Updated: June 2024
There are a few different species of sharks which can be spotted around Koh Phi Phi. You don’t need to be afraid, there are no dangerous species of sharks around Phi Phi Islands. Mostly the sharks here are very timid.
There has never been any case of a human being attacked or bitten by a shark around Koh Phi Phi. For any marine life lover, Koh Phi Phi is must stop during your Thailand trip.
There is no other place in Thailand where you can spot reef-sharks just from off beach snorkeling.
BLACK-TIP REEF SHARKS IN KOH PHI PHI
The one species you can spot the easiest around Phi Phi Island is the BLACK-TIP REEF SHARK. Since June 2018 when the Maya Bay beach got closed off, the numbers of the sharks has rapidly grown.
Phi Phi National Park closed the Maya Bay off, around 300 meters from the beach which created a confined protected area with rocks and coral. Here, the reef sharks found the perfect conditions for feeding and breeding and their numbers went up within a few months.
Within a year of the closure of the bay, the number of the black-tip sharks around Koh Phi Phi quadrupled.
You are very likely to spot juvenile reef sharks which are less than a meter long but an adult black-tip reef sharks can grow to around 1,5m- 2m long. They can be spotted in very shallow waters around the cliffs and corals were they hunt down mullet and squid.
There are a few different species of sharks which can be spotted around Koh Phi Phi. You don’t need to be afraid, there are no dangerous species of sharks around Phi Phi Islands. Mostly the sharks here are very timid.
There has never been any case of a human being attacked or bitten by a shark around Koh Phi Phi. For any marine life lover, Koh Phi Phi is must stop during your Thailand trip.
There is no other place in Thailand where you can spot reef-sharks just from off beach snorkeling.
BLACK-TIP REEF SHARKS IN KOH PHI PHI
The one species you can spot the easiest around Phi Phi Island is the BLACK-TIP REEF SHARK. Since June 2018 when the Maya Bay beach got closed off, the numbers of the sharks has rapidly grown.
Phi Phi National Park closed the Maya Bay off, around 300 meters from the beach which created a confined protected area with rocks and coral. Here, the reef sharks found the perfect conditions for feeding and breeding and their numbers went up within a few months.
Within a year of the closure of the bay, the number of the black-tip sharks around Koh Phi Phi quadrupled.
You are very likely to spot juvenile reef sharks which are less than a meter long but an adult black-tip reef sharks can grow to around 1,5m- 2m long. They can be spotted in very shallow waters around the cliffs and corals were they hunt down mullet and squid.
Where is the best place to spot the reef sharks in Koh Phi Phi?
There are few good locations around Koh Phi Phi Lay and Don known for a frequent sighting of black-tip sharks. However, lately, you can spot them anywhere around Phi Phi Lay Island. Loh Samah Bay is one of the good locations to spot the sharks while snorkeling. They usually swim around the bottom of the mountain wall on the left side of the bay. Another good location is Palong Bay and around the left side of the Viking Cave.
If you are not planning on taking a boat out you can also try snorkeling off the beach in Long Beach. At the very end of the beach outside of The Beach Resort, there is a rocky formation called Shark Point. When the tide is low the snorkeling area is around 200 meters far from the beach.
Beware, or the passing boats and also there can be a strong current which could be possibly dangerous, especially during the low season. If you are not a confident swimmer I recommend taking a boat out and snorkeling at the Shark Point off the boat.
Last but not least is one of the smaller Phi Phi Islands- Bida Nok. You can get here on a scuba diving trip and there is a very high chance of spotting reef shark and other species also.
Where is the best place to spot the reef sharks in Koh Phi Phi?
There are few good locations around Koh Phi Phi Lay and Don known for a frequent sighting of black-tip sharks. However, lately, you can spot them anywhere around Phi Phi Lay Island. Loh Samah Bay is one of the good locations to spot the sharks while snorkeling. They usually swim around the bottom of the mountain wall on the left side of the bay. Another good location is Palong Bay and around the left side of the Viking Cave.
If you are not planning on taking a boat out you can also try snorkeling off the beach in Long Beach. At the very end of the beach outside of The Beach Resort, there is a rocky formation called Shark Point. When the tide is low the snorkeling area is around 200 meters far from the beach.
Beware, or the passing boats and also there can be a strong current which could be possibly dangerous, especially during the low season. If you are not a confident swimmer I recommend taking a boat out and snorkeling at the Shark Point off the boat.
Last but not least is one of the smaller Phi Phi Islands- Bida Nok. You can get here on a scuba diving trip and there is a very high chance of spotting reef shark and other species also.
When is the best time to spot the reef sharks?
It probably makes sense, that you will have a higher chance of spotting reef sharks during morning hours when there are fewer people around. But it is not always a rule. I have spotted reef sharks at various times of the day, even on busy snorkeling trip full of customers.
How to see the reef sharks?
- Hire a private long tail boat for 3-4 hours and stop in different snorkeling spots I mentioned above. You will have a very high chance of seeing at least a couple of sharks and maybe even a turtle. On your private boat, you will have the flexibility to go at your own pace and the option to head out early morning. CHECK OUT OUR PRIVATE SHARK SEEKER TRIP
- Join a scuba diving trip. You will complete two dives with a good chance of spotting reef sharks. No experience for scuba diving in Koh Phi Phi is necessary. SCUBA DIVING TRIP
- Off beach snorkeling at Shark Point. Only for confident snorkelers as you will have to swim out around 200m to the open sea.
How to behave when you spot a reef-shark?
If you want the shark to stay so you can admire him and take some stunning underwater photographs, then stay very still and control your breathing. If you remain calm and relaxed it is more likely the shark will stick around so you can observe him.
By being noisy, kicking around, making sudden movements and breathing heavily you will make the shark nervous and he will be in a rush to leave.
Float on the surface and relax. The shark won’t be threatened and will be happily swimming around minding his own business.
When is the best time to spot the reef sharks?
It probably makes sense, that you will have a higher chance of spotting reef sharks during morning hours when there are fewer people around. But it is not always a rule. I have spotted reef sharks at various times of the day, even on busy snorkeling trip full of customers.
How to see the reef sharks?
- Hire a private long tail boat for 3-4 hours and stop in different snorkeling spots I mentioned above. You will have a very high chance of seeing at least a couple of sharks and maybe even a turtle. On your private boat, you will have the flexibility to go at your own pace and the option to head out early morning. CHECK OUT OUR PRIVATE SHARK SEEKER TRIP
- Join a scuba diving trip. You will complete two dives with a good chance of spotting reef sharks. No experience for scuba diving in Koh Phi Phi is necessary. SCUBA DIVING TRIP
- Off beach snorkeling at Shark Point. Only for confident snorkels as you will have to swim out around 200m to the open sea.
How to behave when you spot a reef-shark?
If you want the shark to stay so you can admire him and take some stunning underwater photographs, then stay very still and control your breathing. If you remain calm and relaxed it is more likely the shark will stick around so you can observe him.
By being noisy, kicking around, making sudden movements and breathing heavily you will make the shark nervous and he will be in a rush to leave.
Float on the surface and relax. The shark won’t be threatened and will be happily swimming around minding his own business.
Apart from back tip reef-sharks, there are other species which can be spotted around Phi Phi Islands.
WHALE SHARK
Whale Sharks passing by Phi Phi follow the plankton trail from Malaysia to Myanmar and are usually around 10 meters long. The fully grown adult whale shark can grow to over 14 meters long.
There are spotted in Koh Phi Phi by divers few times a month so it is more of a rare sighting. National park in Koh Phi Phi makes sure they are no artificial feedings happening in order not to make a tourist attraction off these beautiful giants which, unfortunately, is happening in other parts of Thailand and Asia.
Whale sharks can be spotted all year around around Koh Phi Phi. It just have to be your lucky day.
Apart from back tip reef-sharks, there are other species which can be spotted around Phi Phi Islands.
WHALE SHARK
Whale Sharks passing by Phi Phi follow the plankton trail from Malaysia to Myanmar and are usually around 10 meters long. The fully grown adult whale shark can grow to over 14 meters long.
There are spotted in Koh Phi Phi by divers few times a month so it is more of a rare sighting. National park in Koh Phi Phi makes sure they are no artificial feedings happening in order not to make a tourist attraction off these beautiful giants which, unfortunately, is happening in other parts of Thailand and Asia.
Whale sharks can be spotted all year around around Koh Phi Phi. It just have to be your lucky day.
LEOPARD SHARK
Leopard Sharks with their special spots can be seen around Phi phi quite frequently. They like to relax and feed at the sandy bottom near the reefs. With their long tail then can grow up to 2 meters. Leopard Sharks are timider then the other species. You can spot leopard sharks around Phi Phi Islands during the high season from November till May.
Try not to approach them too close or they will most likely swim away. The most frequent location to spot Leopard Shark in Koh Phi Phi is Gareng Heng dive spot can be be seen in any diving or snorkeling location around Koh Phi Phi.
LEOPARD SHARK
Leopard Sharks with their special spots can be seen around Phi phi quite frequently. They like to relax and feed at the sandy bottom near the reefs. With their long tail then can grow up to 2 meters. Leopard Sharks are timider then the other species. You can spot leopard sharks around Phi Phi Islands during the high season from November till May.
Try not to approach them too close or they will most likely swim away. The most frequent location to spot Leopard Shark in Koh Phi Phi is Gareng Heng dive spot.
Bamboo Shark are the other species which can be spotted around Phi Phi Island. They can be usually spotted in deeper waters.
If you need any more information about sharks in Koh Phi Phi or generally about the island you can send us a message. We will be more than happy to give you additional information or help you organize a snorkeling trip.
Bamboo Shark are the other species which can be spotted around Phi Phi Island. They are usualy seen in deeper waters.
If you need any more information about sharks in Koh Phi Phi or generally about the island you can send us a message. We will be more than happy to give you additional information or help you organize a snorkeling trip.
