Diving at Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
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Diving Phi Phi during less-than-perfect conditions
August 2025
After a week exploring the south of Vietnam, I headed to Phuket for a short break. Since I had some of my dive gear with me, I couldn’t pass up the chance to book a day of diving at the Phi Phi Islands.
This group of islands is famous not just for diving but also for its stunning scenery. Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh was the filming location for The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and ever since, it’s become one of Thailand’s most iconic destinations. Towering limestone cliffs, white sand beaches, and turquoise waters attract tourists from around the world.
I’ll be honest though. My dive day didn’t match the postcard-perfect image. We were diving at the tail end of Typhoon Kajiki, so the sea had a two-metre swell, visibility was poor, and the currents weren’t in our favour. That’s diving for you. Sometimes the weather has other ideas.
Still, it was worth doing. Even on a rough day, diving around Phi Phi gives you a sense of what makes this place so special… and it’s always a win to get underwater in a new location.
Getting There and Where I Stayed
I flew direct from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Phuket, which made it an easy hop over after a week exploring Vietnam. Once I arrived, I booked into a homestay in Kathu… a spot inland between Patong and Phuket Old Town. It’s closer to Patong, so ideal if you’re after nightlife, but I kept things quiet this trip.
After a busy travel schedule, I was ready for a slower pace. This week was all about chilling by the pool, recharging, and fitting in a day of diving around Phi Phi.
Dive Day with Love Diving Phuket
After doing a bit of research and chatting to someone else staying at the homestay, I heard good things about Love Diving Phuket. I messaged them via WhatsApp while I was still in Phuket and quickly got a day of diving booked. It was all really straightforward… everything arranged through WhatsApp and payment sent via Wise. Job done.
The night before the dive, an Apple weather warning popped up on our phones. I messaged to check if the trip was still on but didn’t get a reply that evening. By morning, it was raining. I tried again and got confirmation that the dive was going ahead, so we booked a Grab.
Quick note about Grab in Phuket: some drivers can struggle with maps, and it’s not unusual to get a phone call asking where you are. There’s also not much sense of urgency. Our first Grab sat still for 15 minutes, so we cancelled and rebooked. Eventually, a driver showed up and we made the 30-minute journey from Kathu to Chalong Pier. I’d already taken motion sickness tablets before leaving the homestay, just in case.
We arrived a bit late due to the Grab taxi delay, but the dive shop was understanding. At the shop in Chalong, we met our divemaster, who was waiting for us at the pier. He handed over our boat tickets, and we jumped on a small bus that took us down to the boats.
These dive boats are large and well-equipped, shared by multiple dive schools, with shaded seating, toilets, refreshments and food included. Beers are available for purchase after the dives on the return trip.
The ride out to Phi Phi takes almost two and a half hours. These boats aren’t fast. The weather started to clear as we left port, so spirits lifted a little. But then the crew came around offering sea sickness tablets, which was probably a sign of what was coming. Even with meds already in my system, I started to feel rough once we hit open water.
It was just the two of us diving with our divemaster, so the group size was perfect… small, easy to manage and nice and personal.
First Dive: Koh Bida Nai
Our first dive was at Koh Bida Nai, a small island in the Phi Phi National Park. It’s known for its northern wall covered in vibrant corals and a scenic swim-through on the southeastern side. On a good day, you might spot blacktip reef sharks, hawksbill turtles, ribbon eels or even whale sharks in the right season.
Unfortunately, for us, the visibility was poor and there was a noticeable current. We managed to spot a couple of nudibranchs, but that was about it. What was frustrating was the rule to begin your ascent at 70 bar. Personally, I prefer to dive to 50 bar, as long as your no-deco time is being monitored. We also later found out that dives are timed by the boat crew, so even if you’ve got plenty of air left, you’re coming up when your slot’s over. It felt a little rushed.
Second Dive: Pileh Wall
Next up was Pileh Wall, located near Pileh Lagoon. It started in a shallow bay and moved along a wall section. Normally, this is a solid site with a chance to spot blacktip reef sharks and other marine life. We did see a few eels and some nudibranchs, but again the visibility wasn’t great. We surfaced with around 80 bar left and then tucked into lunch onboard.
Lunch was great, but I still felt queasy despite the motion sickness meds. A shame really, as the boat was otherwise well equipped and comfortable.
Third Dive: Koh Doc Mai (Flower Island)
Our final dive was at Koh Doc Mai… the only true wall dive site near Phuket, known for its cracks and caves full of macro life. This one kicked off with a tough down current, which split the group briefly. I signalled with my torch and we managed to regroup, but the conditions meant we all burned through our air early. Once the current eased, the dive became more manageable, though again the visibility was poor. We didn’t spot much beyond the usual reef life.
We surfaced with much less air this time and began the long journey back to Chalong. The 2-metre swell made things rough again. I took another dose of sea sickness tablets, skipped the post-dive beer, and focused on just getting through the trip.
Back on Land: Beer, Sausage Sandwich and Grab Taxi Drama
Back on dry land and finally feeling human again, we wandered over to a sports bar just next to the pier… Chalong Pier Restaurant & Sports Bar. All I fancied was a sausage sandwich and a cold drink. It turned out to be a cracking little spot for a chat with the bar staff and a few well-earned beers.
Getting a Grab taxi back from here was a different story. Our first driver showed up, then drove off without picking us up. I messaged to ask what happened, and they said they couldn’t collect from the pier and told us to walk 1km to another pickup point. They wouldn’t cancel the ride either… probably because it affects their ratings… so I had to cancel myself and then email Grab to request a refund for the cancellation fee.
We ended up walking away from the pier and eventually managed to get another Grab without issue. It took us straight back to the homestay.
Later, we found out from the homestay owner that local taxi drivers in the area often bully Grab drivers, and in some cases even damage their cars. Shocking, really.
Final Thoughts
We definitely caught a bad weather day, and it really hampered the diving. So I can’t judge the experience too harshly… I know it can be brilliant when the conditions are right. Just means I’ll have to book another trip and give it another go!
The big boats are well organised and make for a decent day out. You meet some great people, there’s plenty of food and refreshments, and the facilities are solid. But if I had the choice next time, I’d prefer a speedboat option for sure… less time rocking about, more time in the water.
Phi Phi Islands Dive Gallery
