Phuket Dive Guide : Hin Bida
About the location and site
Koh Bida Nok, Koh Bida Nai, and Hin Bida are collectively known as the Bida’s. Hin means rock, and is usually used to describe a submerged reef.
Bida Nok and Bida Nai are located only 2 kilometres South of Phi Phi Leh. Both limestone islands, with their outstanding steep walls from 8-28m, are known to be some of the best dive sites of Koh Phi Phi due to the abundance and variety of fish. The shallow reefs are covered with colourful soft corals mixed with hard coral where moray eels, ghost pipefish and scorpion fish hide. Banded sea snakes, turtles and leopard sharks and on occasion whale sharks have been known to visit. In addition, Bida Nai has overhangs, caves and a beautiful archway filled with tiny baitfish, which leads to a shallow hard coral garden. Bida Nok has several swim-throughs of the west side where you find a complex jumble of giant boulders. The limestone-sisters at Phi Phi Islands are not to be missed. Hin Bida lies 8 kilometres further east and is known as Phi Phi Shark Point.
Koh Bida Nok, Koh Bida Nai, and Hin Bida are collectively known as the Bida’s. Hin means rock, and is usually used to describe a submerged reef.
Bida Nok and Bida Nai are located only 2 kilometres South of Phi Phi Leh. Both limestone islands, with their outstanding steep walls from 8-28m, are known to be some of the best dive sites of Koh Phi Phi due to the abundance and variety of fish. The shallow reefs are covered with colourful soft corals mixed with hard coral where moray eels, ghost pipefish and scorpion fish hide. Banded sea snakes, turtles and leopard sharks and on occasion whale sharks have been known to visit. In addition, Bida Nai has overhangs, caves and a beautiful archway filled with tiny baitfish, which leads to a shallow hard coral garden. Bida Nok has several swim-throughs of the west side where you find a complex jumble of giant boulders. The limestone-sisters at Phi Phi Islands are not to be missed. Hin Bida lies 8 kilometres further east and is known as Phi Phi Shark Point.
Hin Bida is a small rocky outcrop around 8km southeast of Koh Bida Nok and Koh Bida Nai. It usually stands proud of the water by about 1 metre at one point, however at high tide it is totally submerged. With a large part of the reef being just 3 - 8m deep, it also makes a great snorkeling spot. The area north of the outcrop is covered with scattered rocks. The reef drops down to a maximum depth of 18 meters, with 3 large gullies running to the south. It is in these gullies that you may find the dive sites big draw – leopard sharks. They are regularly seen here, either resting on the sand, or swimming in the shallows. An encounter with these animals swimming closely around you, whether you are diving or snorkeling, is something you will never forget! The sharks refer to the location’s secondary name ‘Phi Phi’s Shark Point’.
This very colourful reef is covered in a huge variety of hard and soft corals and home to large schools of colourful reef-fish, including blue-lined snappers, harlequin sweetlips, butterfly and parrotfish, scorpion fish, damsel and cardinal fish, clown fish, puffer and porcupine fish, wrasse, groupers, titan triggerfish, the list goes on. Underwater photographers will find no end of subjects here.
As this site is relatively shallow and exposed to the open seas, featherstars, plumeworms, and brittle stars are seen here in huge numbers, feeding on the plankton caught in the currents. Also found around the many craggy holes and crevices are cuttlefish, octopus, spiny lobster, shrimps, and moray eels.
Manta rays and whale sharks visit Hin Bida on their way south the Hin Daeng & Hin Muang.
Hin Bida is less dived than many other sites which is evident in the quality of the corals and abundant marine life, however it is sensitive to currents and care should be taken here just after full and new moon periods.
This very colourful reef is covered in a huge variety of hard and soft corals and home to large schools of colourful reef-fish, including blue-lined snappers, harlequin sweetlips, butterfly and parrotfish, scorpion fish, damsel and cardinal fish, clown fish, puffer and porcupine fish, wrasse, groupers, titan triggerfish, the list goes on. Underwater photographers will find no end of subjects here.
As this site is relatively shallow and exposed to the open seas, featherstars, plumeworms, and brittle stars are seen here in huge numbers, feeding on the plankton caught in the currents. Also found around the many craggy holes and crevices are cuttlefish, octopus, spiny lobster, shrimps, and moray eels.
Manta rays and whale sharks visit Hin Bida on their way south the Hin Daeng & Hin Muang.
Hin Bida is less dived than many other sites which is evident in the quality of the corals and abundant marine life, however it is sensitive to currents and care should be taken here just after full and new moon periods.