Krabi Province, located approximately 600 miles south of Bangkok, has long proven popular with travellers and backpackers, attracted by the stunning natural scenery and low cost of living in the area. In particular, the areas surrounding the resorts of Ao Nang and Railae have proven increasingly popular with scuba divers in recent years, as the dive sites surrounding Krabi and the islands of Koh Phi Phi have slowly enhanced their reputation.
The diving in the Krabi region is characterised by the stunning topography of the area, where sheer limestone cliffs and pinnacles drop away into the ocean depths to form some of the most stunning underwater scenery to be found anywhere in Thailand. Over the years, the natural erosion caused by the elements on the limestone has created some of the most incredible caverns, caves, swim throughs and overhangs which are now so typical of the scuba diving in Krabi and Koh Phi Phi.
The dive sites in Krabi and Phi Phi tend to be concentrated into four main areas, ranging from the excellent local reefs on the nearby islands, through to the stunning dive sites further afield at Koh Haa Yai, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang.
The local reefs are located just a few kilometres south of the main beaches of Ao Nang and Railae, and are focused around a group of small islands including Koh Daeng, Koh Podah Nai, Koh Podah Nok, Koh Haa, Koh See and Koh Ya Wa Bon. These local sites are a mixture of rocky boulder formations, shallow reefs and beautiful coral gardens, offering a good variety of diving for divers ranging from novice upwards.
Slightly further afield lie the dive sites at Shark Point Marine Sanctuary, which are also accessed by a number of Phuket dive centres. A marine sanctuary since 1992, the area originally contained two main dive sites at Anemone Reef and the superb site at Shark Point (Hin Musang). However in 1997, the sinking of the King Cruiser ferry resulted in the formation of a new, artificial reef, which is now an excellent dive site, and home to a profusion of marine life.
Throughout the Shark Point Marine Sanctuary there is an incredible array of marine life on display. The deep surrounding water ensures a high level of nutrient in the water, subsequently attracting a number of the larger pelagic including tuna and barracuda to the dive sites.
The islands of Koh Phi Phi are home to a number of excellent dive sites and this once sleepy Muslim fishing village is now home to a thriving diving industry with around 10 dive centres operating from the Koh Phi Phi islands themselves. The dive sites in Koh Phi Phi are a mixture of coral gardens, steep walls and swim throughs and all overall there is a good choice of sites for divers of all levels of experience. In particular, the dive sites at Koh Bida Nok and ko Yung Pinnacle consistently deliver excellent diving, and are widely acknowledged as being the best dive sites in Koh Phi Phi.
Further south still lie the exceptional dive sites at Hin Daeng (Red Rock) and Hin Muang (Purple Rock). These two remote sites are widely considered to be amongst the best dive sites in this part of the Andaman Sea, as their proximity to deep water means that they offer the opportunity to see some very large pelagics such as tuna and barracuda. For fans of the really big marine life, whale sharks and manta rays are also often sighted at these two sites.
The scuba diving in Krabi and Koh Phi Phi is undoubtedly of a good standard, with a number of the sites rating amongst the finest in Thailand. The sheer range and diversity of the sites on offer ensures that the region has something to offer divers of all levels of experience.
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