Phi Phi Don - Diving Holiday Destination

Phi Phi Don (Thailand)

Geographically Thailand sits 14 degrees North of the equator, bordering Burma, Laos and Cambodia to the West, North, East and tapers into the Malay Peninsula to the South. It has over 2,000 kilometers of coastline, brushed by hundreds of offshore islands. It enjoys a tropical climate and its waters are warm and clear and home to an immense variety of marine life and coral reefs making it heaven for scuba divers. Diving in Thailand is concentrated mainly around the tourist centers of Phuket and Koh Samui, although there are notable sites elsewhere.

The island destination of Phi Phi, on the South Coast and 48km from Phuket, has long been a favourite with travellers because of the fabulous beaches, crystal clear waters and spectacular limestone landscapes.

Scuba diving and snorkelling are the main attractions of the Phi Phi Islands, but the range of activities and accommodation has grown over the last few years. Hiking, climbing, sea kayaking, parasailing, waterskiing, sightseeing, snorkelling, yachting, cuisine, fishing, sun bathing, reading, relaxing and eating ... With so much to see and do, it's no wonder people keep coming back year after year.

With so much to savour and enjoy on the Phi Phi Islands it is difficult to single out what are their biggest and best attractions. Yet the long white beaches, stunning cliff and jungle scenery and outstanding coral reefs and tropical fish are consistently at the top of the favourites list with guests that visit Phi Phi.

Climate

Koh Phi Phi's climate is tropical and warm throughout the year. The northeast monsoon from November into January is wonderful, with breezy clear days and fragrant cool nights. From February to May the breezes end, and the weather is at its best. From November to May, Phi Phi Island has 26 sunny days per month.

The southwest monsoon, from late May to October, brings rain and winds to the west coast of southern Thailand, but there are still 20 sunny days per month. Most often it's only a cool, late afternoon shower, but there can be rainy days on Koh Phi Phi. Seas can be quite rough during this season and swimmers should be careful

There are two very hot periods of weather on Phi Phi Island, the first between April and May when the average temperatures range from 30 to 36ºC and only the occasional tropical thunderstorm brings relief from the heat. It is also very hot between September and October but the frequent rainfall has a wonderful cooling effect.

Tourist High Season is from November to April. However, it's best to avoid December and January if possible, as this is Peak Season, when accommodation can be hard to find and is expensive, particularly around Christmas and New Year, and Phi Phi's dive sites are very crowded.

Whether you are coming to Thailand for diving or not, its recommended you try to come from February to April. There are less tourists, accommodation is much better value-for-money, the weather is at its best, and the seas their calmest. The dive sites around Phi Phi, Hin Daeng and Koh Ha are less crowded, and it's your optimum time to spot Whale Sharks and Manta Ray.

Dive Facts

Great for: Wall dives, dive value-for-money, snorkelling and non-diving activities
Not so Great for: Wrecks and advanced divers
Depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 5 - 20m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Can be choppy
Water Temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience Level: Beginner - intermediate
Number of dive sites: 15
Distance: 45 km east of Phuket (3 hours), 30 km southwest of Krabi (2½ hours)
Access: Day trips and liveaboards

You can dive Phi Phi all year round, but the best conditions exist from February to May. The waters are at their warmest and clearest during this time.

November to January sees prevailing north westerlies bringing waves to the eastern shores, and cooler waters. Most diving consequently takes place on the sheltered western side of the islands.

Late May to October brings south westerly monsoon winds and surface swells to the islands, lowering visibility by about 25%, but it's pretty rare that diving trips are cancelled due to bad weather. October also brings with it some heavy rains to the Andaman Sea.

Dive Attractions

Actually two Islands - Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh - these two awesome sisters languish in the sea like a pair of emerald jewels studding the aquamarine waters of Phang Nga Bay.

It's one of the most picturesque islands in the world. You'll marvel at the stunning movie-set desert-island scenery both above and below the waterline.

Koh Phi Phi scuba diving ranks amongst the top five dive destinations in Thailand. Limestone cliffs rise dramatically out of the sea and plunge straight back down underwater, forming the colourful soft coral walls for which Phi Phi is famous.

There are more than 15 different dive sites with many rugged walls, interesting caves and cavern penetrations. Swim-through entrances are often obscured by dazzling clouds of glassfish and gorgonians. Sea fans harbour pipefish, seahorses and shrimpfish, keeping even the most experienced divers entertained for days.

Other

Currency: baht (THB)

Language: Thai, with English widely understood

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