Phi Phi Shark Point
and Bida Islands
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 moray 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 Barakuda 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.
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Location: A small, submerged outcrop some 8 kms southeast
of Phi Phi Lee |
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Access: 60 to 70 min. from Ton Sai Bay |
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Conditions: Visibility is good, averages 20 m. |
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Dive depth: 12 to 18 m. |
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.
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Lion Fish |
Tiger Tail Seahorse
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Hawksbill Turtles |
Bat Fish
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Bida
NaiOn 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 |
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Access: 40 min. from Ton Sai Bay |
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Conditions: Visibility averages 20 m. |
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Dive depth: 19 to 30
m. |
