Ao Nang Diving
This area consists of a group of seven main islands dotted around Koh Poda - Koh Ha, Koh Si, Koh Yawabon, Koh Dor, Koh Talu, G.K. Island and Koh Yawasam. Local marinelife that you'll see when you're diving in Krabi is both diverse and prolific with over 200 species of fish and 80 species of coral catalogued.
Koh Ha contains at least 60 species of corals and many of the gorgonian seafans host a fascinating range of shrimps and crabs. This Ao Nang dive site often has large schools of barracuda, small groups of squid, and early in the morning leopard sharks are often found lazing in the sand.
 With two large shallow coral covered plateaus on either side Koh Si competes with Yawasam for the best snorkelling site in Ao Nang. The southern end of the island is particularly picturesque and frequently has good visibility. Huge schools of snappers and the occasional large grouper make a breathtaking sight when the visibility is up, and otherwise you can always look for seahorses, nudibranches and scorpionfishes which make their home on the rocks here. The northern end of the island is a relatively steep wall covered in Tubeastrea barrel corals, sponges, and sea whips. Koh Si is also a good place to briefly spot the shy black-tip reef shark. Dive sightings are common but brief as the shark commonly flees contact with humans.
Koh Yawabon is famed for the longest swim-through in the area, but has a large no light zone and can be subject to strong currents. Because of this, divers are reminded that penetrating overhead environments requires specialised training and equipment. With the majority of Krabi diving boats going to other islands, this site is often swarming with large schools of unconcerned fish. Lobsters and large groupers are commonly observed here as well the occasional stingrays.
 During the afternoon the western side of Koh Dor often plays host to a group of the normally shy black-tip reef sharks. Whilst brief sightings of these sharks are possible on scuba they are best observed by snorkelling in the lunch break. Koh Dor has a good mix of large porites species and Diploastrea Heliopora hard corals and soft corals, sea fans, sea whips and leather corals. Several large barrel sponges are also found around this site.
The large island of Koh Talu boasts two shallow swim-throughs that are suitable for most levels of divers and large barracuda often frequent the entrances. Mantis shrimps are sometimes found scuttling across the bottom as you move to deeper waters. The coral extends a long way south and it is even possible to swim from the western side of this island right across to the next site, G.K. Island.
If you like soft corals and their attendant hosts of shrimps, crabs, and brittlestars Krabi scuba diving at G.K. Island will be paradise for you. Deceptively small on the surface, the underwater coral plateau to the south seems to go on forever. Sea whips and gorgonians abound and every rock is covered with a plethora of corals. Large school of fusiliers move along the edges of the larger rock formations, whilst the occasional sea snake probes the cracks and crevices for its next meal.
Koh Yawasam is blessed with large areas of shallow coral and flat areas of sand, but boasting deeper water with coral and sandy patches a short swim away, Yawasam could have been built with dive instruction in mind! The marinelife here is as varied and numerous as any Krabi dive site. Koh Yawasam also is the easiest place to observe the red saddleback anemonefish, which is rare compared to the other anemonefishes found in our area.
Diving Season
Scuba diving in Krabi runs all year round, but the best diving conditions exist from November to April.
Late May to October brings monsoon winds and surface swells, reducing visibility at the dive sites in Ao Nang by about 20%, but it is pretty rare that trips are cancelled due to bad weather. October also brings heavy rains to the Andaman Sea.
Reef Basics
Great for: Small animals, beginner divers, snorkelling and non-diving activities
Not so great for: Drift dives and advanced divers
Depth: 5 - 25m
Visibility: 5 - 20m
Currents: Easy
Surface Conditions: Calm, but can be choppy in rainy season
Water Temperature: 27 - 31°C
Experience Level: Beginner
Number of dive sites: >10
Distance: ~5-10 km west of Ao Nang (¾ hour)
Access: Ao Nang - Krabi scuba diving day trips
Recommended length of stay: 2 - 3 days, or 1 week to dive all destinations that are accessible from here
Other sites that can be visited on day trips from here:
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