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Dive sites
Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi comprises a number of islands and is one to one and a half hours from Ao Nang by speedboat. These islands form the Phi Phi National Park
and contain a multitude of popular dive sites. Only the largest island
Phi Phi Don is inhabited, the remaining islands are all impressive limestone
cliffs rising out of the clear, turquoise waters. One of the beaches
on the second largest island Phi Phi Leh, was made famous by the movie ‘The Beach’ and as a result attracts hordes of tourists.
The dive sites of the Phi Phi islands offer something for all levels
of diving experience including pinnacles, gentle bays, wall diving,
swim-throughs and some small caves. Depths generally range from 5m – 30m.
Koh Phi Phi offers a splendid variety of different
types of diving on its local reefs, with abundant hard and soft corals
and rich diversity of marine life – suitable for all levels of
divers. Trips also visit shark Point Marine Sanctuary, Hin Deang and
Mouang. Snorklling around Phi phi is second to none, with plenty of
shallow coral gardens crowning the fringing reefs, which are alive with
colourful fish.
Ao Nui
Location: On the northwest coast of Koh Phi Phi Don.
Depth: Average 15m / Maximum 21m
The dive circumnavigates the large rocky outcrop just outside the bay
and really is an enjoyable dive. The waters around the eastern face
are shallow and ideal for snorkeling: there are lots of corals and colourful
reef fish among small boulders and rocks, which are encrusted with patches
of sponges and interspersed with a multitude of plume worms. In contrast,
the western section of the site comprises a wall that descends to a
depth of 20m to meet a jumble of rocks. The wall features a wealth of
marine life including moray eels, lionfish, angelfish, butterflyfish
and even harlequin ghost pipefish. The northwestern apex of the reef
features large boulders, balanced on top of each other. It is suitable for more experienced divers, who can explore a number of relatively tight
swim-throughs.
Hin Dot
Location: Submerged pinnacle off Koh Phi Phi Don’s southwestern
headlands..
Depth: Average 12m / Maximum 28m
The pinnacle is dominated by three interesting shelves which provide
ample and varied underwater scenery as you spiral upwards. There are
good soft corals at all depths. The hard corals are represented by tubes
and laminates. The deeper sections have numerous oysters and clams. Many
reef-fish are in evidence, including lunar wrasse, parrotfish, honeycomb
groupers and spotfin and Indian lionfish. There are also bearded scorpionfish
lurking among the rocks as they await their prey of tiny fish.
Table Coral City
Location: Off the eastern side of Phi Phi Ley next to the Viking Cave.
Depth: Average 9m / Maximum 28m
This is an interesting place to dive, and there is much to see. The
topography of the site is a sloping reef with sand and coral patches
interspersed with a range of pinnacles. In the shallower reefs, there
are some excellent examples of sea fans, whips and table corals, under
the larger of which a resident hawksbill turtle can usually be seen.
There is also an artificial reef comprised of 100 cement blocks stacked
from 18m to around 6m covered with algae and an increasing amount of
sea anemones. Regular marine life encounters include leopard sharks,
scorpion fish, ghost pipefish, pescock flounders, tiger tail seahorses
and a variety of nudibranchs.
Ao Maya
Location: West coast of Koh Phi Phi Ley.
Depth: Average 16m / Maximum 24m
The dive follows the coast along a steep shelved reef, with occasional
sections of wall; hard corals, sea whips and various species of sea
anemones cover the elevated shelves. There are also small offshore pinnacles
and submerged rocks to explore. Wrasse, Moorish idols and bannerfish
constantly pass by.
Ao Lsamah
Location: The southern tip of Koh Phi Phi Ley.
Depth: Average 14m / Maximum 20m
The sandy bottom is punctuated by rocky ledges among which are numerous
bearded scorpionfish. Fringing the rocks are sea whips, some bent over
by the aggregations of wing oysters clinging to them. The southern section
of the site is deeper, at 20m, and follows a wall where many bivalves
and clusters of soft corals are in evidence. Pairs of large blue-ringed
angelfish explore the nooks and crannies.
Koh Bida Nai
Location: The nearer of the two outcrops directly south of Koh Phi Phi
Ley.
Depth: Average 16m / Maximum 35m
A hugely diverse range of hard and soft corals. One area, know as Fantasy
Reef, comprises mostly branching and hard coral laminates, punctuated
with soft corals. The reef attracts a high variety of marine life, including
small reef sharks, schooling pelagics (barracudas, trevally, kingfish
and tuna) and, for shark-spotters, bamboo, black-tip reef and leopard
sharks. Reef inhabitants include angel and butterflyfish, morays, octopus,
seahorses and the occasional turtle!
Koh Bida Nok
Location: Outer outcrop directly south of Koh Phi Phi Ley.
Depth: Average 19m / Maximum 30m
Gorgonian sea fans, sea whips and colourful soft corals abound. Small
scorpionfish disguise themselves amid the rocks; lionfish hover between them.
Varying sizes and species of colourful parrotfish and wrasse, along
with large schools of Moorish idols and hunting trumpetfish, are at
all depths. On the higher ledges are numerous sea anemones populated
by clownfish. Expect encounters with leopard sharks and, on a grander
scale, manta rays and whale sharks.
Hin Bida
Location: Outcrop 8km southeast of Koh Phi Phi Ley.
Depth: Average 12m / Maximum 18m
Relatively shallow at around 5m, the area due north of the outcrop is
covered with scattered rocks; in calm conditions snorkellers and divers
can enjoy schools of colourful reef-fish, including blue-lined snappers
and harlequin sweetlips, and more static attractions like multi-coloured
plume worms, featherstars and crinoids. This location’s secondary
name(Phi Phi’s Shark Point) refers to the overwhelming presence
of leopard sharks. There are also lots of cuttlefish, squid and titan
triggerfish. Large undulated and golden morays, spiny lobsters and octopi
attempt to obscure themselves within the many craggy holes and crevices.
Suitability: All levels of diver
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