From Phi Phi: Beginner Scuba Diving Day Trip with 2 Dives

The best part of this Phi Phi outing happens below the surface, where beginner scuba sessions bring you close to coral, schools of fish, and possibly hawksbill turtles or blacktip reef sharks. You leave from Phi Phi Don and reach the sites in about 25 minutes, so little of your five-hour trip is spent on the boat.

I like the small groups limited to two participants and the calm, step-by-step teaching. I also like the practical extras: a Thai lunch, fresh fruit, water refills, tea, coffee, and rental equipment are included. The main catch is the paperwork. You must contact the centre on WhatsApp and complete the required checks before arrival, or you could miss the outing without a refund.

Key points to know before booking

• Two reef sessions near Phi Phi Leh: Each underwater session lasts about an hour, with a maximum depth of 12 metres.
• Very small instruction groups: The group limit is two participants, allowing close attention from a PADI instructor.
• Beginner-friendly preparation: You complete PADI eLearning before the outing, then practice basic skills in shallow water.
• Lunch between sessions: A zero-waste Thai lunch, fresh fruit, and drinking water are provided on board.
• Morning or afternoon departures: Morning trips can fit onward travel to Phuket or Krabi, while afternoon trips return in time for sundowners.
• Important flight rule: You cannot fly for 24 hours after scuba activity, so plan your transport carefully.

What the Phi Phi beginner scuba outing is really like

This is a first-time scuba program, not an advanced certification course. You learn the basic theory online, meet your instructor near Phi Phi Pier, practice essential skills, and then spend time on two shallow reef sites.

The advertised price is $125 per person, and the five-hour schedule gives you a full half-day on the water. It includes equipment rental, the PADI eLearning course, a professional instructor, lunch, fruit, water, tea, coffee, and refills. You still need to pay the 600 THB National Park fee, and photography costs extra.

For a beginner, that package is reasonably good value because the costly parts of a first scuba outing, especially the instructor and equipment, are already covered. Still, the extra park fee means you should calculate the real cost before booking. If you want photos, there is another charge, and that may feel steep if you are already paying for a short introductory session.

The activity is run by Blue View Divers. The instructors speak English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai. That matters when you are learning breathing control, equalizing, mask skills, and hand signals. One particularly useful name to note is José. He speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and has been praised for careful one-to-one instruction. Blue and Michael are also named as part of the teaching team.

Before you arrive, finish the important paperwork

The most important booking detail is easy to miss: your place is not fully confirmed until you contact the dive centre directly.

You should send a message by WhatsApp a few days before reaching Phi Phi, using a working phone number. The centre needs to handle waivers, medical pre-checks, and other administration that is not completed through the booking platform.

You also need to check in one day before the outing, by 5 p.m. You can visit the centre in person, which overlooks Loh Dalum Bay, or complete the process remotely through messages. If you do not complete the required forms and checks in time, you can miss the activity at your own expense.

The online PADI preparation is supplied a few days before your scheduled session. This gives you the basic theory before you reach the boat, so the instructor can spend more time helping you feel comfortable in the water rather than explaining every concept from scratch.

You must be staying on Phi Phi Island. This is not designed as a quick day trip from Phuket or Krabi. Also remember the 24-hour no-fly rule after scuba activity. A morning boat back to the mainland may be possible on the following day, but you should not schedule a flight too soon after the session.

Meeting near Phi Phi Pier and getting ready

You meet 30 minutes before departure near Phi Phi Pier. The exact meeting point can vary by booking option, with Blue View Divers and Phi Phi Pier listed as possible locations.

The first on-site step is a safety briefing. Your instructor explains the two underwater sessions, the skills you will practice, the conditions, and the plan for the day. You also pay the 600 THB National Park fee at this point.

The setting helps make the briefing memorable. You are surrounded by Phi Phi’s dramatic coastal scenery rather than sitting in a classroom. That said, you should listen closely. A beautiful setting does not make scuba equipment self-explanatory, and the briefing is where you learn what to do if you need to slow down, signal a problem, or return to the surface.

The boat trip to the sites takes about 30 minutes according to the planned schedule, although the sites are often described as roughly 20 to 25 minutes from the pier. The exact timing depends on the selected location and sea conditions.

Your first underwater session near Phi Phi Leh

The first session begins after you put on the supplied equipment and enter the warm water around the Bida Islands or Phi Phi Leh. The sites are chosen according to weather, time of year, recent sightings, and sea conditions, so you should not expect a fixed site list.

You begin near the surface by practicing breathing and swimming. Then you work through basic skills just below the surface, using a descent line for support. This gradual start is one of the strongest features for a first-time participant. You do not simply jump in and follow a guide into deep water.

Once you are ready, you descend to the shallow reef. The maximum depth is 12 metres, which keeps the program within the limits of an introductory session. You might see hawksbill turtles, harmless blacktip reef sharks, Nemo-style clownfish, snappers, corals, and large numbers of tropical fish.

Wildlife is never guaranteed, and the choice of site changes with conditions. One useful point from the available feedback is that a 12-metre beginner session may not provide a huge range of fish at every site. You should book this for the chance to explore a reef safely, not for a guaranteed shark or turtle sighting.

The first session lasts about an hour in the itinerary, although the time includes the gradual skills work and underwater exploration. If you are nervous, tell the instructor early. The staff can explain an optional beach-training session before going out to the sites. That extra preparation costs 1,200 THB, but it may be worthwhile if you are a non-swimmer, uneasy in open water, or unsure about using the equipment.

Lunch on the boat, then a second chance underwater

After the first session, you remain on board for a break of about an hour. A Thai lunch is served in a zero-waste lunch box, with fresh fruit and water. Tea, coffee, and water refills are also included.

This is a practical pause, not just a meal stop. You have time to warm up, talk through what felt easy or difficult, and let the instructor adjust the plan for the next session. Bring a calm attitude rather than expecting a resort buffet. The provided food is meant to keep you comfortable and ready for the second session.

The second site is around Phi Phi Leh Island. The crew chooses it based on the day’s conditions and recent sightings, so it may offer different rock shapes, coral areas, or fish from the first location.

For many beginners, the second session is the more enjoyable one. You already understand the breathing rhythm and basic signals, so you can spend less time thinking about the equipment. You may also feel more comfortable looking around and noticing small fish, reef shapes, and changes in the seafloor.

The tradeoff is that fatigue can build by this point. Tell your instructor if you need a slower pace or more time at the surface. The small group limit helps here, since the instructor can pay close attention rather than managing a large group with mixed abilities.

Small groups and instructor support

The group limit is two participants. That is unusually personal for an introductory scuba program and is a major reason to consider the price.

With only one other person, you should have more opportunity to ask questions, repeat a skill, or pause if something does not feel right. The arrangement is especially useful when one participant is confident and the other needs more time. The instructor can keep the pace measured instead of pushing everyone through the same routine.

José has received particular praise for being attentive and careful, with strong communication in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Blue and Michael are also identified as professional instructors. The available feedback gives the teaching team high marks for creating a calm first experience.

Still, no instructor can remove every part of the learning curve. You need to be comfortable wearing scuba equipment, following instructions, and entering warm ocean water. If you are not ready for that, ask about beach training before the boat leaves.

What you can and cannot expect to see

The possible sightings are appealing: hawksbill turtles, blacktip reef sharks, clownfish, snappers, coral, and many small reef fish. The wording matters, though. These are hoped-for encounters, not promises.

The reefs around Phi Phi can change with weather, water conditions, seasonal patterns, and recent sightings. The crew chooses sites with those factors in mind. One day may provide excellent visibility and plenty of fish, while another may offer more modest wildlife but still give you a safe introduction to scuba.

You also cannot use a GoPro during the session unless you arrange the paid photography option. Photography is not included, and the extra charge has been criticized as expensive at about 1,000 THB per person. If photos matter greatly to you, ask about the current price and rules before booking.

I see the no-camera rule as a mixed point. It keeps a nervous beginner from managing a camera while learning to breathe and move underwater. On the other hand, you return with memories rather than guaranteed images, unless you pay for the add-on.

Morning or afternoon: choose around your transport

Morning and afternoon departures are available, so your choice depends on the rest of your Phi Phi plans.

A morning session returns in time for onward travel to Phuket or Krabi, according to the planned schedule. Even so, allow extra time for changes in sea conditions and remember that you cannot fly within 24 hours after scuba activity.

An afternoon session returns in time for sundowners. It works well if you want a slower morning on Phi Phi Don and do not need to catch a boat immediately afterward.

The activity begins and ends at the pier or Blue View Divers, depending on your booking option. Check the precise meeting and return details before you set up another excursion.

Eco-conscious details that matter

Blue View Divers follows Green Fins guidance and National Park regulations. The lunch is supplied in a zero-waste box, and water refills are available.

Those choices do not turn a boat outing into a low-impact activity, but they reduce avoidable waste. Reef etiquette also matters. Listen to the instructor, avoid touching coral, and keep your hands away from marine life. The best way to protect the area is to move calmly and leave the reef as you found it.

Because the sites are inside or near a protected marine area, the 600 THB park fee is part of the real cost. It is not an optional tip or equipment charge.

Who should book this Phi Phi scuba session?

I would choose this for a first-time scuba participant who wants close instruction and is already staying on Phi Phi. The two-person limit suits anyone who values patient teaching over a large boat with a crowd.

It is also a good match for couples or friends who want to learn together, provided both people are comfortable with the same basic pace. The instructors can communicate in English, Portuguese, Spanish, or Thai, which may make the safety briefing and skill work easier to follow.

I would think twice if you want a serious photography session, a guaranteed shark encounter, or a full certification course. This is an introductory program with a 12-metre depth limit, not a replacement for open-water certification.

FAQ

How long does the Phi Phi scuba activity last?

The activity lasts about five hours, including boat transport, the safety briefing, two underwater sessions, and the lunch break.

How many underwater sessions are included?

You receive two beginner scuba sessions, each planned for about one hour.

What is the maximum depth?

The maximum depth is 12 metres.

Where does the activity depart from?

The meeting point may be Phi Phi Pier or Blue View Divers, depending on the option booked.

Do I need to stay on Phi Phi Island?

Yes. The activity is intended for people staying on Phi Phi Island.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Thai lunch, fresh fruit, and water are included. Tea, coffee, and water refills are also provided.

Is scuba equipment included?

Yes. Scuba equipment rental is included in the price.

Do I need to complete anything before the activity?

Yes. You must contact the dive centre through WhatsApp, complete the required administration and medical pre-checks, and check in one day before the program. PADI eLearning must also be completed one day before the session.

Is the National Park fee included?

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

Can I fly after the activity?

No. You cannot fly for 24 hours after scuba activity, so leave enough time before any flight.

Should you book it?

Book this Phi Phi outing if you want a carefully supervised first scuba experience, especially with the advantage of a group limited to two people. The warm water, short boat ride, lunch, and possible turtle and shark sightings make it an appealing half-day plan.

Before paying, make sure you can complete the WhatsApp paperwork, accept the separate 600 THB park fee, and live without guaranteed photos or wildlife. If you are nervous or cannot swim, ask about the 1,200 THB beach-training option first. For a beginner who wants patient instruction rather than a crowded boat, Blue View Divers offers a practical and well-organized way to try scuba around Phi Phi.