Phi Phi Island : Activities

Diving and Snorkeling

The Phi Phi Islands and outlying islands offer some of the best diving in the world, with incredibly diverse marine life, including a wide variety of colourful tropical fish, soft and hard corals, huge sea fans and leopard sharks. There are shallow and deep reefs and because there is so much to explore there is something for every level of diver to enjoy.

The visibility is typically around 10-25 metres with depths ranging from 10-30 metres. The average sea temperature is about 27 celsius.

As well as diving, there are some excellent places to go snorkelling and observe the wonderous corals and fishes up close.

To book your diving and snorkeling trips, there are many local dive and tour shops located on the island.


Some Interesting Dive Sites worth visiting

Ko Pida Nok
Here you will find leopard sharks, turtles, moray eels, and corals, plus a chance to see whale sharks and manta rays. One side of the island is very shallow while the other drops off to 30 metres. This site is suitable for all levels of diver.

Ko Pida Nai
The sister island of Pida Nok is located just a few hundred metres away but offers
a very different experience underwater. Large fallen rocks have created several swim-through and submerged islands, building an ideal habitat for marine life, and a fascinating dive.

Shark Point (Hin Bida)
This rock which just 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 and March.

Garang Heng
This is 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.

Maya Bay
This is a wonderful array of marine life to be found here with a maximum depth of 18 metres. For the more experienced diver depths of 30 metres + are located out of the bay where large caves help to create a very dramatic dive.


King Cruiser Wreck
This vessel was built in Japan 30 years ago and on the 4th May 1997, struck a coral reef and sank in near perfect weather conditions. Luckily there were no casulaties and even since that fateful day, the King Cruiser has become a popular dive site. It is a relatively easy dive with large openings that allow 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
This 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.


Other Activities

Island Hopping
Take a local longtail boat trip around the island. Each boat can take about 6-8 passengers and stops at all the snorkelling places and local beauty spots including the Viking Cave. You may need to take your own snorkel gear though you can also hire from local diveshops.

Beach Hopping
Life is very laid back in Phi Phi, and despite the variety of activities available, there is very little pressure to to get out and do anything! Sleep in until the sun rises high in the sky. Then wander from your room to the beach (perhaps 20 metres) and lie in the sun until your particular beach gets boring. Time for a 15 minute trip to some protected inlet to find a new little beach or place to eat.
Local long tail boats are happy to take you from beach to beach, including the famous one, Maya Beach, featured in the Leonardo DiCaprio film "The Beach"

Kayaking
A great way to see the best of Phi Phi's marine and bird life among the limestone cliffs coves and caves. A number of companies offer canoe tours around Phi Phi Don and the neighbouring islands, combining kayaking, snorkelling and even shark watching!

Depending on location and season, kayaking tours can be high energy and action packed with surging waves, caves, and blowholes, or more gentle relaxed paddling, depending on the season and the tour. Paddle during the day, visiting islands, snorkelling and swimming or take a sunset paddle and return by torchlight under the stars!

Game Fishing
The Andaman Sea is home to all the classic prize fighters of the fish world. Black Marlin, Giant Travelly, Sailfish, and Shark. Yellowfin, Dogtooth and Skipjack, Tuna are common, while Wahoo are plentiful during the monsoon season. (June - October.)

Boat charters are available, or you can join a trip with other individuals (depends on demand), or hire a local longtail boat.

Rock Climbing
Surprisingly, not really developed on the island - despite the great potential. Although some routes are bolted, you'll need to consult other climbers first and bring your own equipment!

Krabi is more organised with climbing shops and gear for rent, although more crowded on the rock face.

If you want to see local climbers in action, visit the Viking Cave. For 100 Baht, with no ropes or special equipment, just bamboo scaffolding (and a prayer to the local cave gods) the locals collect the Swifts' nests which form the basic ingredients for the gourmet Chinese Bird's Nest soup.

Treking
Most of the locals use longtail boats to get around, but there are a few paths. Walk up to the lookout point in Tonsai for a stunning panoramic view over the twin bays of Phi Phi, the jungle below and beyond. It's worth the modest 40 minute climb and the 200 metre steeper section is paved and quite easy. Refreshments are available at the top during all of high season, but take water for the climb. To get there, walk along Loh Dalum Bay past Phi Phi Princess and Pavilion beach resorts. Follow the signs up the hill past Viewpoint Resort to the vantage point.