the archipelago Coffeey which is located in the Andaman Sea is one of the most visited places in Thailand and as such is visited by many tourists and locals every year. It is actually a group of islands and not an isolated island as is commonly thought - the mistake comes from the fact that only one of them is used for tourism and residences, while the rest are uninhabited but can be visited on a guided tour. The various islands can only be reached by boat.
Visitors to Kofipi will enjoy beautiful beaches, clear blue and turquoise waters, many attractions for the whole family to enjoy, Excellent hotels, restaurants, clubs and the most beautiful views in Thailand. Understand The attractions and activities You will find a variety of options that without much effort will fill you with whole days of pure pleasure, where the whole issue of water sports is at its core - kayaking, bananas, snorkeling along the beach and countless diving sites.
Indeed, diving is definitely the main and most popular sport on the island, so you will have no trouble finding spectacular diving sites, reefs and lagoons suitable for divers of a wide range of seniority and experience. Besides these, there are also quite a few diving schools that offer various activities - from introductory diving accompanied by a guide to diving courses for beginners as well as experienced divers.
Diving courses and diving clubs in Kofipi
A diving course in Kofifi for those who have not yet experienced diving (one star course) lasts 3 days and if you want to save a day (and about 2,500 baht which is NIS 270), you can go to the website of International Diving Organization (SSI) Do the theoretical part of the course online (in Hebrew!). The full price of one diving course in all the clubs on the island, it changes from time to time and is about ten thousand baht (about NIS 1,100).
Either way, if you intend to dive on the island or in general during your trip in the Kingdom of Siam, it is important to choose a reputable diving club and not be tempted by new clubs that open new in the mornings and come out with attractive promotions. This is a relaxed sport, but it can certainly be dangerous, so it is important to make sure that you are in good and experienced hands, the training team is professional and attentive, the diving equipment is new and high-quality, and the insurance covers accidents of this and that, not us.
In Kopipi there are many diving sites, each of which is completely different from the previous one and all of them have extraordinary spectacular views... How lucky that you are not limited to one site like that and can dive again and again and enjoy several sites during your visit to the island. Among the most recommended sites you will find King Cruiser Wreck, Shark Point And many more.
Undoubtedly, this is a paradise for divers - the beginners will enjoy a one-of-a-kind experiential course thanks to the great biological diversity that can be noticed already during the first dives, and the advanced who will benefit from some extraordinary diving sites on a world scale, or continue to study and deepen their professional knowledge through advanced courses.
Recommended diving sites in Kofipi
Sea turtles, tiger sharks, schools of colorful fish, shipwrecks and more - all of these are waiting for you to discover them. Here are some recommended diving sites:
- King Cruiser Wreck - A wrecked passenger ship that came to a tragic end 18 kilometers west of Kopipi Island. Over the years, it has become an integral part of the seabed and today it is a spectacularly beautiful diving site where colorful schools of fish swim, including magnificent goldfish, corals and algae growing on the sides of the ship, crabs and sea urchins. The impressive size of the boat, which is 85 meters long and 25 meters windward, makes it a unique diving site with several habitats and a great abundance of marine animals.
- Shark Piont - Near the shipwreck there is a chain of coral reefs in a variety of colors and species, among which swim fish, sea turtles, squids, seals and other marine creatures. Among these, if you are lucky (or not, depending on how you consider it) you can also meet bamboo sharks and even tiger sharks, which is considered one of the largest and most formidable predators in the area and are often seen in this area, as well as manta rays and whale sharks.
- phi phi leh island - Pipila Island belongs to the Kopipi Archipelago and has several unique reefs. For example, the "Malong" reef, it is not clear what it is that attracts sea turtles to it throughout the whole year, but for those who want to watch sea turtles, this is the best spot. Another reef is the "Palong" reef where you can watch (also throughout the year) blacktip reef sharks.
- Hin Daeng / Hin Muang - A little more than 50 kilometers south of Kofifi are two magnificent reefs, which many consider to be among the most beautiful in the world thanks to the abundance of species that can be observed over an area that is not so large, especially thanks to the visibility in the place which is considered good for most of the year. Among other things, you can see large schools of fish, nudibranchs in spectacular colors, crabs, shrimps and also eels. If you are lucky, you can also meet a whale shark, but the main reason that attracts divers to these reefs are schools of manta rays that frequent the place.
- Ko Bida Nok - A tiny island in the Kofifi archipelago located a total of one kilometer south of the main islands. On the southern side of the island there is a reef with a gentle slope with hundreds of species of corals and fish, while on the northern side of the island there is a spectacular reef wall with magical seahorses, beautiful nudibranchs and impressive eels. Other marine creatures you can meet there - whale sharks, various reef sharks, seals, sea turtles, squids and tiger sharks. In the eyes of many, this site is considered the best diving site in the region, although there is no free access to it and in order to dive there you have to join diving groups through the various diving agencies.
- Ko Bida Nai - Another small island located near the island of Ko Bida Nok and similar to it also has a moderate slope on the southern side and an impressive reef wall on the northern part. Since the islands are nearby, the variety of marine creatures found in the place is relatively similar, so if there is any doubt as to which of the diving spots to go to - choose according to the availability of the guides and your favorite diving club.
Another important thing to know
Since only one island in the Kopipi Archipelago is inhabited, most dive sites can be reached from it or nearby islands. The most convenient way to get to these points is through organized diving groups that are put out by the many diving agencies in the area and they include an attached guide, transportation, equipment and often also lunch.
Be sure to check that there is appropriate insurance (both for the agency and your own private insurance), what happens in the event of an injury (where to go, how long it takes, whether there have been accidents in the area and how you can prepare for this in advance) and what the composition of the group is.
Have fun diving!
