A quiet snorkel spot, small area before the cove, where a coral reef runs along the cliff. Not a bad spot for a snorkel if you are on your way to Pileh Lagoon or Maya Beach.
Pros
Cons
Snorkel Video
Snorkel Snaps
Snorkel Review
Highlights
Coral
3-5 Meters Average Depth
Good Visibility
Medium Difficulty
No Cafe’s nearby
Tours and boat hire approx $35 USD
Sea Urchins Present
Jellyfish unlikely
When:
Who:
Tour Cost:
Star Rating:
Cost:
Our first snorkel trip to the Phi Phi islands was to the neighbouring island of Phi Phi Leh. We hired a local longtail boat to take us out to 3x snorkel spots for 3-4 hours. My friend and I paid ฿1,500 Thai Baht, about $45.00 US Dollars between us. Leaving from the South beach of Koh Phi Phi Don, it took about 10-15 minutes to get to Koh Phi Phi Leh, and our first stop was at Viking Cave.
We were just outside the cove before Viking Cave and anchored up and jumped in the water. The reef runs along the cliff face on the right-hand side just outside the cove. The conditions were pretty good, the coral reef was approx 3-5 meters deep. You don’t want to get too close to the cliff face, the waves can push you up which can be dangerous.
Snorkel Spot
The underwater visibility was ok, as it wasn’t in a cove there is going to be more sediment in the water from the open ocean, but it wasn’t bad. I guess that this snorkel spot doesn’t get a lot of tourists, as there was only one other boat stopped but swimming in the cove, and this wasn’t a marked spot on the tour’s snorkel map.
Coral Reef
Top Tip:
As long as the wave/current isn’t too strong, just go outside the cove on the right-hand side of the entrance.
On this snorkel, I trialled a bumbag around my back to carry my camera so I could use a GoPro with both hands. But this didn’t quite work as it was awkward to swim and open the bumbag, so I ended up using the camera and then going back to the boat to use the GoPro.
Safety Tip:
Don’t go too close to the cliff or away from the boats, because the wave and current can pick up.
Notable sitings included a school of Schooling Bannerfish who were chilling just on the drop-off of the reef, next to some stunning red Fan coral. These were the only time I saw these fish in Phi Phi Islands and Thailand on this trip. There was diverse coral in a small patch, including Boulder, red Fan coral, Anemone, Lettuce Coral, Brain Coral, Blackspotted Pufferfish, Giant Clams, Crown-of-Thorns Star Fish, and more.
The coral followed along the cliff face for about 20 metres, and 6 metres wide with a drop off. The backdrop was stunning with the towering cliffs and vegetation, you do feel as it you’re in a tropical paradise. If you carry on your journey towards Pileh Lagoon and Maya Bay, you will pass Viking Cave.
Tour Guide Options
Some tours run from Phi Phi Don main island which are pretty cost-effective, you can hire private long boats on the main beach to take you out to the islands and you can decide where you go and negotiate the price, we paid approx $45.00 (฿1,500 Thai Baht) for 2 people, 3-4 hours. If you are staying in Krabi or Phuket there are Fast boat day trips to the Phi Phi islands, but normally to the more popular sites of Maya Beach, Pileh Lagoon, and Bamboo Island.
Best Snorkel Spot
The best snorkel spot at Viking Cave was outside the cove before viking cave on the right-hand side. If you look at the photo below, you can see that I was snorkeling just outside the cove. The sea conditions were calm so this was possible to do. You can’t snorkel directly outside Viking Cave, but this is the closest known tourist attraction to the snorkel area.
Best Time Of Year
The best time of year to snorkel at the Phi Phi Islands is between October to April. This is Thailand’s dry season, meaning less rain and better snorkeling conditions.
Popular Marine Life
Parrotfish
Blue Sea Star
Blackspotted Pufferfish
Sergeant Major Damselfish
Golden Gregory
Rare Marine Life
Crown Of Thorns Starfish
Nosestripe Anemonefish
Powder-Blue Surgeonfish
Schooling Bannerfish
Coral Reef
Massive Boulder Coral
Brain Coral
Blue Ridged Coral
Boulder Star Coral
Fan Coral
What I Saw
(Seen on March, 2023)
| Schooling Bannerfish | Blackspotted Pufferfish |
| Nosestriped Anemonefish | Swarthy Parrotfish |
| Crown Of Thorns Starfish | Variegated Lizardfish |
| Quoy’s Parrotfish | Checkered Snapper |
| Sergeant Major Damselfish | Powder-Blue Surgeonfish |
| Domino Damselfish | Twoline Spinecheek |
| Golden Gregory Damselfish | Black Axil Chromis |
| Blue Sea Star | Blue-Green Chromis |
| Chinese Demoiselle | Black Sea Urchin |
| Orange Funnel Coral | Blue Ridge Coral |
| Brain Coral | Boulder Star Coral |
| Red Fan Coral | Massive Boulder Coral |
Where is the Phi Phi Islands?
The Phi Phi Islands are located in the Adaman sea, in the South of Thailand. The Islands are made up of six islands, Koh Phi Phi Don is the largest and most developed island.
Viking Cave Map
Frequently Asked Questions
There are transfers from the cities of Phuket and Krabi. They’re approx a 45-60min boat ride. The transfers arrive at the port of the most populated island of the six islands, Koh Phi Phi Don. As you enter from the port, there is a National Park Fee for each person for entrance, a fee of approximately $8 for an adult.
Some tours run from both the main island of Phi Phi Don as well as Phuket and Krabi. You can pay locals to take you out on their longtail boat for about $45 for 3 hours (฿1,500 Thai Baht). You can choose which snorkel spots you stop off at, obviously within reason if they are close to each other.
October to April is Thailand’s dry season and probably the best time to go snorkelling, as there is less likelihood of rain and poor conditions.
There’s a range of hostels and hotels on the main strip of Ko Phi Phi island. The Hostels range from $10-$25. The hotels on the main strip start from $50. The luxury resorts on the East of the island are approximately $100 upwards.
Luke
FOUNDER
Luke is a passionate snorkeler who started Snorkelverse to live his dream of combining his passions for snorkeling, marine life, protecting marine ecosystems, and helping others.
Phi Phi Islands Snorkel Reviews
