A Diving Destination Of Southeast Asia – Ko Phi Phi Islands

The Ko Phi Phi Island is in the Andaman Sea, between the Phuket Island and the Krabi Island. Situated fifty kilometers to the south east of Phuket, the Ko Phi Phi Islands are part of the Hadnopparattara-Koh Phi Phi National Park, rich in marine life.

While it groups together about six islands, the Phi Phi Don spread over 28 square kilometers and the Phi Phi Le covering about 7 square kilometers, are the more well known ones.

When to go

This Southeast Asian Island has a tropical climate. January to April is the hot season and rains come from May to December.  Rains are heavy but of short duration.

December to March is the peak season for tourists.

How to go

The only way to reach Ko Phi Phi Island is by sea from Krabi, Phuket, Ao Nang and the Ko Lanta Islands. Most visitors come here from Phuket, as a get away tour.

Being a major tourist destination and with the Phuket International Airport in its north, the Island of Phuket is of course, easily accessible. Many international airlines offer their services here from Australia, Malaysia, Germany, Singapore, Macao, Seoul and other destinations of the world. There are direct charter flights from some European and Asian countries like Sweden, Taiwan and Japan to name a few during the peak tourist seasons. There are regular domestic flights to Phuket as well.

The Thao Thepkasattri Bridge connects Thailand to Phuket.

What to do

This Island is a snorkeling and diving paradise.  Thanks to its crystal clear water, there are 15 diving sites here with a diverse marine life. Among the popular dive sites here are the Bida Nai with seahorses and colourful nudibranchs, Bida Nok, both south of Phi Phi Leh, the Garang Heng Coral Reef to the east of Phi Phi Le known for its shoals of yellow barracuda and Leopard Sharks and the Hin Dot – a submerged pinnacle of Phi Phi Don Island outside the Tonsai Bay, home to corals and Barracudas.

The Loh Sama Bay on the east of Phi Phi Le is a popular snorkeling site and a night dive site. The Marine life here includes the Giant Rays, cuttlefish, pipefish, Octopuses and lionfish. The Maya Bay is a good snorkeling and diving site for beginners. To the west of Phi Phi Island is the Shark Point teaming with marine life like Gost Pipefish, frogfish, Leopard Sharks and other sea creatures. The King Cruise Wreck dive, to the west of Phi Phi Island, has attraction of its own home to scorpion fish and other marine life.

Again on the west of the Island is the Anemone Reef, a rocky pinnacle, which is habitat of anemones, seafans, yellow tiger tail seahorse, morays to name a few.

Snorkeling is also good at other sites like Camel Rock, the Bamboo Island and Hin Phae. Kayaking, game fishing, boating and rock climbing are other activities here that you can enjoy doing.

Hiking too has lot of scope here. To start with, the Island has no roads. There are no difficult hiking tails as such. A number of cliffs here are ripe for jumping, if you enjoy that.

Beaches adorn the Island.  Of the best beaches in Ko Phi Phi Don are the Ao Ton Sai, Hat Yao, Hat Ranti beach and Ao Lo Bakao.

In Ko Phi Phi Le are the Ao Maya Bay and Lo Sama beaches.

With no traffic because of no roads, the Island of Phi Phi has its serenity intact in spite of all the touristy developments.  Having been a getaway from the Island of Phuket, the Phi Phi Islands are gaining grounds as a destination by themselves.