming. Many local conservationists complained about the state Maya Bay was left in and filed lawsuit against Fox Movies.

The conservationists claimed that the recording of the movie damaged the natural environment of the bay and that it was never returned to its natural charm. There were funds set aside by Fox to reconstruct the beach and return it back to its natural setting.

All this and being the ideal back packer movie, naturally made it an instant hit, especially in Thailand, where backpackers have a wonderful time journeying through the Thai country and all it has to offer.

If the movie was not enough publicity for a little group of islands in southern Thailand, then what followed in December 2004 would be. Phi Phi became famous on a global scale, and all for the wrong reasons. The Boxing Day Tsunami, which decimated the coasts of many Indian Ocean countries, would go down in history as the worst natural disaster in living memory.

Phi Phi only a small Island took a massive hit from the big waves that day and left many many scars. The kind of scars that don’t always heal fully and many hearts that were broken will never truly be mended. However, the locals that who survived that day and still live and work on Phi Phi have made the best of a very bad situation.

Today you would not recognize the place, from that fateful day back in 2004. There is so much to do and see here these days. Come and see for yourself just what it is that Phi Phi has to offer you. Come and find your piece of paradise, it really is waiting for you.

The Islands are named: Bamboo, Mosquito, Bida Nai, Bida Nok, Phi Phi Leh and the main Island of Phi Phi Don. Phi Phi Don is the largest in the group and the only one which is inhabited. You will find Accommodation, Restaurants, Night Clubs, Bars, Shopping, Internet, Thai Massage and of course Scuba Diving.

There are nineteen Phi Phi Diving Sites mainly around Phi Phi Ley. These main dive sites make for fantastic diving for all levels, whether experienced or beginner.

Phuket Day Diving Schedule