Explore Ao Nang

Nestled on Thailand’s Andaman Coast, Ao Nang in the Krabi province offers a diving experience that is both enchanting and diverse. The region is famed for its picturesque landscapes, characterized by warm turquoise waters, lush mountainous greenery, and silky white sandy beaches. This scenic backdrop sets the stage for a diving adventure that appeals to both novices and seasoned divers alike. Ao Nang's dive sites are a tapestry of rocky pinnacles and boulders, forming intriguing caves and swim-throughs, in addition to vibrant coral reefs that teem with tropical marine life. With a keen eye, divers can spot elusive macro life forms, and occasionally, encounter majestic manta rays and whale sharks, adding to the thrill of the dive.

The diving in Ao Nang caters to all skill levels. Beginners find it an ideal spot to earn their open water certification, thanks to the shallow and gentle diving conditions. More experienced divers can challenge themselves with advanced courses, exploring caves and wrecks that the area generously offers. The local islands are a short boat ride away and provide unique diving experiences, where unpredictable conditions are offset by exceptional macro photography opportunities. Furthermore, the iconic Phi Phi Islands, known for their stunning beauty and diverse dive sites, are accessible for those willing to venture a bit further. Whether embarking on daily dive trips or indulging in a liveaboard safari, Ao Nang offers a comprehensive diving experience that is both memorable and enriching.

Places to explore

Courses and Events

Dive Activity

Diving in Ao Nang

Boat diving is common practice in the region, though some shore diving is possible from a few beaches. Liveaboard boats and day-trips are the best options for diving in Ao Nang.

Reef diving is very popular with beginners and advanced divers alike, as the reefs are teeming with vibrant life, and are home to an abundance of diverse species.

Wreck diving is also a good choice, as the area is home to some phenomenal shipwrecks, including the world-famous King Cruiser and Kled Geaow wrecks.

For qualified divers, cave diving is possible, as the rocky boulders and exciting underwater seascapes that dominate the dive sites provide interesting structures to enter and explore.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Ao Nang

The usual Indo-Pacific suspects are hugely abundant in Ao Nang, from colorful hard and soft corals, tiny nudibranch, shrimp and porcelain crabs, to large pelagics like manta rays and whalesharks, the area truly has it all. Reef fish like anemonefish, angelfish, batfish, lionfish, and enormous schools of yellow snapper are everywhere, in addition to moray eels, sea snakes, and even hawksbill turtles. Black tip reef sharks are a popular sighting, and some divers might even spot a resting leopard or nurse shark, or a number of blue-spotted stingrays in the sand. Camouflage kings like cuttlefish, octopus and scorpionfish can be found by observant divers, while huge schools of barracuda and trevally form silver slow-moving walls.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

8.6k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
843
M
803
A
617
M
432
J
367
J
632
A
734
S
355
O
604
N
994
D
1.1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

4.6k Sightings
J
585
F
515
M
499
A
370
M
297
J
240
J
303
A
431
S
187
O
236
N
430
D
531

Hawksbill Turtle

3.9k Sightings
J
514
F
416
M
368
A
344
M
201
J
147
J
248
A
311
S
122
O
198
N
430
D
565

Green Turtle

1.9k Sightings
J
273
F
229
M
311
A
215
M
55
J
91
J
84
A
71
S
24
O
92
N
161
D
287

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Octopus

1.3k Sightings
J
101
F
87
M
224
A
185
M
106
J
112
J
98
A
102
S
25
O
36
N
76
D
99

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

1.1k Sightings
J
110
F
96
M
94
A
63
M
71
J
86
J
100
A
114
S
44
O
58
N
90
D
130

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

8.6k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
837
M
855
A
639
M
464
J
419
J
614
A
721
S
369
O
595
N
959
D
1.1k

Blacktip Reef Shark

8.2k Sightings
J
1.2k
F
941
M
1k
A
597
M
300
J
337
J
623
A
750
S
384
O
487
N
662
D
949

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

7.4k Sightings
J
978
F
735
M
750
A
537
M
362
J
307
J
443
A
593
S
290
O
518
N
810
D
1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

6.6k Sightings
J
806
F
647
M
652
A
480
M
350
J
269
J
405
A
529
S
293
O
464
N
812
D
872

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

5.8k Sightings
J
738
F
561
M
552
A
449
M
334
J
338
J
421
A
517
S
252
O
375
N
564
D
746

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

5.5k Sightings
J
642
F
535
M
537
A
407
M
290
J
244
J
396
A
442
S
236
O
410
N
678
D
716

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

5.4k Sightings
J
698
F
550
M
504
A
400
M
327
J
289
J
413
A
498
S
207
O
346
N
540
D
676

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

5.2k Sightings
J
603
F
504
M
519
A
430
M
327
J
280
J
356
A
480
S
221
O
358
N
530
D
561

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

4.6k Sightings
J
557
F
478
M
483
A
365
M
242
J
225
J
326
A
368
S
193
O
286
N
451
D
605

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

3.6k Sightings
J
414
F
368
M
386
A
307
M
204
J
191
J
252
A
326
S
147
O
199
N
344
D
420

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

3.1k Sightings
J
310
F
238
M
289
A
204
M
187
J
146
J
245
A
329
S
166
O
236
N
369
D
356

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

2.9k Sightings
J
346
F
293
M
284
A
225
M
180
J
162
J
241
A
286
S
137
O
166
N
251
D
375

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Scorpionfish

2.9k Sightings
J
377
F
339
M
287
A
208
M
141
J
126
J
209
A
267
S
126
O
171
N
304
D
385

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

2.7k Sightings
J
273
F
252
M
290
A
223
M
161
J
146
J
251
A
353
S
160
O
130
N
225
D
269

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

2.6k Sightings
J
306
F
205
M
272
A
199
M
143
J
128
J
194
A
195
S
85
O
244
N
308
D
291

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

2.5k Sightings
J
272
F
276
M
253
A
197
M
153
J
111
J
136
A
256
S
126
O
185
N
281
D
288

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

Porcupinefish

2.5k Sightings
J
257
F
223
M
246
A
195
M
157
J
150
J
213
A
241
S
130
O
177
N
243
D
296

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

2.4k Sightings
J
192
F
190
M
250
A
212
M
205
J
168
J
194
A
277
S
130
O
184
N
206
D
227

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

2.3k Sightings
J
246
F
226
M
194
A
175
M
132
J
123
J
205
A
261
S
130
O
151
N
229
D
258

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

2.2k Sightings
J
241
F
176
M
193
A
138
M
108
J
111
J
172
A
251
S
106
O
195
N
223
D
259

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 120

Cuttlefish

2k Sightings
J
212
F
206
M
250
A
211
M
115
J
108
J
144
A
167
S
61
O
76
N
194
D
304

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

2k Sightings
J
164
F
179
M
231
A
170
M
116
J
119
J
186
A
240
S
84
O
178
N
146
D
190

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

Nudibranch

1.6k Sightings
J
265
F
159
M
129
A
87
M
65
J
49
J
95
A
74
S
57
O
112
N
251
D
267

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Garfish

1.6k Sightings
J
171
F
135
M
151
A
130
M
108
J
90
J
90
A
128
S
63
O
125
N
204
D
197

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Squid

1.5k Sightings
J
121
F
161
M
218
A
216
M
139
J
115
J
115
A
146
S
50
O
35
N
82
D
145

Banded Sea Krait

1.5k Sightings
J
199
F
146
M
127
A
157
M
87
J
64
J
103
A
134
S
85
O
71
N
174
D
179

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Squirrelfish

1.4k Sightings
J
190
F
124
M
159
A
120
M
75
J
74
J
112
A
116
S
49
O
113
N
108
D
150

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shrimp

1.3k Sightings
J
160
F
136
M
168
A
140
M
105
J
108
J
109
A
118
S
34
O
34
N
94
D
120

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Cornetfish

1.3k Sightings
J
141
F
167
M
154
A
114
M
75
J
102
J
110
A
139
S
40
O
69
N
82
D
80

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Spiny Lobster

1.2k Sightings
J
129
F
102
M
89
A
158
M
98
J
101
J
108
A
109
S
31
O
33
N
94
D
109

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 55

Lobster

1.1k Sightings
J
110
F
81
M
104
A
167
M
95
J
106
J
97
A
100
S
21
O
26
N
65
D
88

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

Crab

1k Sightings
J
78
F
92
M
100
A
139
M
107
J
100
J
100
A
120
S
21
O
25
N
71
D
79

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

960 Sightings
J
149
F
100
M
71
A
55
M
31
J
17
J
46
A
86
S
42
O
91
N
127
D
145

Common Seahorse

859 Sightings
J
150
F
67
M
99
A
81
M
56
J
42
J
55
A
60
S
26
O
29
N
72
D
122

Spiny Seahorse

838 Sightings
J
141
F
107
M
105
A
61
M
40
J
21
J
45
A
41
S
16
O
28
N
116
D
117

Zebra Shark

756 Sightings
J
87
F
41
M
125
A
80
M
63
J
45
J
55
A
71
S
36
O
37
N
67
D
49

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pipefish

626 Sightings
J
41
F
61
M
61
A
56
M
52
J
65
J
86
A
91
S
47
O
24
N
0
D
42

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Snake Eel

598 Sightings
J
71
F
59
M
37
A
24
M
47
J
48
J
65
A
143
S
38
O
13
N
21
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Emperor

596 Sightings
J
35
F
20
M
40
A
42
M
47
J
77
J
88
A
90
S
24
O
31
N
56
D
46

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 30

Stonefish

576 Sightings
J
88
F
65
M
53
A
37
M
28
J
1
J
13
A
52
S
0
O
69
N
83
D
87

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 50

Frogfish

540 Sightings
J
92
F
63
M
68
A
38
M
38
J
51
J
58
A
60
S
17
O
0
N
10
D
45

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 120

Flounder

520 Sightings
J
43
F
30
M
54
A
43
M
44
J
69
J
68
A
96
S
30
O
13
N
11
D
19

The best Months to dive in Ao Nang

Ao Nang diving is great all year, with warm ocean temperatures lingering between 27°C-30°C (80°F-86°F) through all seasons. Visibility is also welcoming, averaging between 8-30 metres, though it can be quite unpredictable at times. The best visibility of up to 30 meters is seen during the half moon period during any given month, when tidal variation is minute.

The high and dry season is from November to May, and diving conditions are most favorable. Seas are calmer and the best dive sites experience the least waves and winds, though do expect sites to be a little more crowded.

The rainy season, from around May/June to October, still promises good diving, as critters aren’t affected by the livelier weather, and some clear, sunny days do occur. Plus, dive sites are much quieter, and there are good deals on diving and accommodation to be found during this time.

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