[Updated 4 March 2024]
Krabi is a very popular diving destination in Thailand, known for its beautiful coral reefs, diverse marine life, and crystal clear water. There is plenty of diving in Krabi that is suitable for both novice and experienced divers, so there is something for everyone!
Here are 26 of the best SCUBA diving spots in Krabi around the islands of Krabi, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta, and Ko Yao Yai & Noi.
SCUBA Diving Hot Spots in Krabi Thailand!
- Anemone Reef – This popular dive site is located near Shark Point and is known for its large stretches of anemones and its vibrant soft corals which are home to a wide array of marine life, including clownfish, moray eels, and shrimp. There are also giant anemones that are home to clownfish and other small fish. Anemone Reef is a good place to see leopard sharks, reef sharks, and schools of Crevalle Jack as well. DEPTH: 12-25 meters.
- Ao Nang Reef – This popular and close to Ao Nang dive site is located right near Ao Nang Beach and is suitable for both novice and experienced divers. The site features shallow coral gardens, which are home to a variety of marine life, including colorful fish, sea turtles, and occasional reef sharks. You can dive or snorkel in this area and see a lot of marine life.
- Hin Daeng – In Thai this means “Rock Red”. Hin Daeng is a popular dive site in Krabi known for its stunning underwater scenery and diverse marine life living in its vibrant soft corals. This dive site is located off Ko Lanta about 70 km southwest of the coast and is a great spot for experienced divers. The site features a deep wall that drops down to over 50 meters, with large schools of fish, barracuda, manta rays, and whale sharks commonly spotted in the area. DEPTH: 18-60 meters. GPS: 7.203670624298824, 98.80676049278625
- Hin Muang – In Thai this means “Rock Purple”. This dive site is located near Hin Daeng and is known for its deep walls, which are covered in vibrant soft corals. The site is home to an array of cool things like whale sharks, manta rays, and barracudas found close to deep walls. I found it very close to the GPS numbers for Hin Daeng above. DEPTH: 18-60 meters.
- King Cruiser Wreck – This dive site is located near Anemone Reef and Shark Point and is home to one of the most popular wreck dives in the region. It’s a sunken car ferry, which was intentionally sunk in 1997 to create an artificial reef. It is now covered in corals and teeming with marine life, including barracuda, grouper, and lionfish (venomous barbs). The site is popular among experienced divers and features an abundance of marine life, including a variety of snapper species and big grouper. DEPTH: 18-32 meters.
- Ko Bida Nai – This dive site is located near the Ko Phi Phi Islands and is known for its impressive underwater topography, including swim-throughs and canyons with steep walls. The site is home to a diverse range of marine life, including moray eels, reef sharks, schools of lightning-fast trevally, and big sea turtles. DEPTH: 8-30 meters. GPS: 7.657891062646975, 98.767529942583
- Ko Bida Nok – This dive site is located near Phi Phi Islands and is known for its stunning coral reefs, clear waters, and variety of marine animals, including reef sharks, barracudas, and turtles. DEPTH: 8-30 meters. GPS: 7.655424215398532, 98.76538393203717
- Ko Dam – This one is found near Ao Nang and is suitable for novice divers. The site features shallow coral gardens, which are home to an array of marine creatures, including lionfish, pufferfish, and schools of colorful reef fish.
- Ko Dokmai (Doc Mai) – Spelled nine different ways, this SCUBA diving site is found near Ko Phi Phi and Ko Phuket Islands and is known for its stunning coral reefs and clear waters. The site is home to seahorses, pipefish, moray eels, nudibranchs, and colorful reef fish. DEPTH: 10-30 meters.
- Ko Haa Yai – one Island in the Ko Haa group of 5 islands. Near Ko Haa and known for its clear waters and stunning coral reefs. The site has a stunning array of things to see like reef sharks, schools of jack, moray eels, barracuda, and nudibranchs.
- Ko Haa – Ko Haa is a group of five small islands located about 20 km from the coast of Krabi and near Thalen Bay. Ko Haa is a great spot for both novice and experienced divers and offers a range of diving experiences, from shallow coral gardens to deep underwater caves. You can usually count on clear water and widely different marine life. This amazing site has nudibranchs, moray eels, octopus, cuttlefish, sea snakes, and schools of colorful reef fish. DEPTH: 5-35 meters. GPS: 8.150434145285244, 98.75594486431945
- Ko Haa Neua – This dive site is located near Ko Haa and is known for its vibrant coral gardens, clear waters, and diverse marine life. You can usually see lionfish, parrotfish, lots of other reef fish, and octopi.
- Ko Hong – This is a beautiful and popular island for day trips and is a well-known dive site that is one of the top 5. It is located near Ko Yao Yai (Phang Nga) and is known for its stunning underwater topography, including swim-throughs, canyons, and walls. You can typically find giant grouper, stingrays, and schools of snapper on your dives. DEPTH: 5-30 meters. GPS: 8.078297683579285, 98.6785438016241
- Ko Lao Lading – Google has it as Ko Lao Rakhing. Thais frequently don’t pronounce the R sound and use an L instead. This dive site is close to Ko Yao Yai Island over by Phuket and is known for its crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral gardens. The site is home to a variety of marine life, including angelfish, parrotfish, and triggerfish. DEPTH: 5-20 meters. GPS: 8.102822292552561, 98.68198494880615
- Ko Pakbia – This one is found near Ko Yao Yai and off the coast of Tub Kaak Beach. It is known for its shallow coral gardens, which are home to a variety of marine creatures, including clownfish, sea fans, and colorful reef fish. DEPTH: 5-15 meters. GPS: 8.117490204210473, 98.67601882963399
- Ko Poda – This dive site is located near Ko Phi Phi and is known for its clear waters and stunning coral reefs. The site is home to a range of marine life, including nudibranchs, cuttlefish, and octopuses. GPS: 7.971162572661231, 98.80929457520331
- Ko Rok – This diving location is about 30 km south of Ko Lanta Island, Krabi, and is known for its crystal-clear waters and stunning coral reefs. The site is home to a lot of marine life, including turtles, reef sharks, and moray eels. GPS: 7.235701337125002, 99.0660204688937
- Ko Rok Nok – This SCUBA site is located south of Ko Yao Yai and is known for its pristine coral reefs and clear waters. The site is home to a variety of marine life, including leopard sharks, barracudas, and schools of jacks. DEPTH: 5-30 meters.
- Ko Si – This place to dive can be found near Ko Phi Phi and is known for its stunning underwater topography, including swim-throughs, canyons, and caves. The site is home to a variety of marine life, including reef sharks, barracudas, and sea turtles.
- Ko Talu – This great little dive site is found near Ko Rok and is known for its vibrant coral gardens, which are home to a variety of marine life, including snappers, fusiliers, and butterflyfish. Found between Ko Yao Noi and Thalen Bay. GPS: 8.208312668260048, 98.69127546783997.
- Ko Yawabon – This dive site is located near Ko Rok and is known for its crystal-clear waters and stunning underwater scenery. The site is home to a lot of fish, including lionfish, angelfish, and triggerfish.
- Ko Yawasam – This dive site is located near Ko Phi Phi (southwest of Railay) and is known for its crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral gardens. You can find angelfish, parrotfish, and triggerfish. GPS: 7.951890806838436, 98.77837397536304
- Ko Yung – This dive site is located just 5 km north of Ko Phi Phi and is known for its stunning underwater rock formations and crystal-clear waters. You will typically see barracuda, snapper, and grouper at this spot. GPS: 7.8169705635206554, 98.77372330056133
- Phi Phi Islands – The Ko Phi Phi Islands are a very well-known group of six islands located about 40 km west of the coast of Krabi. This dive site is known for its clear waters and stunning coral reefs, making it a popular spot for snorkeling and diving. The marine life here are things like reef sharks, moray eels, venomous kraits, and other sea snakes, turtles, and colorful fish are commonly spotted. DEPTH: 5-30 meters. GPS: 7.742031323057582, 98.77897700167611
- Shark Island – This dive site is located near Ko Yao Yai and is known for its resident blacktip reef sharks, which can often be seen swimming near the surface. The site is also home to blue-spotted stingrays, octopi, and schools of yellowtail barracudas. DEPTH: 5-20 meters.
- Shark Point – This well-named SCUBA site is beside Ko Phi Phi Islands and south of Phuket. It is known for its abundance of resident leopard sharks, which can be seen resting on the sandy bottom. The site also features stunning coral reefs and colorful fish, octopuses, moray eels, schools of yellowtail barracudas, and sea turtles. DEPTH: 5-20 meters. GPS: 7.725946798919168, 98.78835667091464
Krabi is an incredible place to dive. If you don’t dive now, you can easily learn. There are a number of PADI-certified schools here in Krabi. Let us know if you’d like our recommendation for a good one.
Krabi Liveaboard SCUBA Diving Trips
Yes, there are many live-aboard trips available in Krabi for SCUBA divers. Liveaboard trips are a great way to explore the best diving spots in Krabi and its surrounding areas because they allow you to spend several days at sea and dive at different locations without returning to the mainland.
Some of the popular liveaboard trips for diving in Krabi include the following.
- Similan Islands Liveaboard. This is a 4-5 day liveaboard boat trip that takes you to some of the best diving sites in the Similan Islands, including Ko Bon and Richelieu Rock. These dive sites are known for their diverse marine life, including manta rays, whale sharks, and reef sharks, as well as hundreds of other species.
- Andaman Islands Liveaboard. This is another 5-7 day liveaboard trip that takes you to some of the most remote and untouched dive sites in the Andaman Islands. These dive sites are known for their clear waters, stunning coral reefs, and diverse marine life, including barracudas, tuna, and dolphins.
- Hin Daeng and Ko Haa Liveaboard. This is a 3-day liveaboard trip that takes you to some of the best dive sites in Krabi, including Hin Daeng and Ko Haa. These dive sites are known for their stunning underwater scenery, deep walls, and diverse marine life, including whale sharks and manta rays.
Liveaboard trips in Krabi typically include multiple dives per day, as well as accommodation, meals, and equipment rental. They are usually available year-round, but the best time to go diving in Krabi is from November to April when the waters are calmer and visibility is best. Prices are reasonable, but realize that this is one of the top diving spots in the world. On the planet! Spend what you need to in order to have experiences that will last a lifetime.
Top Snorkeling Spots in Krabi >
Attractions and Things To Do >
FAQ >
Krabi and the surrounding islands offer a wealth of dive sites that cater to all levels of diving experience, from beginner to advanced. The diversity of underwater environments and marine life in the area make it an ideal destination for divers looking for a memorable diving adventure.
Overall, Krabi offers a range of diving experiences suitable for all levels of divers. Whether you are a novice or an experienced diver, you are sure to find some of the best diving spots in Krabi.