Koh Lipe vs Koh Phi Phi — Dive Destination Comparison
Koh Lipe (Thailand) scores 69.7/100 vs Koh Phi Phi's 68.9/100 in OkToDive's 12-category rating. Choose Koh Lipe for reef diving with 10–30m visibility. Choose Koh Phi Phi for reef diving at ~$80/dive.
Last updated: 2026-07-22
Side-by-side comparison
| Metric | Koh Lipe | Koh Phi Phi |
|---|---|---|
| OkToDive Score | 69.7/100 | 68.9/100 |
| Country | Thailand | Thailand |
| Visibility | 10--30m | 8--25m |
| Water temp | 27--30 C | 27--30 C |
| Max depth | 30m | 32m |
| Current | mild | moderate |
| Cost per 2-tank dive | $70 | $80 |
| Budget tier | budget | budget |
| Best months | November, December, January | November, December, January |
| Dive types | reef, wall, drift | reef, wall, drift, wreck |
| Min certification | Open Water | Open Water |
| Key species | whale shark, leopard shark, hawksbill turtle | blacktip reef shark, leopard shark, hawksbill turtle |
| Google rating | 4.6 (340 reviews) | 4.4 (850 reviews) |
Which should you choose?
Choose Koh Lipe when...
- + Budget-conscious divers — avg $70/dive
- + Newly certified divers building confidence
- + Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
Skip if
- - You prefer uncrowded sites and this has 25+ named spots drawing traffic
- - You need shore access — this is boat-only
Choose Koh Phi Phi when...
- + Budget-conscious divers — avg $80/dive
- + Wreck diving enthusiasts
- + Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
- + Couples where one partner doesn't dive
Skip if
- - You don't have Advanced certification
- - You need shore access — this is boat-only
Bottom line
Koh Lipe wins on overall score (69.7 vs 68.9), but the right choice depends on your priorities. Koh Lipe is more affordable ($70 vs $80/dive). Koh Lipe has better peak visibility (30m vs 25m).