Speedboat Trips and Charters from Phuket to Phi Phi
Phi Phi Islands , located just 45 minutes by speedboat from Phuket, offer a great laid back tropical life style. Soak up the sun, go beach hopping or simply enjoy the great outdoors in some of the most beautiful scenery in Asia . Classic white sandy beaches, surrounded by impressive limestone cliffs and sunlit crystal clear water, Phi Phi actually consists of two islands, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley, so gorgeous it was used as a location for the Hollywood film, “The Beach” at Maya Bay.
These two islands offer a wide range of very different atmospheres such as natural wildlife spots, archeological sites, a great coral reef, fishy lagoons, as well as all beaches. Phi Phi Don Island is the largest and shaped like the letter “H”. This island received the most visitors. Phi Phi Ley, her small sister, is uninhabited and more rugged. This area is famous for its marvelous landscape: rock faces rising vertically from the sea, forming a mythical-like geography in this prehistoric world.
The east and west landmasses of Phi Phi Don are joined by a narrow Isthmus and it is here that much of the tourist development has taken place. This is where is located the village.
Phi Phi Ley, on the other hand is more renowned for its animal life, and more specifically its resident swift population. The nests of the swift are highly sought-after, with people taking all manner of risks to collect them for use in Birds’ Nest Soup.
Also, Phi Phi Ley is home to Viking Cave, so called because one of the numerous drawings on the walls resembles a Viking ship. The cave has a ceiling about 20 meters high which is home to many ledges inhabited by thousands of swallows. In the high season Phi Phi can be very busy, so bookings are highly recommended.
Special Day Trips – More than just Diving!
Rather than a regular 2 tank diving day trip from Phuket, why not go for something a bit special? TheOffspray speedboat offers more than just diving – you get lunch in a luxury resort, sightseeing and there’s even time for a massage between dives! Because the journey time is so much less, you get so much more time at Phi Phi. The regular boats take up to 3 hours to cover the 45km from Phuket – the Offspray takes less than 1 hour. The boat is also available for charters for diving, snorkeling or sightseeing tours around Phuket, Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay.
The tour schedule is pretty relaxed, with plenty of time for diving and sightseeing. Hotel pick up starts 8am, with a light breakfast before departing Chalong Bay (Phuket) at 9:30am for the 1 hour dash to Phi Phi and your first dive. After the dive there’s time for a cruise around Phi Phi Ley Island before heading to the beach for a deluxe picnic – fresh bread, cheese, salmon, parma ham, all kinds of yummy things, then time for a wander along the beach. The second dive is at 2pm, followed by a cruise around Maya Bay and the return trip to Phuket, where you arrive about 4:30pm for transfer to your hotel. Exact dive sites may vary, and on occasion a hotel buffet is offered in place of the beach picnic if weather does not allow.
Boat Information
Offspray is a custom built 35 ft dive speedboat with space for 10 divers and 24 tanks. There is cushioned seating at the front and rear, and there are ladders built in for easy exit from the water after your dives. Power is provided by twin 200HP outboard engines, allowing a top speed of more than 30 knots. The boat is equipped with a marine toilet and a shower. On a full boat, 2 divemasters will join the trip as guides, so you dive in small groups.
Phi Phi Speedboat Dive Tours – Bookings and Reservations – click here
More Information
Other day trips from Phuket to Phi Phi
Overnight trips to Phi Phi
I’m now a believer in the goodness of speedboats; they’re speedy. Having made far too many trips between Phuket and Phi Phi by ferry, I feel qualified to claim that this is the best way to travel between islands – at least until I can afford a helicopter.
With the wind on your face and three throaty engines rocketing you over the water, it’s like being in an Italian convertible that floats. Classy.
Guiding tours where the tide is major factor is a bit of an art form. Lucky for me, my guide has been at it for twenty years. His name was swept away in the wind, as is bound to happen when making introductions in a speeding boat.
A little detective work and I discovered he calls himself Holger. A transplant from Germany, he’s called Phuket home for 20 years and knows plenty about where we’re going and when to be there. Balancing water levels with crowd avoidance – and adding a ridiculous amount of informational titbits – he kept things moving along at a good clip.
Read more: Phi Phi by Speedboat – Phuket Tour Reviews
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