Scuba Diving in Krabi, Thailand

Krabi is one of the most gorgeous tourist destinations in southern Thailand, located about 814 km from Bangkok. With Andaman Sea on the west, Surat Thani and Phang-nga on the north, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Trang on the east, and Trang province on the south, Krabi is regarded as an excellent getaway destination swarmed with stunning natural beauty, secluded white sandy beaches, lush green forests, sparkling waterfalls, mysterious yet attractive caves, natural lakes, enchanting coral reefs, and a variety of small as well as large attractive islands.

Krabi boasts of a plethora of world-class attractions, such as, Ko Lanta Marine National Park, Ban Si Raya, and Tham Khao Mai Kaew. Apart from this Krabi forms an excellent base to enjoy a variety of attractions. For instance, Krabi's dramatic limestone rock formations and cliffs are a paradise for rock climbers. Along with other numerous activities, Krabi is also considered an excellent scuba diving center, with such breathtaking sandy beaches as Ao Nang and Hat Rai Le. Further, Krabi has been ranked among the top ten scuba diving destinations in the world. Mentioned further in this article are some of the most sought after diving destinations in Krabi.

Featuring more than 30 diving sites, Krabi's scuba diving options allow you to explore the rich marine environment, consisting of, superb rock formations, amazing corals and pinnacles, and mysterious as well as fabulous underwater caves. Also, scuba diving in Krabi enables one to spot some diverse as well as rare species of marine life, consisting of more than 150 species of fish and 50 species of corals.

One of the specialties of Krabi diving sites is that many of them are shallow, thereby making it suitable for all types of divers, ranging from beginners to old hands. If you are a novice, join any of the region's PADI-certified diving schools, of which many of them offer courses covering lecture with video presentation, pool as well as confined water training, boat transportation to and fro the diving site, and all necessary equipments and refreshments. Likewise, for veterans, there are excellent options to enjoy fun dives and that too with the accompaniment of a knowledgeable local guide.

Most prominent among the top diving sites in Krabi is undoubtedly the Ao Nang Beach, whose area contains a group of seven islands around the Koh Poda, such as, Koh Ha, G.K. Island, Koh Talu, Koh Yawasam, Koh Si, Koh Dor, and Koh Yawabon. Koh Ha is a fabulous diving spot with more than 50 species of corals. An amazing variety of shrimps and crabs can also found here. Fish species such as small reef sharks, barracuda, squid, and leopard sharks are the other specialties of this diving spot.

Sea snakes are also occasionally seen here. For those who love to dive amid rocks covered with beautiful unique soft corals, a great option is G K Island. This area is also famed for its unique marine life comprising gorgonians, brittlestars, sea whips, and fusiliers. With two shallow swim throughs, Koh Talu is a large island that abounds in large barracuda and mantis shrimps.

Koh Yawasam is a diverse as well as beautiful diving spot, boasting of areas comprising flat areas of sand as well as large areas of shallow corals. An interesting thing regarding this diving spot is that one can find here plenty of red saddleback anemonefish, apart from other varied species like lion fish, clown fish, and parrot fish.

In addition, the area around this island is filled with some fascinating tunnels and caves. Blessed with two huge plateaus covered with shallow corals, Koh Si is perhaps the best among the diving spots in Ao Nang. Along with the picturesque vistas, marine species such as snappers, sea horses, scorpion fish, and nudibranchs are some of the specialties of this area. Sometimes, black tip reef sharks can also be found here. Koh Dor is a diving area plentiful in sea fans, sea whips, and hard as well as soft corals. Above all, Koh Yawabon holds the distinction of being the diving area with the longest swim-through.

Apart from these, diving spots in Krabi also include Koh Yung Pinnacle, filled with long whip corals and purple soft coral; Koh Yung South - an excellent spot for beginners; Hin Dot, which is renowned for marine life like nurse sharks found beneath the overhangs and rocks; Koh Bidah Nok, an area with great number of Morey Eels and Pipe fish; Hin Bida, also referred to as the 'Phi Phi Shark Point;' and Hin Daeng, an unbelievable diving spot with soft coral areas and unique marine species such as whale sharks, Manta rays, and reef sharks.

Al though, scuba diving in Krabi can be enjoyed all year round, November through April is considered the best time.