Explore Bid Nok, Bida Nai, Ma Long, Pa Long, VikingCave and Phi Ley Wall

Exploring the dive sites of Bid Nok, Bida Nai, Ma Long, Pa Long, Viking Cave, and Phi Ley Wall offers a captivating underwater adventure that showcases the diversity and beauty of marine life in Thailand. Steep limestone cliffs at Bid Nok and Bida Nai create dramatic underwater walls teeming with vibrant marine life, providing divers with overhangs and caves to explore. These areas are a haven for hawksbill turtles, elusive seahorses, and mesmerizing sea snakes, making every dive an opportunity to encounter unique underwater creatures.

Ma Long is renowned for its abundance of turtles, while Pa Long offers a stunning shallow reef where the colorful coral formations are a feast for the eyes. Dive enthusiasts can also experience the intriguing geology at Viking Cave and Phi Ley Wall, where the majestic underwater landscapes shelter a rich variety of marine species. Whether diving from the shore, a boat, or a liveaboard, each site offers a different glimpse into the vibrant aquatic world, with seasonal migrations adding an element of surprise and excitement for divers seeking an unforgettable diving experience in Thailand.

Dive Activity

Diving in Bid Nok, Bida Nai, Ma Long, Pa Long, VikingCave and Phi Ley Wall

Bid Nok and Bida Nai are renowned dive sites offering vibrant marine life and excellent visibility. Divers often encounter colorful coral gardens and a variety of fish species, making them popular for both beginner and advanced divers. Wreck dives are a highlight, with sunken ships serving as artificial reefs attracting diverse marine life. Ma Long and Pa Long provide unique shore diving experiences. These sites are ideal for those who prefer the convenience of diving directly from the shore, allowing for flexible dive schedules. Viking Cave and Phi Ley Wall offer stunning underwater landscapes, with the latter known for its breathtaking vertical walls and occasional sightings of larger pelagic species. Night dives in these areas reveal the nocturnal behaviors of marine creatures, offering an unforgettable experience. Both shore and liveaboard options are available, catering to different preferences and diving styles.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Bid Nok, Bida Nai, Ma Long, Pa Long, VikingCave and Phi Ley Wall

The vibrant marine life in the areas of Bid Nok, Bida Nai, Ma Long, Pa Long, Viking Cave, and Phi Ley Wall offers divers an enticing underwater exploration. Common reef fish like parrotfish, butterflyfish, and angelfish are abundant year-round, filling the colorful coral gardens with life. These sites provide a thriving habitat for these species, making encounters almost certain for divers. Seasonal highlights include blacktip reef sharks and leopard sharks, especially around Bida Nok and Bida Nai during the cooler months from November to April. Turtles are often spotted gliding gracefully past the reefs in places like Viking Cave and Phi Ley Wall, particularly from May to October. Additionally, eagle rays might surprise divers with their majestic appearances near Ma Long and Pa Long, especially during the transition months between seasons. Observing such magnificent creatures adds an exciting dimension to diving in these locations.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
4.5k Sightings
J
519
F
425
M
356
A
305
M
240
J
216
J
434
A
474
S
215
O
327
N
469
D
565
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins

Hawksbill Turtle
2.9k Sightings
J
404
F
328
M
280
A
243
M
149
J
99
J
187
A
213
S
82
O
158
N
317
D
446

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
2.5k Sightings
J
282
F
259
M
248
A
200
M
167
J
151
J
185
A
255
S
105
O
124
N
201
D
281
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
1.6k Sightings
J
225
F
188
M
242
A
174
M
31
J
79
J
64
A
56
S
21
O
88
N
138
D
246

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
517 Sightings
J
31
F
47
M
39
A
34
M
39
J
51
J
53
A
65
S
25
O
31
N
45
D
57

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl

Octopus
433 Sightings
J
11
F
24
M
97
A
74
M
46
J
54
J
38
A
54
S
6
O
0
N
10
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
4.3k Sightings
J
465
F
439
M
398
A
315
M
252
J
235
J
350
A
387
S
191
O
292
N
438
D
523

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
3.7k Sightings
J
449
F
382
M
341
A
240
M
190
J
161
J
263
A
319
S
154
O
253
N
411
D
510

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
3.4k Sightings
J
367
F
340
M
303
A
247
M
197
J
161
J
255
A
307
S
166
O
248
N
398
D
432

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
3.2k Sightings
J
374
F
311
M
278
A
245
M
204
J
211
J
265
A
299
S
145
O
213
N
280
D
409
Show More

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
2.8k Sightings
J
303
F
295
M
238
A
211
M
192
J
167
J
233
A
282
S
111
O
184
N
256
D
340

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
2.8k Sightings
J
270
F
273
M
245
A
197
M
159
J
141
J
238
A
255
S
119
O
215
N
312
D
338

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
2.7k Sightings
J
262
F
262
M
261
A
233
M
196
J
165
J
215
A
279
S
121
O
188
N
238
D
260

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
2.4k Sightings
J
260
F
247
M
226
A
183
M
126
J
132
J
189
A
228
S
106
O
152
N
205
D
303
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin

Blacktip Reef Shark
2k Sightings
J
236
F
269
M
193
A
134
M
124
J
119
J
190
A
248
S
106
O
81
N
146
D
152

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
1.7k Sightings
J
176
F
176
M
172
A
143
M
102
J
102
J
130
A
171
S
70
O
85
N
150
D
222

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.

Scorpionfish
1.5k Sightings
J
171
F
179
M
146
A
102
M
87
J
74
J
117
A
152
S
79
O
100
N
144
D
192

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
1.5k Sightings
J
130
F
120
M
126
A
90
M
99
J
77
J
144
A
178
S
78
O
128
N
149
D
168

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
1.4k Sightings
J
136
F
146
M
136
A
103
M
98
J
94
J
129
A
166
S
74
O
82
N
110
D
164

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
1.4k Sightings
J
110
F
126
M
110
A
109
M
77
J
84
J
133
A
179
S
85
O
90
N
127
D
132

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
1.4k Sightings
J
81
F
107
M
133
A
130
M
133
J
103
J
115
A
175
S
80
O
95
N
91
D
107

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs

Porcupinefish
1.3k Sightings
J
104
F
116
M
110
A
109
M
85
J
84
J
129
A
143
S
71
O
104
N
118
D
133

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
1.2k Sightings
J
121
F
88
M
124
A
98
M
64
J
55
J
106
A
82
S
37
O
129
N
136
D
135

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
1.1k Sightings
J
94
F
111
M
120
A
88
M
58
J
72
J
126
A
185
S
84
O
59
N
72
D
70

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
1.1k Sightings
J
105
F
109
M
87
A
79
M
69
J
42
J
63
A
122
S
53
O
92
N
124
D
132

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
1k Sightings
J
56
F
86
M
109
A
88
M
64
J
65
J
107
A
131
S
48
O
93
N
64
D
98

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
937 Sightings
J
87
F
69
M
68
A
52
M
45
J
43
J
91
A
133
S
40
O
99
N
98
D
112

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 120

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Cuttlefish
853 Sightings
J
54
F
72
M
129
A
116
M
54
J
57
J
67
A
76
S
16
O
31
N
80
D
101

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Nudibranch
711 Sightings
J
101
F
76
M
44
A
36
M
22
J
31
J
39
A
34
S
34
O
58
N
106
D
130

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Shutterstock-Hans Gert Broeder

Garfish
705 Sightings
J
60
F
67
M
69
A
56
M
56
J
40
J
47
A
56
S
21
O
59
N
89
D
85

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
699 Sightings
J
88
F
70
M
68
A
71
M
35
J
39
J
60
A
57
S
21
O
61
N
53
D
76

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Shutterstock_DiveIvanov

Squid
658 Sightings
J
33
F
72
M
112
A
112
M
63
J
68
J
45
A
70
S
8
O
0
N
30
D
45

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

k

Cornetfish
615 Sightings
J
57
F
90
M
71
A
46
M
36
J
56
J
56
A
84
S
21
O
34
N
30
D
34

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross

Shrimp
591 Sightings
J
50
F
53
M
55
A
86
M
53
J
65
J
42
A
71
S
18
O
12
N
25
D
61

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
484 Sightings
J
53
F
42
M
36
A
27
M
18
J
16
J
44
A
59
S
29
O
49
N
59
D
52

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Spiny Lobster
473 Sightings
J
49
F
33
M
34
A
89
M
49
J
57
J
35
A
54
S
6
O
0
N
37
D
30
AdobeStock-Richard Carey

Banded Sea Krait
440 Sightings
J
46
F
31
M
11
A
42
M
11
J
0
J
19
A
52
S
37
O
38
N
77
D
76

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 55

k

Lobster
427 Sightings
J
21
F
19
M
36
A
98
M
46
J
59
J
34
A
49
S
6
O
0
N
34
D
25

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

Crab
379 Sightings
J
11
F
24
M
26
A
80
M
52
J
55
J
37
A
54
S
6
O
11
N
12
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 120

AdobeStock-Composer.

Flounder
344 Sightings
J
11
F
14
M
41
A
32
M
44
J
56
J
54
A
72
S
20
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

iStock-Christian von Mach

Pipefish
333 Sightings
J
18
F
24
M
28
A
28
M
28
J
37
J
48
A
58
S
35
O
11
N
0
D
18
k

Cannonball Jellyfish
286 Sightings
J
14
F
62
M
39
A
25
M
28
J
44
J
28
A
40
S
6
O
0
N
0
D
0
k

Blue Jellyfish
258 Sightings
J
0
F
33
M
50
A
24
M
29
J
45
J
29
A
42
S
6
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

iStock-deraugenzeuge

Snake Eel
228 Sightings
J
26
F
25
M
0
A
0
M
22
J
27
J
31
A
77
S
20
O
0
N
0
D
0

The best Months to dive in Bid Nok, Bida Nai, Ma Long, Pa Long, VikingCave and Phi Ley Wall

Diving around Bid Nok, Bida Nai, Ma Long, Pa Long, Viking Cave, and Phi Ley Wall offers diverse experiences throughout the year. Water temperatures generally range from 28°C–30°C/82°F–86°F, providing comfortable conditions for divers. Visibility typically spans between 10 to 30 meters/33 to 98 feet, with the best clarity during the dry season from November to April. Diving is possible year-round, but the southwest monsoon, from May to October, can bring stronger winds and currents, potentially reducing visibility and increasing water movement. During this period, divers should be cautious, as conditions can vary day-to-day. Despite these fluctuations, the underwater life remains vibrant, offering rewarding experiences throughout the year.

Dive Sites

Palm Beach Divers Co., Ltd, 81150 Krabi

Viking Cave (★4.6)

Viking Cave has a striking bay and a beautiful cave above the water, but the real deal is underwater a few hundred meters to the north of Viking Cave. A few years ago, the Phuket Marine Conservation department put down a beautiful artificial reef to re-establish marine life after the tsunami.
Palm Beach Divers Co., Ltd, 81150 Krabi

Koh Bida Nai (★4.5)

One of many dive sites at Phi Phi islands. Small rocky island south from Phi Phi Lee. Diving depht starts at 5 meters and goes to 30 meters plus. This site lies just to the north of Koh Bida Nok and is made of limestone cliffs hosting a large array of marine life.
Palm Beach Divers Co., Ltd, 81150 Krabi

RTN Kled Gaeow (Wreck) (★4.5)

Decommissioned in 2014, the ship was donated and purposely sunk via controlled explosion to create a new dive site on 19 March 2014. The 47 metre long wreck sits almost upright (20 degree list) facing north to south (bow-stern), some 800-1000m to the east of Piley Bay (Ko Phi Phi Ley).
Palm Beach Divers Co., Ltd, 81150 Krabi

Maya Corner, Maya Bay (★4.5)

Found on the west side of Koh Phi Phi Lei is the beautiful Maya Bay, made famous for being the location of the movie ‘The Beach.’ The dive site of Maya Corner starts just inside the bay’s northern entrance, and follows the coastline north. It is a steep shelved reef, with occasional sections of walls.
Palm Beach Divers Co., Ltd, 81150 Krabi

Mushroom Rock (★4.5)

Mushroom Rock is the first dive site after the northern tip of Phi Phi Ley, on the west side of the island. A site formed of large pinnacles reaching the surface including the one shaped like a mushroom.
Pura Vida Phi Phi, 81000 Krabi

Malong Bay/Turtle Rock (★4.7)

On the West side of Phi Phi Leh , north of Maya Bay, there is the bay of Malong, a frequented dive site between December and May, only dived occasionally during the Monsoon season.
Palm Beach Divers Co., Ltd, 81150 Koh Lanta

Palong Bay (★4.4)

Situated on the east side of Phi Phi Ley, Palong Bay is the next bay north of the famous Maya Bay, made famous by the movie “The Beach.” This dive is s relatively simple one and is rarely affected by currents. The dive heads south from Palong Bay towards Maya Bay.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Whale Shark Wall, Ko Phi Phi (★4.2)

Situated on the east side of Phi Phi Ley, Palong Bay is the next bay north of the famous Maya Bay, made famous by the movie “The Beach.” This dive is relatively easy and is rarely affected by currents. The dive heads south from Palong Bay towards Maya Bay.
Mares

Pileh Wall 2 (★4.3)

Pileh Wall, on Phi Phi Leh, is a vibrant wall dive dropping to 20m. It’s renowned for colorful soft corals, gorgonian fans, and offers encounters with blacktip reef sharks in shallower areas. You’ll also find various reef fish, moray eels, and possibly turtles. Perfect for all dive levels.
Scubapro

Pileh Wall 1 (★4.7)

Pileh Wall, on Phi Phi Leh, is a vibrant wall dive dropping to 20m. It’s renowned for colorful soft corals, gorgonian fans, and offers encounters with blacktip reef sharks in shallower areas. You’ll also find various reef fish, moray eels, and possibly turtles. Perfect for all dive levels.
Mares

Palong Wall (★4.3)

Renowned for its wall diving. With depths to 18 meters, it suits all levels. It features dramatic cliffs underwater, sloping reefs, and numerous small caverns and swim-throughs. Currents are typically mild, making it a spectacular and relaxing dive site.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Hin Klai (★4.2)

Just 2 kms east of Koh Phi Phi lies the submerged and less-often dived submerged pinnacle of Hin Klai (sometimes called Gareng Heng). This gently sloping pinnacle begins at around 6m, dropping to around 13m on the east side and 17m on the west side.