6 Dive Centres in Krabi, Thailand

Krabi is a large province and encompasses various dive sites suitable for a range of experience levels. To access the more popular dive sites located around Koh Pi Pi, day-boats can take from 2- 3 hours leaving from Port Takola, 15 minutes drive from Ao Nang. There are however lots of options closer to Ao Nang around the local islands, 40 minutes by longtail and just 10 minutes by Speedboat.

Scuba Diving in Krabi

Ao Nang Local Islands

The local islands can often be overlooked by divers but they feature great diversity with some fantastic rock islets offering swim-throughs, caverns and wall dives. Koh Yawabon and Koh Talu both have swim-throughs spanning the entire island, all set against the stunning backdrop of Krabi's iconic cragged rock formations and green mangroves.

Great for Macro, these dive sites are home to seahorses, shrimp, nudibranch and varying species of pipefish including the elusive ghost pipefish. On top of these small critters, bamboo sharks curl up under the odd coral bommie and if you’re lucky you may spot a leopard shark. Schooling reef fish and cruising hawksbill turtles make these shorter day trips a great accessible option from Ao Nang; with most trips leaving from Nopparat Thara. Visibility ranges from 5 to 15 meters and current from mild to moderate according to the tides.

Koh Pi Pi Dive Sites

Bida Nok and Bida Nai

These two extraordinary wall dive sites are a ‘must-see’ whilst diving in Krabi, located off the southern point of Koh Pi Pi Ley. The larger of the two, Bida Nok is a feast of colourful corals which descend into the deep water. Overhangs and crevices house moray eels and varieties of shrimp and pipefish whilst the odd hawksbill turtle rests amongst the soft coral plumes. Sea snakes are plentiful here and you may also see blacktip reef and bamboo sharks. Bida Nai is smaller but just as impressive, with swim-throughs, schooling fusilier and hunting trevally.

King Cruiser Wreck

A truly impressive wreck, this passenger ferry spans 85 meters and sank in 1997 after it collided with Anemone reef. It sits in an upright position at 32 meters, the captains' cabin sits at approximately 12m which is the shallowest point. It has been ravaged by time and is not penetrable however it makes for a thriving artificial reef, often shrouded by schools of yellow snapper, fusilier and goatfish. Visibility around this eerie structure can be poor and often experiences strong currents making it a dive site for the more experienced diver.

Anemone Reef

As its name suggests, this dive site is covered with multi-coloured anemones. Rising up from 26 meters, this limestone pinnacle attracts a huge variety of marine life. fusiliers, snappers, sweetlips, and scorpionfish call this site home, alongside rarer sightings of tiger tail seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish and even the occasional anglerfish.

How to Get to Krabi

Krabi has its own airport and is a direct flight from Bangkok taking 1.5 hours, or via Bangkok from Phuket takes 3- 4 hours. You can also take a ferry to and from Phuket which takes 2.5 hours. Krabi is easily accessible and is a great midway spot to visit before journeying further South, North, or exploring islands on the East or West Coast; it’s well connected to all other parts of Thailand by either minibus, ferry or plane.