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Koh Bida Nok
GPS Location: 07-36-17N 98-45-57E
Max Depth: 25M
Currents: Mild to moderate
Visibility: 5M-25M
Diver Level: Beginner
Koh Bida Nok is a limestone and granite island rising from 25M in the sand to 30M above sea level. The fish and coral life here is among the best to be found in the whole area. Topography ranges from shallow, gently sloping hard coral reef in a small bay to the South East to sheer walls and precipices on the West side. A beautiful coral garden exists in the shallows on the North East; there is a small cave at around 22M on the West wall and rocks rise from the sand forming valleys and swim throughs in the deeper water on the North, outside the coral garden away from the island.
Marine life is very diverse. The reef consists of huge boulder corals, plate coral, staghorn forests, giant sea fans, whip corals, numerous soft corals and anemone species to name a few. All kinds of reef fish may be found here, notably colourful angelfish, butterflyfish, damsels, wrasses, triggerfish, anemone fish, barracudas, at least three common species of lionfish, scorpion fishes, many moray species including zebra morays and black and white banded sea snakes. Kuhl’s blue spotted stingrays hide in the sandy flats with garden eels and herds of spiny sea urchins so care upon descent is advised in the shallows. Perhaps the highlights of the site are frequent sightings of leopard sharks sleeping during the day in the sand, hawksbill turtles feeding on soft corals and for those lucky enough a periodically resident group of black tip reef sharks in the coral garden on the North East. To the South East, outside the bay a finger of rock continues from the island below the surface a distance of around 60M to a depth of 16M. Here the coral life is most abundant, primarily soft corals like gorgonian sea fans catching nutrients in the current which can be strong in this unprotected part of the reef. Pelagic fish such as golden trevallies and tuna hunt in this area in large shoals so pay attention beyond the reef into the blue once in a while. For the macro lover, Koh Bida Nok is one of the best sites to sea tigertail sea horses, nudibranchs, frogfish and seasonal ornate ghost pipefish. As this island is the southernmost in the Phi Phi chain it is possible to glimpse rarities in the blue to the South like giant guitar fish, eagle rays and marbled stingrays. Dolphins are abundant in the area but only very occasionally seen by divers, except from the boat. Despite a long voyage to reach the Phi Phi islands the diving here is arguably the best in the whole area and well worth the trip.
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