Diving & Snorkelling on Koh Phi Phi
Andaman limestone, gentle sharks, turtles and a wreck

A limestone pinnacle rising from the sea south of Phi Phi Leh, which many rate as the best dive site at Phi Phi. Its walls drop away sheer, drawing thick schools of fish, with a chance of turtles, leopard sharks resting on the sand, and sometimes blacktip sharks. Best for certified divers with a bit of experience.

A pinnacle paired with Bida Nok and close by, so dive trips often do both in a day. The highlights are its walls, soft coral, small swim-through caverns and fish schools, with a chance of turtles and blacktip sharks too. The current is gentle to moderate, and visibility is usually good in the dry season. Instructors like it for both training and fun dives.

A submerged reef known for blacktip reef sharks — shy and harmless to people — with frequent turtles, bright soft coral and sea anemones. (Don't confuse it with the other Shark Point near Phuket; the area has duplicate names.) It's an open-water site, best for certified divers with some experience. Watch the wildlife from a distance and never chase it.

A large car ferry that sank in 1997, lying in open water between Koh Phi Phi and Phuket. It's now an artificial reef swarming with fish, and one of the most popular wreck dives in the Andaman. It's a deep site and the current can be strong at times, so it's best for divers with an Advanced certification or solid experience. Trips often run from Phuket or Ao Nang rather than Phi Phi itself.

A submerged pinnacle near the King Cruiser, its top carpeted in sea anemones and full of clownfish and other reef fish, with a chance of larger species passing through to feed. It's an open-water site where the current can run, so it suits experienced divers, and it's often paired with the King Cruiser wreck on one trip.

The reef around Palong Bay and the shallower spots near Phi Phi Leh — shallow to moderate, gentle current, plenty of coral and fish. They're where instructors like to take students for their first dives, and they're snorkellable too, with a chance of small blacktip sharks in places. Good for beginners and anyone after an easy dive.

Maya Bay was closed for recovery from 2018 to 2022, then reopened with strict rules. These days you usually can't swim in the bay itself, and boats can't anchor in it. Visitors come in via a pontoon in the back bay and walk in along a boardwalk, with limited numbers and timed entry. Check the latest rules before you book.

As well as the daily rules, Maya Bay has periodic seasonal closures — some years it shuts around August–September to let nature recover — and no overnight stays are allowed on Phi Phi Leh. The dates and rules change every year, so before you buy a tour that advertises Maya Bay, ask clearly whether the bay is actually open during your dates.

The Andaman is best from around November to April — calm seas, clear water, the best underwater visibility, and all the tours running. It's the easiest time to reach far sites like the King Cruiser. March and April are very hot, and it's also the busiest stretch, so book tours and ferries ahead.

May to October is the Andaman monsoon — rougher seas and more rain. Some ferry crossings can be cancelled and underwater visibility is more variable. But on calm days you can still dive, with fewer people, and more sheltered sites often still run even when the open sea is up. If you come now, allow flexible days and check conditions with your shop.

The first rule of every dive: don't touch, hold or stand on the coral. Coral is a living thing — slow-growing and fragile, and even a touch or a fin kick can damage it. Phi Phi's reefs have taken heavy use, so control your buoyancy, keep your gear from dangling and dragging, and don't take anything from the sea. Just look.

Choose a reef-safe sunscreen that avoids chemicals known to harm coral, or wear a long-sleeve rash top instead. Don't feed the fish, don't chase or crowd turtles and sharks for a photo, and take every piece of rubbish back out with you. Good diving leaves as little trace as possible, so the next generation sees the same sea you did.