Coral Garden

Coral Garden, also known as Palong, sits on the north-west side of Phi Phi Leh near Maya Bay, in a small bay just to the right of the main bay entrance, among the Phi Phi Islands of Thailand. The site is a reef wall studded with overhangs, swim-throughs, and large boulders that give way to a sand bottom, with the shallowest point around 8 metres and a maximum depth of 18 metres. The wall runs with soft corals in reds, blues, oranges, and purples, and dropping further to around 12 metres reveals the full extent of the reef spreading out before you.

The site suits divers of all experience levels from beginners upward, and is dived year-round. Visibility typically reaches 15 metres and is often better here than at other sites in the area. Current is generally none to negligible, making navigation straightforward; the wall should be kept to the left as you proceed. Afternoon dives are recommended, as the angle of light at that time enhances the colours of the corals.

Marine life along the wall and boulders is varied. Swimming out toward the large boulders offers reliable sightings of Giant Moray and very large Grouper, while Blue Spotted Stingrays lie half-buried in the sand. The swim-throughs shelter dense clouds of Glassfish, which are regularly pushed around by hunting Trevallies and Yellow Tailed Mackerels. A large school of Yellow Snappers occupies the reef, and Harlequin Ghost Pipefish and Tiger Tail Seahorses can be found along the wall. Angelfish with breeding pairs of Blue Ringed Emperors, Common Lionfish, Barracuda, Coral Banded Sea Snakes, Hawksbill Turtles, Scorpionfish, and Spinner Dolphins are also recorded at the site.