Artificial Reef and Coral Nursery

The Artificial Reef and Coral Nursery near the Phi Phi Islands is an intermediate dive site in the Andaman Sea where conservation meets recreation in a project designed to restore and enhance the marine environment around this famous archipelago. With a maximum depth of twenty meters, the site features purpose-built reef structures and coral nursery frames where fragmented corals are being cultivated to repopulate damaged reef areas. The nursery structures are positioned at depths suitable for coral growth, with frames holding coral fragments at optimal angles for light exposure and water flow. The artificial reef modules provide the hard substrate that corals need to establish themselves, and the growing reef demonstrates the potential for active restoration to supplement natural recovery processes. The sight of young coral colonies thriving on the structures is both educational and inspiring. Marine life has embraced the artificial structures as new habitat. Fish populations have built rapidly around the growing reef, and the diversity of species increases as the biological complexity develops. Schools of fusiliers and damselfish are regular residents, while the structures attract larger visitors from the surrounding reef areas. The comparison between the artificial reef's developing community and the mature natural reefs nearby provides fascinating ecological insight. The intermediate rating reflects the twenty-meter depth and the potential for current at the open-water location. Divers need to exercise care around the delicate nursery structures, maintaining good buoyancy to avoid damaging the growing corals. This care requirement actually makes the site excellent for developing buoyancy skills with real-world consequences. The Artificial Reef and Coral Nursery adds a meaningful conservation dimension to Phi Phi diving. The combination of active reef restoration, developing marine community, and the educational value of witnessing conservation in action creates a dive experience that goes beyond entertainment to inspire genuine environmental stewardship.