Phi Phi Island Hotels in Phi Phi Don Village

For holiday-makers on Phi Phi, Barakuda Diving's "Phi Phi Special" is very popular. This article is a trip report about dives we did with Barakuda Diving. The Phi Phi Dive sites are very varied as we soon found out as we went down as our bubbles floated towards the surface.

At 09:00 in the morning... after a refreshing night in the Phi Phi Hotel, we meet and the Pasadena, the boat of Barakuda Diving Center one of the island's main Dive schools, is waiting and ready to go. To the diver's delight, everything is set. The equipment has already been hauled to the boat, the tanks are filled and standing in line. Captain Deo is showing a big smile in anticipation of a great day.

Leaving for the Dive sites

Slowly the boat cruises out of magnificent Tonsai Bay, along the rough limestone cliffs, leaving the longtail boats and the route-cruisers behind. The water is clear, thousands of fishes romp about to their hearts content. Peace of mind and high expectation mingles in everybodys head as the Pasadena approaches the first Dive sites, only half an hour from the jetty.

After the divemaster has given an extensive briefing, everybody knows what to expect. We are set and ready to go. Concentration prevails. Everybody in the water! O.K. Thumbs down - this is it, the big fish are waiting!

Already the first glance... under the surface foretells a great adventure. There are fish everywhere and radiant corals cling to every surface - rocks, boulders and cliffs. Even on snorkel-basis one would have enough to do just to sort out the many things going on at once. Small shoals of fish darting to and from in perfect unity. Shrimps and crabs busily scurrying along on the bottom and in crevices.

Further down, Christmas-tree worms unfold their fascinating flower-like beauty. Large boulders, balanced on top of each other, form intriguing swim throughs. And finally, as the eye gets used to the overwhelming surroundings, the biggies and the carnivores make themselves seen: moray eels protrude from the rocks, Leopard Sharks lying still on the sand together with rays...

Phi Phi Instructors

The instructor knows exactly where to go, what to do and points out the wonders: hidden scorpionfish, shy lobsters and camouflaged giant oysters.

Before one even notices, time is up and it's back to the surface and into the boat for everybody. Captain Deo, who has followed the trail of our bubbles has brought the boat to the exact spot. No need to swim back.

The atmosphere is different now... everybody has a story to tell: what they saw, what the creature did and how serene it felt to be in the midst of planet earth's beautiful marine world. A few minutes later the Pasadena moors in one of Phi Phi's many superb bays. We do not cast anchor, we want to preserve the corals.

It is lunchtime. The crew serve a delicious lunch and a nice desert of assorted tropical fruits. The divers are relaxing, enjoying the sun, some take a swim to the beach to snorkel a bit.

One more dive is awaiting! Pasadena's engine springs to life again, captain Deo takes us on further to the next dive destination. This time there's a reef to explore, with all its inhabitants and guests. There's no need to dive deep - the stars will soon be on the stage.

Leopard Sharks

Leopard sharks! It is really a breathtaking experience to watch the large animals in their own element. Lucky, that they are vegetarians..! Lots of time to take pictures - to supplement the ones carried home in the mind. It is not easy to follow the divemaster's instructions about not touching these animals - but of course, no responsible diver would do that. Time flies - we have to go back. Back on board, the divers sit silent for a while - it takes some time to digest the impressions.

On the way back... everybody knows that these pictures in their mind will stay forever. The time is three o'clock, still we have a long evening with happy memories. Tomorrow is another day...!