Koh Phi Phi
South East Asia
Thailand
£2.50
Koh Phi Phi: The Cinematic seascape
Koh Phi Phi is the undisputed superstar of the Andaman Sea. Famous for the soaring limestone cliffs of Maya Bay, this archipelago offers a landscape that is just as dramatic below the surface as it is above. The dive sites here, particularly around Bida Nok and Bida Nai, are a sensory overload of topography and color. Rugged walls are carpeted in purple and pink soft corals, while cracks in the limestone hide moray eels and lionfish. It is a place of constant motion, where clouds of yellow snapper and fusiliers swarm so thick they can block your view of the reef. Diving here feels like swimming through a high-definition aquarium.
Why We Chose This Sticker Design
This design focuses on the serene nature of Phi Phi's most famous resident. We illustrated the Leopard Shark in its classic swimming pose, highlighting the incredibly long tail that flows behind it like a ribbon. The shark's spotted pattern is meticulously detailed to distinguish it from other species. In the background, we kept the water a deep, calm blue with schools of small fusiliers, emphasizing the relaxed atmosphere of the Andaman Sea.
Diving Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi is better known for its beaches than its diving, but the limestone islands sit on good sites and it makes an easy, sociable base. Bida Nok and Bida Nai — two small limestone islets just south — offer walls, soft coral and leopard sharks resting on the sand, and blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallows. The King Cruiser, a passenger ferry that struck a reef and sank in 1997, lies at around 30 metres nearby and has become a well-colonised wreck. The diving is warm, clear and mostly straightforward.
- Best time to dive
- November to April
- Difficulty
- Beginner to intermediate; the wreck is deeper
- Water temperature
- 28–30°C
- Visibility
- 10–25m
Top dive sites
- •Bida Nok & Bida Nai — Limestone walls, leopard sharks and soft coral
- •King Cruiser wreck — Ferry sunk in 1997, around 30m
- •Shark Point — Pinnacle with leopard sharks and soft coral
What you’ll see
Frequently asked questions
Is Koh Phi Phi good for diving?
It is solid rather than spectacular, and it suits divers who want easy warm-water diving alongside a lively base. Bida Nok, Bida Nai and Shark Point offer good limestone topography, soft coral and reliable leopard shark sightings, and the King Cruiser adds a wreck. Sites are busy in high season with a lot of boat traffic. For Thailand’s best diving you would head to the Similans or Hin Daeng, both of which are reachable on longer trips.
Can you dive the King Cruiser wreck?
Yes. The King Cruiser was a passenger ferry that struck Anemone Reef and sank in 1997, and she now sits at around 30 metres, thoroughly colonised by soft coral and schooling fish. Structural collapse over the years means penetration is not advisable and most operators keep divers outside the hull. Current can run across the site, so Advanced Open Water is the usual requirement and it is generally dived at slack water.
