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Divers lucky enough to explore the spectacular Krabi waters will be rewarded with glimpses of whales and leopard sharks, turtles, dolphins and a myriad of colourful tropical fish.
When to Plan Your Diving Holiday in Krabi
The best time to dive in Krabi is between November and April when conditions are at their absolute best. Theoretically, you can dive all year-round, although from May to October the monsoon can make conditions and visibility poor. If you are planning a dive trip at this time of year, consider instead the Gulf of Thailand where the weather is better.
Learn to Dive in Krabi
There are over 40 scuba diving schools in Krabi that cater for both licensed divers and beginners alike. The low-cost and shallow waters make Krabi an excellent place to learn – some Krabi hotels and resorts even offer a test dive in their pool! If you do try this and get the diving bug, you can follow a test dive with a complete a four-day PADI Open Water Diver course. This permits you to dive in open water with an experienced Dive Master.
Where to dive
If you are staying in or near Ao Nang you can dive in the rich and beautiful waters of the seven main islands around Koh Poda. These islands are within the breathtaking Hat Nopparat Thara – Mu Koh Phi Phi Marine National Park.
The waters around Koh Ha are teeming with over 60 different species of coral that house a multitude of shrimps and crabs. You can often watch schools of barracuda, groups of squid and leopard sharks quietly going about their business.
Koh Si offers some excellent snorkeling with its shallow coral filled waters. The water here has superb visibility allowing you to enjoy perfect views of snapper, grouper, seahorses, scorpion fish and occasionally the notoriously shy black-tip reef shark.
Koh Yeadon is famous for a long ‘swim-through’ area, but it is only recommended for experienced divers due to the limited visibility and strong currents. Because there are less divers in this area, you will spot large schools of fish, including grouper. You can also watch an exotic display of other colourful sea creatures such as lobsters and sting rays.
Koh Dor is a perfect place to dive or snorkel, particularly in the afternoon when black-tip reef shark often make a fleeting appearance. The waters here are brimming with an amazing variety of corals and sponges.
Koh Talu is ideal for both beginners and experienced divers alike. Here you can dive among large barracuda and mantis shrimp and explore the spectacular coral.
The waters around G.K Island contain a huge coral reef with many sea whips around it. You may also come across fusiliers and even a random sea snake during a dive here.
Koh Yawasam is the perfect place to view rare anemone fish. Koh Yawasam boasts huge expanses of coral, flat sand banks and deep water, also making it an ideal place to learn.
Also close to Ao Nang is Koh Dam, actually two incredible Islands joined by an intriguing coral reef that presents an amazing dive experience.
Other great places to try diving in Krabi are:
Hin Daeng and Hin Muang – here more experienced divers can explore dramatic rock formations and spot whale sharks and manta rays.
Koh Rok Nok are two absolutely stunning islands that lie in a protected marine park – the waters here are rich and plentiful in sea life and offer outstanding visibility.
The picture perfect Phi Phi Islands, made famous by the film ‘The Beach’, offer such a multitude of premium dive and snorkeling sites that you can be kept busy the entire holiday!
A convenient and exciting way to explore these islands and dive sites is to book a package trip that includes transport by speed boat and usually lunch and refreshments.
Where to stay
There is a huge choice of budget hostels, ideal for backpackers and a great choice of hotels in Krabi. If you want luxury accommodation, then the fabulous Krabi resorts won’t disappoint.
Renting a Thai holiday villa is an excellent option for those planning a dive holiday with a large group. Krabi vacation villas tend to offer more space and more economical than a hotel or resort. If you want to truly relax after the physical challenges of diving, then opt for a serviced villa. These give all the regular services of a hotel, such as room cleaning, catering, massage and beauty treatments and even excursion and dive trip booking.
Lastly, before you set off to enjoy the world-famous diving in Krabi, don’t forget to check that your travel insurance policy covers your Thai holiday for diving and snorkeling activities!
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