KOH PHI PHI, THAILAND - My parents should have named me Ariel after the Little Mermaid because nothing makes me feel more alive than being under the sea.

A feeling of relaxation washes over me every time I’m under water, and there’s no more exhilarating feeling than swimming in the ocean next to colourful fish or trailing behind a huge sea turtle.

And the clear, emerald waters, beautiful limestone cliffs and sandy white beaches of this treasured Thai island are the perfect place for a full-time flight attendant and part-time diver to escape for a few days.

Koh Phi Phi is in the Andaman Sea, a splendid spot to enjoy scuba diving, snorkelling or exploring sea caves in a kayak.

Those who’d rather stay dry can enjoy a traditional Thai massage on the beach or admire the island’s natural wonders from a long-tail boat (narrow wooden vessels powered by gasoline engines with a propeller at the end of a long pole). They can be chartered as water taxis — at very reasonable prices — for rides to surrounding islands.

Koh Phi Phi is a two-hour ferry ride from Phuket and the moment I arrive, I immediately start looking for a dive shop to plan my adventure. But there are so many along the pier, it’s difficult to know which one to choose.

Diving is big business in Phi Phi and divers have plenty of options where they can rent gear.

 

   

Left: It did not take Lily long to don her wet suit and jump into the warm waters of Phi Phi Island.  Middle: The granite cliffs that frame Phi Phi are a rock climbers dream.  Right: Monkey Beach is aptly named but be careful because these cute little monkeys like to bite.

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While walking through the “dive market,” chatting with some muscular Australian diver masters as I go, a shop named Island Divers catches my eye.

I’m instantly impressed by the professionalism of the shop’s diving instructors and the inventory of almost-new equipment on display. So, next morning I arrive at the shop and the instructor introduces me to other divers who have come from far and wide.

We gather our equipment and the boat takes us out to Bida Nia, our first dive site. Our instructor reviews how to assemble and operate our equipment, read our gauges and goes over the most important hand signals, which divers use to communicate below the waves.

The water here in winter is warm enough for a short-sleeve wet suit, which provides a layer of protection from getting scraped or scratched when swimming too close to the beautiful coral that flourishes here.

No sooner am I in the water before I see clownfish and parrotfish weaving through the tentacles of sea anemones. There are multi-coloured starfish, including the rare crown-of-thorns variety, and sea urchins cluster on the rocky seabed.

Our instructor excitedly directs our attention to a mammoth hawksbill turtle emerging from an underwater cave. The hawksbills weigh around 80 kilograms and it’s a rare privilege to see one of these lovely and endangered creatures.

After a quick break to regain some energy and enjoy lunch on the boat, we venture to our second dive site — Viking cave, where we see blue-lined snappers and brightly-coloured wrasse hovering over the anemones.

Later, I celebrate my day with an energy-replenishing ritual I started a few years ago when I took up diving — sipping sweet water from a freshly-cracked coconut. I also stop by a fruit trolley where fresh tropical fruits are on display.

 

Above: Water taxis are a great form of transportation to other islands near Phi Phi.

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I wake to the next morning to the sound of pouring rain, but that doesn’t put a damper on my plans. After all, I’m going to be in the water anyway, so why worry about a little rain?

So I jump on an island-hopping excursion for some sightseeing and snorkelling on neighbouring islands.

First stop is the aptly-named Monkey Beach, where lots of the creatures are playing on the powdery white sand. Tourists bring bananas to feed the monkeys, but be wary! They’ve been known to scratch or bite.

Our boat stops at lots of coral sites for us to explore the natural wonders and where fish snuggle up against my mask.

We visit Maya Bay on Phi Phi Ley island, which was featured in the movie The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Being shipwrecked here (with Leo) wouldn’t be such a bad thing, I think while smiling to myself.

After a day of diving, a traditional Thai massage is the ideal way to take away the aches and pains. The ancient techniques of stretching, palming and working pressure points are a soothing therapy that puts your body into a deep state of relaxation.

It leaves me feeling restored and rejuvenated and is a perfect way to end my brief time in Koh Phi Phi.