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Explore Phi Phi

The postcard-worthy Phi Phi Islands offer a truly unique diving experience, nestled in the heart of Thailand's Andaman Sea. With its lush, jungle-clad cliffs and ribbons of soft white sand, the islands are as beautiful above the surface as they are below. Divers can expect to be enchanted by vibrant coral reefs, dramatic limestone walls, and an abundance of marine life, all set within the renowned Coral Triangle - known for offering the world's greatest biodiversity. The main island, Phi Phi Don, serves as the hub for local dive centers and resorts, providing a bustling atmosphere amidst stunning natural surroundings.

Diving in the Phi Phi Islands is typically done from boats, with options ranging from large diving boats to traditional Thai longtail boats. Popular dive sites include the King Cruiser Wreck, Shark Point, and Anemone Reef, each teeming with marine life and offering unique underwater landscapes to explore. For those seeking a more exclusive experience, the quieter northern regions of Phi Phi Don, such as Laem Tong Beach, offer slightly more expensive yet serene diving adventures. The waters here average a comfortable 29°C/84°F, making it an inviting destination for divers year-round, with the best conditions from January to April before the rainy season begins.

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Diving in Phi Phi Islands

Boat diving is common practice, as there aren’t really any shore dives here. Most divers enjoy colorful, shallow reef diving in this area, such as at sites like Lanna Bay, Bida Nai, Palong/Malong and Viking Cave, along with dramatic wall diving thanks to the islands’ breathtaking underwater topography, like at Bida Nok, Nui Bay and Phi Leh Wall.

Cave diving is possible in some parts, and many dive sites boast adventurous tunnels and swim-throughs. Wreck diving is another attraction, including such sites like the King Cruiser and Kled Geaow.

Night diving also promises a memorable experience, when the dive sites are a completely different story in the dark.

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The best Months to dive in Phi Phi Island

Thanks to its tropical climate, Phi Phi offers year-round diving, with warm water temperatures ranging between 28°C-31°C (82°F-88°F). The high season from November to April is the best time to dive here in terms of weather and ocean conditions, when there’s less rainfall, better visibility that averages between 10-30 meters, and calmer seas around the best dive sites.

The low, rainy season from May to October still boasts awesome diving, however the best sites are often too wavy as a result of changed winds. Sites that are sheltered from the winds are just as beautiful, but there’s simply less of them available. Sunny days still occur frequently, and most showers pass quickly and are refreshing. What’s more, you’re likely to grab bargains on diving and accommodation.

It’s important to note that in any season, the absolute best visibility and mildest currents here happen during the half-moon period of the month, due to lesser tidal variation.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Phi Phi Island

If you can think of it, it probably lives here. Indo-Pacific species thrive around these islands, from rainbow hard and soft corals and tiny macro cuties like nudibranch, shrimp, seahorses and crabs, to reef sharks and turtles.

Black tips and hawksbill turtles are common sightings around Palong/Malong and just north of Maya Bay, all while a plethora of colorful reef fish decorate the sites, including batfish, angelfish, lionfish, damselfish, anemonefish, and so many more.

Eels, sea snakes, octopus and cuttlefish hunt around the reefs, while schools of barracuda and tornadoes of yellow snapper create tornadoes. Blue-spotted stingrays glide along the sandy floor, where lucky divers may spot a resting leopard shark.

Eagle rays sometimes frequent the area, and the sites of Hin Daeng and Muang offer a chance to see manta rays. The luckiest of divers might encounter a whaleshark, though this is an exceptionally rare occurrence.

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 approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

9.4k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
1.1k
M
1.1k
A
781
M
473
J
415
J
700
A
761
S
351
O
604
N
982
D
1.1k

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

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

5k Sightings
J
574
F
641
M
638
A
438
M
328
J
254
J
337
A
448
S
183
O
246
N
427
D
528
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

4.2k Sightings
J
526
F
506
M
460
A
391
M
227
J
152
J
259
A
315
S
122
O
198
N
437
D
562
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

2.1k Sightings
J
275
F
286
M
336
A
240
M
82
J
95
J
91
A
81
S
26
O
89
N
165
D
292

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

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

1.3k Sightings
J
104
F
113
M
252
A
189
M
105
J
112
J
98
A
103
S
24
O
35
N
78
D
101

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

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

1.1k Sightings
J
109
F
107
M
108
A
74
M
72
J
85
J
98
A
115
S
44
O
58
N
90
D
130
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

9.3k Sightings
J
1.2k
F
1.3k
M
1.3k
A
794
M
354
J
398
J
695
A
773
S
390
O
488
N
662
D
960

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

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

9.1k Sightings
J
1k
F
1k
M
1.1k
A
782
M
488
J
440
J
656
A
738
S
362
O
579
N
914
D
1k

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

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

7.9k Sightings
J
961
F
915
M
946
A
624
M
415
J
331
J
482
A
606
S
291
O
513
N
806
D
1k

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

7.1k Sightings
J
779
F
795
M
862
A
618
M
380
J
292
J
446
A
542
S
291
O
457
N
795
D
847

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

6.3k Sightings
J
726
F
705
M
718
A
539
M
345
J
346
J
439
A
524
S
254
O
366
N
557
D
732

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

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

6k Sightings
J
605
F
668
M
722
A
520
M
304
J
251
J
432
A
453
S
244
O
407
N
667
D
700

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

5.8k Sightings
J
668
F
667
M
656
A
473
M
333
J
297
J
441
A
510
S
204
O
338
N
535
D
661

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

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

5.6k Sightings
J
562
F
644
M
688
A
515
M
354
J
288
J
386
A
491
S
220
O
351
N
518
D
551

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

4.9k Sightings
J
548
F
572
M
573
A
441
M
262
J
230
J
342
A
371
S
189
O
284
N
459
D
586

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

3.8k Sightings
J
416
F
419
M
446
A
356
M
229
J
200
J
271
A
330
S
142
O
188
N
337
D
418

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

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

3.2k Sightings
J
314
F
302
M
373
A
243
M
196
J
153
J
250
A
327
S
158
O
234
N
352
D
340

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

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

3.2k Sightings
J
352
F
364
M
363
A
268
M
196
J
166
J
254
A
294
S
135
O
169
N
249
D
368

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

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

3.2k Sightings
J
378
F
405
M
374
A
253
M
155
J
132
J
219
A
273
S
129
O
171
N
301
D
384

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

2.8k Sightings
J
297
F
293
M
328
A
233
M
161
J
138
J
209
A
195
S
84
O
240
N
299
D
288

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

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

2.8k Sightings
J
261
F
297
M
317
A
245
M
168
J
157
J
232
A
246
S
128
O
179
N
243
D
292

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

2.7k Sightings
J
275
F
325
M
292
A
220
M
166
J
110
J
153
A
258
S
125
O
186
N
281
D
287

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

2.7k Sightings
J
232
F
281
M
328
A
237
M
152
J
146
J
250
A
343
S
155
O
108
N
198
D
230

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

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

2.6k Sightings
J
201
F
244
M
285
A
243
M
210
J
171
J
206
A
275
S
132
O
181
N
205
D
224

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

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

2.5k Sightings
J
244
F
282
M
231
A
196
M
148
J
128
J
224
A
271
S
128
O
145
N
230
D
246

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

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

2.3k Sightings
J
225
F
235
M
257
A
159
M
106
J
112
J
175
A
251
S
104
O
196
N
222
D
243

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

Total number of species approx.: 120

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

2.2k Sightings
J
219
F
237
M
332
A
235
M
114
J
117
J
150
A
172
S
59
O
76
N
194
D
306

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

2.1k Sightings
J
164
F
215
M
258
A
194
M
117
J
123
J
187
A
240
S
84
O
183
N
147
D
192
Banded Sea Krait

Banded Sea Krait

1.7k Sightings
J
182
F
211
M
222
A
207
M
86
J
68
J
126
A
135
S
84
O
71
N
167
D
169

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

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

1.7k Sightings
J
172
F
170
M
196
A
156
M
120
J
97
J
101
A
131
S
62
O
127
N
194
D
194

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

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

1.7k Sightings
J
237
F
214
M
184
A
114
M
75
J
50
J
102
A
71
S
61
O
95
N
238
D
236

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

Total number of species approx.: 300

Squid

Squid

1.6k Sightings
J
121
F
199
M
263
A
228
M
138
J
116
J
121
A
147
S
47
O
33
N
82
D
145

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

1.5k Sightings
J
191
F
146
M
186
A
125
M
78
J
77
J
117
A
115
S
46
O
114
N
108
D
151

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

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

1.4k Sightings
J
157
F
161
M
196
A
148
M
106
J
113
J
108
A
127
S
34
O
34
N
87
D
124

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

1.4k Sightings
J
141
F
185
M
175
A
147
M
81
J
107
J
111
A
140
S
40
O
69
N
82
D
80

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

1.3k Sightings
J
128
F
139
M
130
A
185
M
100
J
103
J
107
A
110
S
32
O
32
N
95
D
107

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

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

1.1k Sightings
J
111
F
114
M
122
A
175
M
93
J
106
J
98
A
100
S
21
O
25
N
66
D
87

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

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

1.1k Sightings
J
82
F
103
M
113
A
149
M
110
J
103
J
98
A
120
S
21
O
25
N
66
D
75

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

1.1k Sightings
J
144
F
122
M
106
A
71
M
32
J
29
J
56
A
91
S
42
O
90
N
126
D
146
Spiny Seahorse

Spiny Seahorse

981 Sightings
J
131
F
164
M
174
A
101
M
38
J
25
J
52
A
41
S
15
O
23
N
109
D
108
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

936 Sightings
J
127
F
106
M
159
A
109
M
59
J
46
J
55
A
57
S
19
O
29
N
66
D
104
Zebra Shark

Zebra Shark

773 Sightings
J
87
F
46
M
130
A
84
M
63
J
50
J
56
A
71
S
36
O
35
N
66
D
49

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pipefish

Pipefish

683 Sightings
J
41
F
71
M
87
A
79
M
57
J
66
J
81
A
90
S
45
O
24
N
0
D
42

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

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

647 Sightings
J
87
F
88
M
83
A
53
M
32
J
0
J
15
A
53
S
0
O
69
N
81
D
86

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

Total number of species approx.: 300

Snake Eel

Snake Eel

640 Sightings
J
71
F
66
M
67
A
24
M
49
J
48
J
66
A
147
S
38
O
13
N
21
D
30

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

612 Sightings
J
35
F
24
M
49
A
46
M
47
J
75
J
89
A
90
S
24
O
31
N
56
D
46

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

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

556 Sightings
J
92
F
65
M
77
A
43
M
37
J
51
J
58
A
59
S
18
O
0
N
10
D
46

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

Total number of species approx.: 120

Flounder

Flounder

540 Sightings
J
43
F
39
M
62
A
46
M
43
J
70
J
68
A
96
S
30
O
13
N
11
D
19

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

Total number of species approx.: 190

Conger Eel

Conger Eel

326 Sightings
J
27
F
42
M
27
A
16
M
35
J
47
J
46
A
81
S
5
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 approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

303 Sightings
J
65
F
67
M
39
A
21
M
11
J
0
J
21
A
50
S
0
O
1
N
10
D
18

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