Koh Phi Phi and its diving locations like Hin Bida, Koh Bida Nai, Koh Bida Nok and the Shark Point area are located to the east of Phuket, halfway between Phuket and Krabi. A bit further south we find Koh Lanta and the spectacular reefs of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. The latter divesites are the best places to spot whale sharks, and also manta rays are often present here.
The liveaboard boats normally combine all these locations in one trip all year round.

Located in the middle of the ocean this area is known as one of the best dive sites in the world. Hin Daeng, an underwater limestone pinnacle, rises a few metres above the surface and drops off down to 60 metres.

No other spot in the Andaman Sea has a wall like this. The pinnacle is covered with colourful soft corals with huge beds of anemones. Schools of barracudas, big jacks, trevallies and also sailfish abound; while whale sharks, silvertip sharks, big sting rays and mantas often can be seen. This all makes it easy to overlook the sites many smaller inhabitants. Many nudibranches, shrimp, seastars can also be found here.

At the southern side we find the drop off, where black coral and sea fans adorn the wall. Leopard sharks are also spotted on the ledges. The west side is covered in sea anmoes, whilst the norther end angles away to reveal a sandy bottom. Rocks and boulders make excellent habitats for the various moray eels that live here. As we ascend to shallower depths, be ready to meet schools of batfish.

Strong currents and surge can make this a challenging dive, whose unforgiving topography provides few places to safely touch down and take a rest if you get out of breath.

To dive Hin Daeng, you take a South Andaman liveaboard. Minimum duration of the trip is 2 days.

Hin Muang is regarded one of Thailand's best dives. It is approximately 200 meters long and 30 meters wide, the top of the pinnacle is in about 10 meters of water. Cuttlefish and lionfish are commonly sighted amongst the carpet of purple soft corals that gave the site its name.
The vertical drop offs have a large concentration of zig-zag oysters and schools of silver sides hang around the rocky outcrops. Large quantities of sea anemones can be found in the shallower depths.

To dive Hin Muang, you take a South Andaman liveaboard. Minimum duration of the trip is 2 days.

Phi Phi consists of a group of impressive limestone islands. A number of caves can be explored as well as a wealth of underwater life, including lionfish, turtles, scorpionfish and a kaleidoscope of hard and soft corals. The area is also well known for its harmless leopard and reef sharks which are common around Bida Islands.

Shark Point, a group of five reefs, is a Marine Sanctuary. It is one of the best divespots around Phuket, covered with soft corals and anemones.

The place is named after the leopard sharks often seen resting quietly on the sandy bottom. Lionfish, sea snakes, fusiliers and barracudas are very common at this divesite.
The 'moray nursery' and sea horses are also one of the highlights.

To dive Phi Phi and Shark Point on a liveaboard trip, you take a South Andaman liveaboard. Sometimes also the neighbours from Shark Point, Anemone Reef and King Cruiser are included in the trip.
Minimum duration of the trip is 2 days.

These are also excellent daytrip destinations, all year round.

 53 Katekwan Road,
 Kata Beach, 83100 Phuket
 Tel. & fax: +66(0)76 284580, Mobile: +66(0)81 8255259
 info@thailand-scuba.com
 Skype: seabeeskata



TAT-no. 31/0591


 thailand-scuba.com, your personal Thailand liveaboard advisor