Sensational Wreck Diving at Phi Phi Island
on the the King Cruiser Wreck

An unexpected and dramatic event on the 4th. May 1997 made Phi Phi Island famous worldwide. The passenger cruiser "King Cruiser" sank and turned Phi Phi into a Mecca for wreck divers.

The "King Cruiser" was on its normal route from Phuket to Phi Phi Island. The weather was perfectly fine. It was a bright, partially clouded day. The sea lay calm, there was no wind. Everything was business as usual… until the ship all of a sudden hit an undersea rock, gently shuddered to a halt and began to take water in trough a hole in the port side hull of the catamaran's twin hulls. Slowly, the big ferry began to sink.

The sinking process took an hour or so. All passengers, there were more than 600, were brought to safety. There was plenty of time for the rescue operation and no panic at all, as the surprised travelers watched the big ferry sink to the bottom of the Andaman Sea, only 30 meters down under their life-boats. The Kings Cruiser sank with the portside forward, under thundering delivery of gigantic air bubbles.

There is nothing like the thrill of diving into a wreck. Nobody can free himself of the spell that haunts a sunken ship. Imagination runs wild, as one meanders through the furniture and outcrops, as one swims from one room to another. The "King Cruiser" is an easy dive. The ship has large openings that grant the divers easy access to the spacey interior.

For divers the "King Cruiser" is a sensational and wonderful opportunity to study the process of marine life-forms taking possession of a new part of their environment. Huge shoals of colorful fish are already occupying the ship. Groupers guard the holes and crevices. Even the sedentary settlers - shells and corals - have begun to move in. Conveniently, the "King Cruiser" has seated itself in upright position in fairly shallow waters. The steering house hovers just 10 meters under the surface.

The propellers (deepest point) rest 30 meters deep. Therefore, Divers who have never dived a wreck before can enjoy the supreme fascination of wreck-exploring! The most interesting areas are the passenger decks
between 10 and 20 meters.


About the "King Cruiser"

The ship was built in Japan 30 years ago and plowed the sea between Phuket and Phi Phi island until she sunk on the 4th.Mai 1997. She was a comfortable catamaran-hull passenger-cruiser with 4 decks.

Gross Tonnage: 3,000 tons
Length: 85 m
Breadth:25 m
Depth:8 m
Engine capacity:10,000 Hp
Max.Speed: 22 knots


Phi Phi Shark Point and Bida Islands
Shark Point (Hin Bida)

A small rock breaking the surface is surrounded by an oval reef under the water. The shape of the reef resembles a giant fried egg. Shark Point drops sharply on the north side of the reef, reaching the sandy bottom at around 21 m. The south side slopes gently down to 18 m. Here grinded rocks are to be found, covered with soft and table corals, sea fans, feather stars and shells. The small crevices give home to mooray eels, box fish, crayfish and octopus.

The name Shark Point refers to the abundance of leopard sharks, who usually lie sleeping in the sand. The leopard sharks, when not feeding, can be found sleeping peacefully outside the reef in the sand.

At this point, the author would like to put forward a request for consideration: Please remember, that these animals are sleeping, and should not be awekened. That means, that you should approach them slowly, not make noise, sudden movements or similar. Touching them is of course something, that any nature-lover and diver would disrespect. Such actions will frighten the animals and cause them to panic. and drive them out of our waters, maybe forever. On behalf of all divers, the Visa Diving Team thanks you in advance for your understanding.

Koh Phi Phi's Shark Point is one of the best of the many so-called "Shark Points" in Asia. Other inhabitants in this wealth of marine life include sea snakes, golden sweetlips, sea turtles, blue spotted stingrays, barracudas and whale sharks.

Location: A small, submerged outcrop some 8 kms southeast of Phi Phi Lee
Access: 60 to 70 min. from Ton Sai Bay
Conditions: Visibility is good, averages 20 m.
Dive depth: 12 to 18 m.


Bida Islands

The Bida islands are two small rocky outcrops at the southern end of Phi Phi Lee. Somebody has said they look like a pair of boots, left behind standing in the water by a giant. Under the surface the diver is met by underwater scenery at its best.

Bida Nok

Large rocks form a mountainous terrain, featuring walls that drop fiercely. Soft and hard coral abound. Bearded scorpionfish hide among the rocks under hovering lionfish. Parrotfish, moorish idol, wrasse and sea anemones with brilliantly colored clownfish. On the sand leopard sharks and stingrays. Rays and whalesharks are being sighted by the lucky divers. The walls are covered by lots of colorful soft coral colonies. The bottom is rather plane. Rocks in the sand are home to droves of squids. At 20 m there is a cave and a overhang. Leopard sharks lie sleeping on the sandy bottom.

Bida Nai

On the northeast side of Bida Nai's imposing wall you will find a cavern at 20 m depth. Usually one drops of the boat at the northeast corner going west. It takes about 50 minutes to round the island. Currents - when they exist - usually come from the west.
Leopard sharks and squids hang around Bida Nai and the corals are big, colorful and pretty.

Location: The outer of two large outcrops south of Phi Phi Lee
Access: 50 min. from Ton Sai Bay
Conditions: Visibility averages 20 m.
Dive depth: 19 to 30 m.




Hin Pae

Hin Pae is a relatively shallow dive site - 10 to 15 meters deep. Its shallow end is a rewarding snorkel-place. Hin Pae is sometimes called Baby Shark Point, because even snorkelers have the chance to study different types of sharks.

Boulder and brain corals form the main topography of the reef. Sea anemones play host to damsels and clownfish. Soft and hard coral provide shelter for a rich variety of coral fish. There are many holes and tunnels for moray eels to pass through. Crabs, lobsters, angelfish, groupers, snappers, surgeonfish and basslets are also resident.

Location: The rocky outcrop off Phi Phi Dons southeastern headland
Access: 10 min by boat from Ton Sai
Conditions: Visibility 7-15 m.
Dive depth: 8-16 m.


Hin Dot (Chimney Rocks)

Hin Dot - also known as Chimney Rock - makes a fantastic multi level dive. The divesite resembles three chimneys emerging from the bottom of the sea to close near the surface. These dramatic pinnacles have developed over several hundred years and consist only of clam and wing oysters. Maximum depth of these pinnacles is 30 m, but they reach up to 3, 12 and 15 m. These enormous towers are famous for their large schools of fish. Other fish populations include groupers, pufferfish, lionfish, squid and bearded scorpionfish.

Location: Submerged pinnacle off Phi Phi Dons southwestern headlands
Access: 15-20 min by boat
Conditions: Visibility 8-20 m.
Dive depth: 10-34 m.


Nui Bay

The waters of Nui Bay are shallow and suitable for snorkelers, there are lots of corals and colorful reef fish among small boulders and rocks, encrusted with patches of sponges and interspersed with a multitude of Christmas tree worms. The real divesite is a small, rocky island in front of the bay. The western wall descends to 20 meters. At the bottom of the southern end of the rock, boulders balanced on top of each other are explorable with relatively tight swim throughs. Moray eels, lionfish, groupers and angelfish live here. On the sand leopard sharks and rays rest between star fish. On the north-western part of the island in only 10 meter of water fields of soft corals have given name to "Neptune's Garden".

Location: O the northwestern coast of Phi Phi Don
Access: 30 to 40 minutes from Ton Say Bay
Conditions: Visibility varies between 5 and 30m.
Dive depth: 15 to 21 m.


Losamah Bay

Losamah is a small bay hosting colorful corals and a small beach. On the sandy bottom you will find patches of brain corals interspersed with Christmas tree and fan worms. The entrance of the bay is blocked by a large, circular island - the main attraction for divers. The islands vertical walls are dressed in sea whips and wing oysters until reaching the sandy bottom. The divesite promises overhangs and crevices. On the eastern side of the island the diver encounters the highlight of this dive, a spectacular canyon sporting large sea fans and a collage of soft corals. Swimming around the island will take about 45 minutes. The sandy bottom of the bay is punctuated by rocky ledges among which one finds bearded scorpionfish. Fringing the rocks are sea whips with wing oysters clinging to them. Abundant flora and fauna with plenty of bivalve shells. Red coral trouts, angel and butterfly fish dart around as you swim by. The highlight of this dive is a spectacular 15 m long canyon lined with sea fans and soft coral.

Location: Off the southern coastline of Phi Phi Lee.
Access: 40 min. from Ton Sai Bay
Conditions: Visibility averages 15 m.
Dive depth: 14 to 20 m.



Hin Daeng and Hin Muang
Two outstanding Dive Sites in South Thailand close to Phi Phi Island

Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are fascinating and really dramatic dive sites. Arguably the greatest two sites in Thai waters they are comparable to the best diving spots in the world!

Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are located only app. 55 km (180 degrees) South of Phi Phi Island. These reefs offer the deepest drop-off and steepest wall in the kingdom. As both reefs are situated in open sea, making the the only feeding grounds of the area, there is an unimaginable lot of marine life. The nearest island is Ko Rock Nock, about 25 km away.

Hin Daeng is a large underwater reef surging up from a depth of 50 m, breaking the surface. Only a very small peak hovers above the water. On its northern side the reef drops in a relatively gentle slope. Yet the southern side has a drop-off down to more than 50 meters. Hin Daeng's average depth is 25 meters, reaching 35 meters at the max.

Among the high-lights of Hin Daeng are large nurse sharks that live in a cave about 10 meters down at the southwestern part of the wall. Grey reef sharks are likely to be encountered at the walls north-eastern rock formation.

Hin Muang translates to "Purple Rock". The reason for this name are the many wonderful soft corals - pink and purple sea anemones - that completely cover the highest point of this reef. Hin Muang is located only some hundred meters from Hin Daeng and rises from a depth of more than 70 meters. It comes 9 meters close to the surface and features the deepest drop-off in Thai waters.

Two sides of this amazing rock are really dramatic, steep walls. They are home to big, blooming soft corals and a great variety of fish and large schools of fish. Hin Muang is one of only few places in Thailand that are home to the Grey reef shark. And of course - here you have a great chance to encounter the famous gentle giant of the oceans - the whale shark. For some reason they come here even more often than at Hin Daeng, only few hundred meters away.

Northern Liveaboard Destinations
To the northwest of the island of Phuket lie the most popular, famous and best-loved dive sites in Thailand. The Similan Islands, nine islands of stunning beauty and dazzling marine life, are visited by many liveaboard boats from Phuket. The reasons the area has become so famous are unlimited diving in warm, clear water at one of over 25 dive sites, and mild, comfortable sea conditions.

Approximately 180 kilometres to the northwest of the Similan Islands lie the relatively unexplored Mergui Archipelago and the Burma Banks, a group of underwater mountains rising from depths of over 350 meters to just below the surface. Close encounters with large silver tip and nurse sharks, the thrill of soaring over the tops of underwater plateaus pushed by strong currents, and large schools of pelagic fish have made these banks celebrated world-wide.

Three hundred fifty kilometres further to the northwest are the newly opened Andaman Islands, a vast array of islands running north to south in the Indian Ocean. Diving possibilities are endless and only just being explored. You'll be hearing more and more about these islands in years to come.

Richelieu Rock completes our triangle, back near the border of Burma. This tiny pinnacle is one of the best places in the world to consistently swim with that gentle giant the whale shark. Seen here over 60 percent of the time, these amazing animals grow to over 15 meters in length.


Southern Liveaboard Destinations

Beginning in Phuket, we travel east to the popular day-trip spots of Shark Point and Koh Phi Phi which offer stunning collections of soft corals. Also, the area is famous for frequent sightings of the docile leopard shark that grows to over two meters in length. The remarkable landscape and casual shore-life of Koh Phi Phi attract thousands of visitors every year.

Moving south we discover unpopulated, unspoiled islands covered with tropical jungle lapped by clear blue water, and offshore pinnacles like Hin Daeng with vertical drop-offs of over 60 meters. Whale sharks, dazzling fish and healthy, spectacular coral growth are just a sampling of the diving possibilities that await you.


Day-dive Destinations
One-day trips take us to Shark Point, Anemone Reef, and the Phi Phi Island group which all lie to the east of Phuket Island. Great soft coral, leopard sharks, and nice walls are things not be missed. Also, the topside scenery is stunning.

We can visit the paradise islands of Koh Racha Yai and Noi located just to the south of Phuket. Exciting drift dives, great visibility and superb hard coral growth characterise these two islands.

The Bottom Line

Environmentally, Thailand's diving fraternity has been a leader in coral reef protection in Southeast Asia. Many of Thailand's best dive sites have become protected under law. Over the past ten years, I personally have seen major improvements in the quality of diving at almost all regions around the country. While other areas around Southeast Asia and the rest of the world have suffered major degradation of their reefs, Thailand's government and its dive centres have instigated sound policies in controlling damage to the coral and fish populations. These policies have included educating people regarding the destruction of reefs by dynamite, mooring projects in the Similans, Koh Racha, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui and Koh Tao, and a strict hands-off policy for divers enjoying our undersea treasures.

As long as this positive trend continues, diving in Thailand's seas will bring pleasure, enjoyment and thrills to many people-and hopefully to their children and grandchildren as well-for years to come. You'll find Thailand's waters, islands, and culture full of life, full of wonder, and full of surprises.