From Phi Phi: Half-Day Trip for Certified Divers (2 Dives)

The real draw here is the chance to visit two very different underwater areas in one half-day: the Bida Islands, known for shark sightings, and Phi Phi Leh, where turtles, coral gardens, walls, and swim-throughs fill the second session. Hawksbill turtles and blacktip reef sharks are possible, along with seahorses, ghost pipefish, and large schools of snappers.

I like the small-group approach and the eco-minded rules, especially the clear instruction not to touch marine life. I also like the practical setup: lunch, fruit, water, equipment, and two guided sessions are included. The main consideration is that the site choice depends on weather, sightings, and season, so no particular animal or reef can be promised.

Key points to know before booking

• Two underwater sessions in five hours: You visit one site around Ko Bida Nok, stop for lunch, then continue around Phi Phi Leh.
• Good for recently active certified scuba divers: If you have not been underwater within the past year, you must add a refresher session.
• Sharks, turtles, and small creatures: Bida Islands are favored for blacktip reef sharks, while Phi Phi Leh can bring turtles, coral gardens, and macro finds.
• Lunch is served on the boat: A Thai lunch, fresh fruit, water, and a zero-waste lunch box are included between sessions.
• Boat choice has some flexibility: The refurbished Dory is the main boat, while the custom longtail Georgie may be requested.
• Budget for extras: The 600 THB National Park fee is separate, as are a dive computer, camera services, private guiding, and a refresher.

Two underwater sessions around Phi Phi

This is a focused half-day outing rather than a sightseeing cruise with a quick swim. You spend about an hour at each underwater site, with travel time, safety checks, lunch, and surface breaks built around those two sessions.

The usual plan begins around Ko Bida Nok. The Bida Islands are a strong first stop because the area is associated with blacktip reef sharks, large schools of fish, sloping reefs, walls, bays, and pinnacles. You might also find turtles, clownfish, soft corals, or small creatures hiding among the reef.

The second session takes place around Ko Phi Phi Leh. Sites here include Pileh Walls, Viking Gardens, Malong Shelf, Malong Wall, Mushroom Rock, and Palong Pinnacles. Conditions and wildlife sightings determine the final choice, so you should think of the named sites as possibilities, not a fixed route.

That flexibility is useful in a marine park. The team can choose locations according to weather, time of year, and recent sightings rather than forcing a rigid schedule. The tradeoff is simple: you cannot book this trip expecting a guaranteed turtle, shark, wreck, or particular reef formation.

What the five-hour schedule feels like

You meet near the Siam Commercial Bank beside Phi Phi Pier, close to McDonald’s. The meeting point is in front of the bank’s ATMs, and you should allow time to find it before the safety briefing.

The briefing takes about 20 minutes. This is where you handle basic preparation, confirm your details, and review the plan. If you have not used your scuba gear recently, be honest about it at this stage. The recent-experience rule is within one year, and anyone outside that window must upgrade to a scuba refresher.

The boat ride to the first site takes roughly 30 minutes. That gives you time to look out over Phi Phi’s steep limestone scenery and get your equipment ready. The crew completes pre-session safety checks before you enter the water.

Your first underwater session lasts about an hour. The itinerary lists Ko Bida Nok, but nearby Bida sites such as Bida Bay, Bida Nai Wall, or Bida Nai Bay may be used depending on the day. The shallow reefs offer a mix of walls, sloping sections, pinnacles, and bays rather than one single type of seafloor.

Afterward, you return to the boat for about an hour of rest and lunch. A Thai meal, fresh fruit, and water are included. This break matters more than it may sound. Two tropical underwater sessions can be tiring, and having food and drinks already on board saves you from dealing with a separate lunch stop.

The second session lasts another hour around Phi Phi Leh. You make a safety stop before returning to the boat, then log the sessions during the ride back. The full schedule returns you to Phi Phi Pier after another roughly 30-minute boat trip.

Morning departures are designed to leave time for onward travel to Phuket or Krabi. Afternoon departures return in time for sundowners. Still, you should treat any onward connection as your responsibility and allow a safe margin.

What you might see below the surface

The area offers a good blend of larger animals and tiny reef life. Blacktip reef sharks are one of the main reasons to visit the Bida Islands. They are described as harmless, but sightings remain dependent on conditions and animal behavior.

Hawksbill turtles are another possibility, especially around the Phi Phi Leh area. Turtles can make a session memorable, but the responsible approach is to watch from a respectful distance and never reach toward them.

The reef also supports huge schools of snappers, clownfish, colorful corals, and smaller creatures that reward a slower pace. Seahorses and ghost pipefish are among the rarer finds listed for the area. These animals can be easy to miss, which is where a local guide adds real value.

The underwater scenery changes from site to site. You may encounter walls, reefs that slope into deeper water, pinnacles, bays, swim-throughs, and wreck features. That variety helps keep two sessions from feeling repetitive.

Photography is possible, but it is not included. You can rent a camera or arrange a photography service, and Thailand’s newer underwater photography rules are explained at check-in. If you bring your own camera, use biodegradable sunscreen before entering the water and follow the crew’s instructions around marine life.

Guides, groups, and the eco-minded approach

Blue View Divers uses professional PADI guides, with instruction available in English, Thai, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. A small-group option is available, which is worth requesting if you prefer more attention during equipment checks and underwater navigation.

Guide Po is specifically associated with patient, careful instruction, including support for a first sea scuba session. That detail matters if you are certified but still building confidence in open water. The trip is not designed for non-swimmers, and it is not a replacement for certification training.

The crew follows Green Fins principles and National Park regulations. In plain terms, you are expected to look without handling. Do not touch corals, turtles, sharks, fish, or any other marine life. This protects the reef and reduces the risk of startling animals.

The environmental details are practical rather than decorative. The lunch comes in a zero-waste lunch box, water refills are available, and the team asks you to use biodegradable sunscreen. You can also get free tea or coffee at the office before or after the trip.

Choosing between the Dory and Georgie

The main boat is Dory, a newly refurbished dive boat. You may request Georgie, a custom longtail boat, but you should make that request after booking rather than assuming it will be assigned.

The boat matters because the trip includes two sessions, equipment handling, lunch, and a surface break. You will spend meaningful time on board, not just use it as a quick transfer. A longtail may appeal if you prefer a more traditional Thai boat style, while Dory is the standard refurbished option.

The supplied information does not promise a particular boat for every departure. Contacting the center through WhatsApp is the sensible way to ask about Georgie, group size, and any special needs.

What the $93 price includes

At $93 per person, the package covers more than transport. You receive full scuba equipment rental, neoprene boots, open-heel fins, a professional PADI guide, lunch, fruit, water, and basic Thai opt-in insurance.

That makes the price reasonable for a certified diver who needs a complete setup. You do not have to arrange a separate equipment rental or find food between the two sessions. Free water refills and office tea or coffee are small additions, but they fit the eco-conscious setup.

The price does not include the 600 THB National Park fee. You should also budget separately for a dive computer at 250 THB, a private guide at 2,000 THB, or a scuba refresher at 800 THB if you have not been in the water during the past year.

Camera rental and photography services cost extra as well. If you already own suitable equipment, bringing it may be simpler, but the center will explain the current Thai rules at check-in.

Who should book this trip

This trip suits a certified scuba diver who is already staying on Phi Phi Island and wants two guided sessions without committing to a full-day boat outing. It is especially useful if you want a compact morning schedule before continuing to Phuket or Krabi, or an afternoon plan that leaves time for a sunset drink afterward.

You should book it if you value local site selection, a small group, and a mix of large animals and macro life. It is also a good match if you want the practical convenience of included equipment and lunch.

You should choose the refresher option if your last underwater session was more than a year ago. Do not treat recent certification alone as enough. The operator specifically requires recent experience or a refresher upgrade.

This is not suitable for pregnant people, anyone with back problems, non-swimmers, or people prone to seasickness. The boat ride is relatively short at around 30 minutes each way, but the information supplied still flags seasickness as a concern.

You also need to avoid flying within 24 hours after the scuba sessions. That restriction can affect an island-hopping plan, especially if your Phi Phi stay is short.

Small details that make the day easier

Bring swimwear, a towel, a hat, comfortable clothes, sunscreen, biodegradable sunscreen, insect repellent, and water. A camera or waterproof camera is useful if you want images, but do not let photography distract you from buoyancy and marine-life rules.

Include a working WhatsApp number when booking. The booking is not complete until you contact the dive center through WhatsApp and check in one day before the trip, by 5pm, to handle the required administration.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies help if the weather forecast is uncertain, but they do not remove the need to confirm the trip directly with the center.

The most important thing to confirm is your recent scuba history. Doing this early avoids arriving at the pier only to discover that you need the refresher option.

Should you book Blue View Divers?

I would book this trip if you are certified, recently active, staying on Phi Phi, and want two properly guided underwater sessions in a manageable five-hour window. The combination of Bida shark country, Phi Phi Leh coral areas, included lunch, and small-group attention gives the outing solid value at $93.

I would hesitate only if you need a guaranteed animal sighting, require a particular boat, or have a tight flight schedule. Site conditions change, and the 600 THB park fee plus optional extras raise the final cost.

For the right person, this is a practical way to see Phi Phi below the waterline without sacrificing an entire day. Request the small-group setup, ask about Georgie if the longtail matters to you, contact the center promptly on WhatsApp, and arrive ready to watch marine life without touching it.

FAQ

Is this trip suitable for certified scuba divers?

Yes. It is intended for certified divers with recent scuba experience within the past year. If you have not been underwater during that period, you must upgrade to a scuba refresher.

How many underwater sessions are included?

Two sessions are included. The first is planned around Ko Bida Nok or nearby Bida sites, and the second takes place around Ko Phi Phi Leh.

What is included in the price?

The package includes scuba equipment rental, neoprene boots, open-heel fins, a professional PADI guide, a Thai lunch, fresh fruit, water, basic Thai opt-in insurance, free office tea and coffee, and free water refills.

Is the National Park fee included?

No. The National Park fee is 600 THB and must be paid separately.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at the Siam Commercial Bank beside Phi Phi Pier, close to McDonald’s. The meeting point is in front of the ATMs. You may request a more convenient meeting place by contacting the center after booking.

Can I fly after this trip?

You should not have a flight within 24 hours after the scuba sessions. Plan your transport schedule around that restriction.