Wednesday 21 August 2013

Explore the Best Dive Spots of Koh Phi Phi



Explore the Best Dive Spots of Koh Phi Phi

One of Thailand’s most beautiful areas is the island of Koh Phi Phi. With a landscape as magical below the water as it is on dry land, the island offers the chance to discover some of the best diving spots in the glistening Andaman Sea.

The island is scattered with diving schools and various starting points for diving trips, so it is the perfect place to discover a magical underwater world whether you are a seasoned pro or just beginning your diving adventures.


I’ve never been diving before – where is best to start?

Koh Phi Phi is extremely popular amongst divers of all abilities, so it is filled with schools and diving centres where you will find the chance to learn and enjoy some trips for beginners. The PADI diving qualification is recognised across the world, so it is advisable to choose a PADI qualified school and instructor, as they will best equip you for the open water.




Most dive schools will offer lessons in shallow water off the beach, so you can become comfortable with the equipment and the process, and then they will accompany you on dives that are suitable for beginners. Koh Phi Phi boasts a number of fascinating places even beginners can visit, such as Bida Nok, which is filled with vibrant corals, and Bida Nai, which has a swim-through teeming with glass fish.

These unforgettable destinations are also ideal for families that want to try the sport together, as they offer calm waters and relatively safe surrounds.

How do I find diving equipment?

If you’re embarking on a diving course as a newcomer, equipment will be available at your diving school, and you will be given advice as to what is necessary when heading on a diving trip.

Those who are more experienced will find a mass of diving shops across Koh Phi Phi where you can hire equipment, and prices are regulated so you won’t find too much difference between businesses.


I’ve been diving many times, where can I go to see something new?

Koh Phi Phi is known for its diving, and it offers some of the most phenomenal sites across Thailand. As well as being surrounded by a number of dive sites, it is also the perfect gateway to some of Thailand’s other sites, around Koh Lanta and Phuket.

Malong is a stunning site to visit, with turtles resting on the coral reef and swim through's at the end of the dive. Night dives are also popular amongst more skilled divers, in particular Tonsai Bay, which is a much loved destination for evening dives. Here you will find nocturnal reef creatures hiding amongst the staghorn corall.




When should I visit?

Koh Phi Phi enjoys the tropical climate of the Andaman coastline of Thailand, so it presents the perfect conditions for diving whatever the time of year. However, you should be aware that the rainy season is in full force between late May and October, although the showers are usually brief and followed by bright and sunny spells. During the monsoon season the visibility can drop, and the temperature of the water does get cooler between June and September.

If you want to visit during optimum diving conditions you should book your flights to Thailand in April, when the waters are warm and the visibility is at its best.



Thailand gives its visitors the chance to discover a magical landscape hidden beneath its crystal clear waters, and it offers trips and lessons that are relatively cheap when compared to other top diving destinations across the world. Whether you’re looking for that next underwater thrill, or you want to put your new found diving skills to the test, Koh Phi Phi might just be the perfect place to do so.

Sunday 2 September 2012

Of leopard sharks, turtles and new DMTs!




Hello Everyone! Here comes the Barakuda News!

When a lot of people are getting ready for a new school year, we are lucky enough to not have to think about any sorts of uniforms apart from maybe a new wet suit!

The weather has been good but we had a couple of days of proper rain! Check out the street outside the shop on the picture!

Although it looked impressive, it did not affect the diving so much as we have been seeing some leopard sharks everyday, whether it is at Viking Cave, Bida Nok or Bida Nai। Can't really complain।




We are also sad to announce that our brazilian instructor Luiza has left us! How dare she leaving us to go home! More seriously we will miss her loads, and hope she will come back soon!





But when some are leaving, more are coming: We are welcome २ new additions to our team...Chris and Harriet, our new divemaster trainee। They will be learning how to become a PADI professional with instructor Ally।

If you are in Koh Phiphi, why not come diving with us? Or simply swing by for a drink and chat, we are nice people, we promise!

www.phiphibarakuda.com

Tuesday 24 July 2012

It's been a while since we have told you about our adventures, but now we are back.

A lot of things have been happening at Barakuda Dive Centre….

Barakuda News, latest edition:


- A new Course Director!


First of all we are happy to announce that Course Director Rich Reardon has now joined our team on Koh PhiPhi and now run a monthly Instructor Development Course. We are also running a special discount on IDC for low season! Interested? Contact us ! info@phiphibarakuda.com
Stay tuned for our new Barakuda IDC website.

- A brand new website!


Talking about new website we wanted to let you know that we have had a little make over on www.phiphibarakuda.com! We think you should go and check it out!

-"Leopard" Sharks right and left!


On the diving side of things, the marine life is amazing at the moment. The zebra sharks, that we affectionally call "leopard" (as they look quite a bit more like it) are BACK!! We are lucky enough to see them pretty much every dive! Check out our little video of these amazing and gracious creatures.





-Barakuda is going TEC


Barakuda team is also proud to announce that we are opening a new TEC Diving centre in Chalong, Phuket with its own decompression chamber and possibility to enroll in diving medic courses.
Stay tuned for our new Barakuda TEC Centre

-Barakuda staff join PADI On Tour


Two of our lovely staff, French Instructor and Divemaster Ally and Pauline got the chance to join PADI Region 26 and Dive Supply on Cabana beach. They spent the afternoon getting their hands (breathing?) on twin sets, side mount and rebreather. The girls had a love at first breath with the new POSEIDON Rebreather system and are signing up soon for the course!


-Phi Phi Diving Association New Facebook and Clean Up.


Everymonth Barakuda staff goes on to a underwater and beach clean up around PhiPhi Don and Ley. We would love if you could read a little bit about PhiPhi Diving Association and The Keep PhiPhi Clean by clicking on the following links [LINKS x2]. Think twice about throwng anything in the water or on the beach.


That's it folks. Watch out for a lot more of updates and tales of the underwater world!


SO when are you coming to see us? We are waiting for you? Thinking of becoming a certified diver? Dreaming of a life on the beach? Drop us a line! admin@phiphibarakuda.com.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Dive day!

So what's it like to come diving with us? Well grab your gear, I'll tell you exactly....

First of all we’ll have you choose either our morning or after noon boat. Whether you are an early riser or like to have a little lie in, we’ve got it all!
Our typical morning trip starts by meeting at 8:00am at the dive shop where your divemaster or instructor will be waiting for you to take you to our boat the Magnifica. No equipment to carry apart from your weight belt, everything is ready for you on board! We also offer tea, coffee and fresh water!

8.30, we are off! The dive sites will be decided on the day, depending on the weather conditions and tide charts. Generally we try to take you at least to one of the famous Bidas, Bida Nok and Bida Nai! After the first dive, we will be heading to Maya Bay (yes, that’s the one from the Beach, Leonardo DiCaprio not included in the trip) for a freshly cooked Thai lunch and may be a couple of jumps off the boat. That’s the time to show off your back flip skills!


 If not, enjoy a lazy nap on our sun deck during the surface interval.
We will be then off to the second dive site around the marine park in PhiPhi Ley. Once you will have surface up, time to head home, around 12.30 pm. Back at the shop; enjoy a refreshing drink in our cozy up stairs bar where you will be able to fill in your log book. And may be already think about your next dive!




Afternoon trips operate on the same scheme, and we will be meeting at 1.00pm at the shop and we’ll be back around 6pm. Our bar is open until 11pm.
So come make some bubbles with us, we are waiting for you!

 

Thursday 2 February 2012

Shark Dive.

Alain and Sebastien with our new friend



Yesterday was fantastic! We set off as usual in the morning, but as a treat for all the team onboard we headed to shark point PhiPhi, a dive site which need to have good conditions in order to get to.
And that was a pretty good idea. Just 15 min into the dive and we spotted a leopard shark at about 14m!
New Barakuda divemaster Ally and her first leopard shark!!


The visibility was about 15 to 20m.
We were pretty happy as it was with the leopard shark but about 5 min later, another surprise was waiting for us under a rock...

Two bamboo sharks! Not only it was amazing for us but it for our two french customers, Alain and
Sebastien, it was their first sharks. And who can
forget their first encounter with these creatures?



Finally 50 minutes in as we were coming up for our safety stop, we bumped into a small turtle who seemed to be very intrigued by our camera and came right up to it to check out was it was.

Overall a dive that won't be forgotten, beautiful weather and underwater conditions. So what are you waiting for? COME DIVING WITH US! info@phiphibarakuda.com