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I just returned from another Thailand trip and finally managed to get some Koh Phi Phi diving in. The little island in the Andaman Sea is the perfect destination for a fun trip if you are coming from Phuket. And while Phi Phi has a reputation as a party island, the diving there is not to be underestimated!
And if you don’t want to stay there, some liveaboards will take you to some of the best Phi Phi dive sites. Tips for how to plan your Phi Phi diving trip in this post.
The Ins & Outs of Koh Phi Phi Diving
What makes diving in Phi Phi Island so special?
Diving in Phi Phi is often underrated since the island is best known for parties, fireshows, and make-your-own cocktail-in-a-bucket kits. That said, Phi Phi is so much more – white beaches, crystal clear water, and some great dive sites at your fingertips. An all-around great destination whether you want romance or a great party after you come back from your dive.
While Koh Phi Phi diving might not be the most exciting compared to places like Mexico or Indonesia, there are some beautiful and beginner-friendly dive sites. Most dives aren’t too deep so even an Open Water diver will get to see beautiful corals, big schools of reef fish, and depending on the season and your luck, maybe a Whale Shark or even a Leopard Shark.
Regulations when diving in Thailand
The Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has published new regulations for divers and snorkelers in 2025. They are implemented for safety reasons and environmental concerns.
Most importantly, they were the first country to implement a ‘no camera’ rule for divers with fewer than 40 logged dives or an AOWD. While the number of dives seems arbitrary, it is meant to allow new divers to focus on their breathing and buoyancy. It is too easy to touch corals or lose buoyancy control when taking pictures if you lack certain experience.
You are also not allowed to dive by yourself with a buddy, but must be accompanied by a licensed dive guide or instructor when diving in Koh Phi Phi or anywhere else in Thailand.
And an interesting rule for snorkelers: you have to wear a lifejacket while snorkeling unless you can show a freediving certification.
Best time for diving Phi Phi
The good news is that you can dive in Phi Phi all year long! The low season between May and October brings the South-West monsoon but that shouldn’t deter you. Even during monsoon season, it usually only rains in the afternoon or evening, and there is still plenty of sunshine to go around.
Unless it rains for days at a time, the visibility isn’t really affected by the monsoon season. Most dive centers will choose suitable dive sites that are sheltered from the wind, and only go where water conditions allow.
A definite plus of low-season diving in Koh Phi Phi – fewer divers mean less crowded dive sites. You are also more flexible to book dives on short notice with most dive centers.
If you come during the high season which starts in October and especially during the Christmas holidays you should book your courses and dives in advance.
Water temperatures hover around 29 °C degrees (84 F) all year long, no need to wear more than a shortie or a rashguard.
Koh Phi Phi dive sites you shouldn’t miss
Whether you go diving in Phuket, from Koh Lanta, or directly from Phi Phi chances are you will come across some of the same dive sites. One of my absolute favorites which I first saw during a dive trip in Lanta is the Bida islands, two tiny islands south of Koh Phi Phi.
In Bida Nok, there is always a good chance to see Blacktips in the shallows as well as huge schools of Yellow Fusiliers. There are also Moray Eels, Octopus, a variety of reef fish and smaller critters, and if you get lucky a Leopard Shark.
While Bida Nok isn’t far, some dive sites are even closer and scattered all around Koh Phi Phi Ley. Diving here is lovely and offers the nicest backdrop during your surface interval – you might even get a view of the famous Maya Bay. Two favorite dive sites here are Viking Cave and Piley Wall.
- Read more: How to plan a trip to Maya Bay, Thailand.
On my most recent trip, we went to Viking Cave which offers some huge cube structures that are great for buoyancy practice and full of marine life. My favorite? Plenty of Batfish all around. Chances are also pretty good to see that Leopard Shark and they have a very friendly eagle ray that lives here and likes to hang out with divers as well as so many cute Porcupine Pufferfish.
Wreck fans should schedule a trip to the Kled Gaeow Wreck, not far from Phi Phi. It is an old Thai navy ship that was purposefully sunk to create an artificial reef. Since it lies at 27 m (88 ft) depth you will need to be an Advanced or Deep Diver to dive this site.
We recently dived the wreck and had the honor to be accompanied by the Thai Navy General who sunk the wreck 8 years ago to bless it. The blessing worked like a charm as we had an incredible dive.
Diving the wreck always takes a bit of luck when it comes to conditions but when they are good they are really good! When they are good the wreck is still a bit tricky to find as tends to be covered in thousands (or millions) of tiny fish – be careful you don’t bump into something!
Also, if you are diving with Nitrox definitely take your time, next to pufferfish and lionfish there are also frogfish to be found on the wreck.
Further north between Koh Phi Phi and Phuket you will find the King Cruiser Wreck, a former car ferry that sank when it hit Anemone Reef (another popular dive site in the area). The wreck lies between 16-32 m (52-104 ft) and often sports some stronger currents, making it only accessible for advanced divers. While the wreck cannot be penetrated anymore, it is considered one of the best wreck dives in Asia. Most dive centers offer a trip to the King Cruiser in combination with a dive at Shark Point, a lively dive site with plenty of favorites, big and small: Moray Eels, Trevally, Leopard Sharks, Sea Horses, and Ghost Pipefish.
My favorite dive center in Koh Phi Phi
Many of the more secluded resorts on Phi Phi have their own dive center. However, if you are staying around Ton Sai Beach in the center of the island there are plenty of dive centers all around that you can choose from.
I recommend Blue View Divers that are associated with Adang Sea Divers, my favorite dive center on Koh Lipe.
How much does scuba diving Phi Phi cost? Lucky for you, you don’t need to shop around for the best prices as diving prices are set on the island (obviously a bit more expensive if you opt for resort diving in Phi Phi). You will pay about THB 2,700 (ca. $81) for 2 fun dives. Those prices include equipment rental, weights, tanks as well as lunch. In addition, all visitors need to pay THB 600 (ca. $18) in cash for diving in the marine park. You can reuse your permit for 3 consecutive days and only pay THB 200 for each additional day.
Note that if you are interested in doing a Discovery Scuba Dive or Open Water you will need to do your confined session off the beach in Koh Phi Phi. Most dive centers on the island do not have a pool. If you prefer to take your first breaths underwater in a pool, check out courses at the fancier resorts like Outrigger or SAii which have a big private pool for the confined sessions.
How to get to Koh Phi Phi?
Phi Phi is easily accessible from many of the surrounding islands, either by ferry or speedboat. The easiest and fastest way is a speedboat from Rassada Pier on the east coast of Phuket. It takes about one hour, or two if you take the ferry.
There are plenty of boat companies that offer multiple trips each day which usually include a pick-up and drop-off to your accommodation.
There are two piers in Phi Phi you can go to: the main one in the center of the island on Ton Sai Beach or the pier at Laem Tong Beach in the northeast. Depending on where you want to stay, you should book your trip accordingly because getting around on Phi Phi is not the easiest.
Note that when you arrive at Ton Sai pier you will need to pay THB 20 in cash as some sort of island tax. Have it ready and in small notes/coins so you can get on the island faster.
Usually, you don’t need to book your ticket in advance as there are plenty of boats going to and from Phi Phi. That said, I would recommend booking earlier in high season or if you are coming back to Phuket and have a plane to catch.
Where to stay in Phi Phi?
Where to stay in Phi Phi really depends on what you are in the mood for besides diving. If you want to meet people, get some drinks and be in the center of the action stay around Ton Sai Beach.
I stayed at Panmanee Hotel before, right by the market, which got recently refurbished and is quite chic now. That said, the location right by the market can be a disadvantage if you wanted to have some peace and quiet. Especially during high season, it might not be the best choice.
If you wanted a place a little quieter but still within walking distance from the center, shops, and restaurants check out Phi Phi Sand Sea View Resort at the end of the beach west from the pier. The basic rooms are basic, to say the least, but clean with good wifi and aircon, and the location is right on the beach.
If money is not an issue and you want a truly luxurious hotel, I recommend you head to Outrigger which has taken over the old Zeavola property in the north of the island. Seclusion and a beautiful property awaits including of course, an in-house dive center.
- Book a room at Outrigger Phi Phi: Agoda
Liveaboards in Koh Phi Phi
If you think Phi Phi is not the place for you to stay or you want to dive as much as possible in a short amount of time, you can also do a liveaboard.
Liveaboards usually focus on the whole region, considered the South Andaman Sea, and depart from Phuket. Depending on the route, you will dive Shark Point, Anemone Reef, and the King Cruiser Wreck as well as some of the best Phi Phi dive sites. Some boats also head to the Bida islands as well as Koh Haa, or may even go as far as Hin Muang and Hin Daeng.
There are also some that offer a combination of the South Andaman Sea and the North Andaman Sea, which includes the Similan and Surin Islands.
Most liveaboards in Krabi and other parts of Thailand are reasonably priced, and honestly, the most convenient way to explore some of the best dive sites. You use the nights or surface intervals to cover longer distances, and can usually avoid big crowds by getting to the dive sites first.
And to be honest, Koh Phi Phi is by far not Thailand’s best island, especially if you have left your party-around-the-clock-days behind you. With a liveaboard, you can avoid the island itself and focus on the wonderful diving in the region.
Here are some great liveaboards in Phuket/Krabi that include the Phi Phi islands:
Gentle Giant
The Gentle Giant sails from Phuket and offers a 3-night, 11-dive South Andaman trip. Some of the most famous dive sites in the region are on the schedule: Koh Haa, the Bida Islands, Hin Muang & Hin Daeng, as well as the King Cruiser Wreck and Shark Point. Obviously, the exact route is weather-dependent.
They have three different cabin styles and you can book any cabin as a solo diver. That said, you will pay almost double. The Deluxe Cabin has a double bed and can only be shared by a couple (or friends who don’t mind snuggling up). The Standard and Master Cabins have twin/ double beds.
The Junk
The Junk is a liveaboard favorite in the Similan Islands but also offers the Southern Explorer trip in the South Andaman Sea. Over 4D/3D, you will sail from Phuket and visit Racha Yai and Racha Noi, the Anemone Reef, Shark Point, and the King Cruiser Wreck. You will also dive at some of the best Phi Phi dive sites.
Life onboard the Junk couldn’t be nicer, as it is a traditional phinisi boat. Best of all, they have double, triple, and quad cabins, offering a very budget-friendly option to dive around Koh Phi Phi.
Note that you need to have an AOWD and a minimum of 10 logged dives to join a trip.
Aggressor Thailand
If you want to do a longer liveaboard trip around Koh Phi Phi, you should join Aggressor Thailand. Aggressor is an international liveaboard group known for luxury and amazing service, and their Thailand boat is no exception. While trips are more expensive than other Andaman liveaboards, they are not only longer but their staterooms are truly one of a kind – some even have huge panoramic windows!
They offer a South Andaman Sea voyage with 7 nights on board and 4-5 dives per day at all the best dive sites in the area. And once the Similan and Surin National Parks open, they head north.
Thailand Master Liveaboard
Want to explore the best of both worlds, the North and South Andaman? Then the Thailand Master Liveaboard is for you! In addition to short South Andaman trips, they offer a Best of Thailand route for 8 or even 10 nights. You will either depart from Thap Lamu in Khao Lak and arrive in Chalong, Phuket or vice versa.
En route, you will dive at some of the best dive sites between Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands, Koh Haa, Bida Nok, and of course, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. And depending on the schedule, you will dive around the Surin Islands, including Richelieu Rock and the Similans, before or after.
A few tips for your liveaboard trip
- In general, liveaboard prices always show a shared cabin. On some boats, you can book a cabin by yourself; however, the price is usually quite high. Most liveaboards will try to pair you with a diver of the same gender, but in general, it is good to remember that you usually spend very little time in your cabin.
- Prices include cabin, a certain number of guided dives, weights, tank, and all meals, as well as nonalcoholic drinks. Usually you will have to pay extra for rental equipment, large tanks, nitrox fillings, marine park and harbor fees, and tips.
- At the moment, many liveaboards around the world also charge a fuel surcharge.
- Check beforehand if there are any prerequisites for your Phi Phi liveaboard. Many ask for an AOWD and a minimum of logged dives. Some will also require you to have a dive computer and DSMB. You can rent them on some boats, though they tend to cost extra – I recommend that you invest in your own before buying anything else.
- Pack light! Liveaboard life is as casual as it gets, so don’t overpack.
- Read more: The Ultimate Liveaboard Packing List
