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Phi Phi Islands -Dive sites  Overview The Phi Phi Island chain made famous by the film ‘The Beach’ is a three hour day boat trip from Chalong Pier on Phuket, one and a half hours on a private charter speed boat or stay on Phi Phi Don, the only inhabited Island or as a stop off for the liveaboards on the way down to Hin Daeng in the south. So is it worth the trip? Most definintely if the weather is good. If it’s bad then six hours on a dive boat is a long way. It's also worth considering that quite a few of the dive boats only do two dives at Phi Phi and then stop off somewhere on the journey going or coming back for more dives. The diving when it’s at its best is superb, last year (2006/7) it was plagued with the red algae clouds that reduced the visibility down to a few metres. If you have time I would recommend either diving the islands on a southern liveaboard or stay a couple of days on Phi Phi Don and dive with a local dive centre (there are loads to chose from) but they both are quite expensive ways to dive here. The diving here is slightly different to the normal sites around Phuket mainly because the sea bed is so much deeper. There are far more pelagic fish around. For me it gives you a much better chance to see Sharks and Rays, Whale sharks are occasionally seen here as well as Black and white tip reef sharks. There are usually Green and Hawksbill turtles especially on Maya wall. Even if the diving is not that fantastic the views from the boat will most certainly make up for it. Not a day to leave the camera at home.  Koh Bida Nok & Koh Bida Noi
Two small limestone islands, about 20 minutes from Phi Phi Le. These are most probably the most popular and best dive sites in the area. Both islands have shear walls on the west and north sides that meet the sea bed between 20 – 35 metres. On the South end East sides of the islands there are beautiful reefs around 10 to 20 metres. My favourite area is between the two islands where there is an area of boulders with a swim through or two and a great place to find octopus and turtles. On Bida Nok in the north east corner of the island there are two small caves that especially when the vis is poor or the currents are strong are a great place to find small stuff, so bring a torch.My Reef rating 14
 Hin Bida
This site is usually only dived by the liveaboards and Phi Phi boats so is generally quite quiet and the fish life reflects it. Hin Bida is an underwater pinnacle with the top just above water at low tide. Thousands of years ago it was probably similar to Bida Nok or Noi, now it’s a great place to see sharks. Lots of sleeping leopard sharks as well as reef sharks especially first thing in the morning or towards evening. Lots of soft corals and large table corals, fish every where but keep an eye out for fishing line as the locals like to fish here as it is outside the national park.
My Reef rating 15
Losama Bay – Phi Phi Le Island
This is a fantastic place to while away a few hours in between dives. It’s a favourite place for the long tailed boats to bring snorkelors in the clear blue waters it really is a picture post card area. The dive here is ok not very deep so it makes a good third dive of the day and there is always shelter from which ever way the monsoon wind is blowing. The Sergeant major fish are used to being feed by snorkelors so expect to be mobbed by them when you enter.My Reef rating 10
Maya Bay & Wall – Phi Phi Le Island
This is the bay where they filmed the beach with Leonardo D’caprio. Surprisingly it looks quite different in real life than it did in the film. It’s a quite a long way from the bay entrance to the beach but most of the boats stop for a photo opportunity. This is a drift dive along a stepped wall. Another good place to see Turtles and Morays. Best to dive this site in the morning or early afternoon when the sun is on the wall and the light is fantastic. 25metres is probably as deep as you get here but I always seem to have a good dive here.My Reef rating 12 Koh Haa A few hours south of the Phi Phi Islands find the uninhabited Islands of Kon Haa. 5 Limestone islands have created a series of outstanding dive sites with Caves, Walls, Chimneys and picturesque coral gardens. One of the best places to see a huge veriaty of Nudibranch’s as well as very friendly Turtles. The highlight is a large cave on Koh Haa Yai where you can swim through one entrance and leave by a second whilst still being in the light zone. The Lagoon area is also a great place to go snorkling.
Dive Site Rating 14
Hin Muang/ Hin Daeng
The Twin dive sites are as south as most of the dive operators go by either Liveaboard or day boat. There reputation unfortunately is better than the actual dives. I am positive 7-8 years ago these two sites would rival any Similan/Surin site but now Hin Muang has lost the majority of its soft corals. There are different opinions as to why, some say it’s the changes in water temperature but the Similans have had the same cold currents with no obvious effects, the other is dynamite fishing and there are a lot of fishing boats in the area fishing right up to the edges of the drop-offs. Hin Daeng has retained most of its corals (which to me suggests the water temperature theory is wrong as the two sites are less than 1km apart) but again fish life is disappointing. These sites in the past have been one of the best places to see Mantas and Whale Sharks South of Phuket. Still worth the trip? Yes if you are not visiting the Similans, No if you are short of time and have to choose between North or South.
Dive Site Rating
Hin Muang – 12
Hin Daeng – 15 |
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