Located in one of the most exotic settings in Southeast Asia, the Phi Phi Islands offer some of the most spectacular diving in the area. These picturesque island jewels lie in the dazzling blue waters of Phang Nga Bay. The area features beautiful beaches, numerous bays and coves, steep vertical peaks, and prolific, diverse marine life. The first time you spot the spectacular limestone cliffs rising from the sea, some soaring over 500 meters, you’ll be hooked. As you swim or dive at the base of one of these towering cliffs, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to an otherworldly paradise.
Below the water’s surface, the scenery is just as mesmerizing. Because most of the dive sites lie within a National Marine Park, sea life is able to riotously flourish amidst the underwater towers, caves, swim-throughs and vertical walls. You’ll find marine flora such as orange-colored fans and striking coral trees, along with hard coral gardens and colorful sponges. Sea creatures are plentiful, ranging from hawksbill turtles to crocodile long-toms, seahorses, shrimpfish, and sharks.
For a varied look at what the Phi Phi Islands have to offer, jump aboard while we explore the sites below:
Hing Daeng
One of Thailand’s most popular dive sites, Hing Daeng consists of a large underwater formation that protrudes about 3 meters above the surface. Above the waterline, you’ll view bare rocks, but once you descend, you’ll find one of the area’s most beautiful diving locales. Lush red soft coral hides schools of darting fish. Diving depths range from 5 to 40 meters, and visibility is generally excellent. The wall actually drops to 70 meters at one point, so pay attention to your depths. Watch for large species in this area, including whale sharks and manta rays. The rocky shallows are home to shrimp, crabs, eels, and cowries. This is a great spot for intermediate – advanced divers.
Hin Muang
Hin Muang features the highest vertical wall in Thailand, descending to over 60 meters on its southern side. The large submerged rock formation is covered with incredible amounts of sea life, including dense purple soft coral (Hin Muang translates to Purple Rock), along with red, white, and orange sea fans and anemones. Whether you favor macro life or pelagics, bring your underwater camera as the area presents unlimited photo opportunities. Glass fish form clouds around a rocky out-cropping, trevallies dart quickly as they hunt for food, manta rays drift lazily over your head, and grey reef sharks patrol the deep blue. Due to the depths here, from 10 to over 40 meters, and the occasional strong currents, this site is for advanced divers only.
Ao Maya
A large lagoon with steep cliffs, this site is popular with snorkelers as well as scuba divers. Average depths here are 14 meters, with a maximum of 24 meters, and is suitable for everyone. You’ll spot turtles often, and the north side of the wall is covered with whip corals. It features an amazing swim-through at 17 meters that brings you right up under the cliffs when you surface. Simply breathtaking!
Ao Loh Samah
Featuring a tall limestone pinnacle sheltered by the bay, Ao Loh Samah is a popular one for night diving. Its sandy bottom and moderate depths (no more than 20 meters) make it comfortable for all diving levels. You’ll find many various reef fish, including angelfish and scorpion fish, as well as an underwater gorge. Watch out for occasional strong currents on the seaward side of the pinnacle.
Koh Bida Nok/Koh Bida Nai
These two small islands provide some of the area’s best diving, with variable underwater terrain and abundant marine life. Each island has a shallow bay area, but also greater depths with a steep wall that drops down to 30 meters. Bida Nai has a wonderful archway and swim-through, as well shallow hard coral gardens that are quite colorful, while Bida Nok has swim-throughs meandering through a jumble of boulders. Looks for turtles, leopard sharks, and occasional early-morning black tip sharks. Both island sites are suitable for divers at any experience level.
Diving is possible in the Phi Phi Island area year round, but the waters are their clearest and warmest between February and May. The liveaboard season runs year-round, however. For brilliant settings and lush marine life, consider the Phi Phi Islands for your next Southeast Asian diving adventure.