Why Is Ao Nang a Top Choice for Diving Enthusiasts - Top Reasons Why Ao Nang Is among Thailand's Best Diving Hotspots

Occupying pride of place in Krabi Province, Ao Nang is perhaps the most popular travel destination for divers visiting the Andaman Coast. Blessed with white, sandy beaches and turquoise waters, this region of the Andaman Sea is teeming with countless marine species and home to some of the lushest coral reefs in the country. From its abundance of dive sites to its extensive diving season, here are some of the main reasons why scuba divers head to Ao Nang in droves. 

All-Year Diving Season

Considered one of Thailand's year-round diving hubs, Ao Nang's undisputed status as the country's premier diving hotspot is due to the ability to enjoy deep-sea exploration adventures whenever the fancy strikes. While most beach holiday destinations offer pleasant diving conditions during the peak travel season, there are only a handful of islands that provide excellent visibility and weather conditions all year long. With the water temperatures fluctuating between 27°C and 30°C for most months, seasoned divers agree that there's no such thing as a bad time to go diving in Ao Nang. Although visibility and the tides are ideal during the November to May dry season, the May to October wet season also offers equally good diving opportunities as well as the chance to enjoy most dive sites without countless other tourists occupying underwater spaces. 

AshwiniShinde, Ocean Tribe Scuba Diving Havelock, CC BY-SA 4.0 

The Variety of Diving Opportunities 

Although liveaboard diving is listed in every Ao Nang Things to Do list, tourists based at Avani Ao Nang and other resorts will find that it is not the only type of diving accessible in the travel hotspot. Boat diving and reef diving are also possible in Ao Nang where coral reefs house innumerable marine species. The area is also a great location for wreck diving as the remains of the globally renowned Kled Geaow and King Cruiser vessels are found off the coast of Ao Nang.

Abundance of Marine Life

Another compelling reason why divers prefer to head to Ao Nang over other diving destinations in Thailand is the sheer volume and diversity of marine species occupying its watery depths. Lined with both soft and hard corals, the underwater gardens of Ao Nang are not only home to whale sharks and manta rays but also yellow snappers and schools of lionfish, angelfish, batfish and nudibranchs. Hawksbill turtles and Blacktip reef sharks are often spotted by local divers while moray eels, nurse sharks and blue-spotted stingrays are also known to make an appearance. Large schools of barracudas and travellies are known to hunt for prey in the waters surrounding the Ao Nang isles while octopuses and scorpionfish are silent observers that divers swim past unawares due to their camouflaged appearance.

The Easy Accessibility 

The ease with which scuba divers can reach the top dive sites around Ao Nang is another reason behind its popularity. It only takes a 10-minute transfer from a speedboat to reach some of the best dive sites around the islands including Anemone Reef, Hin Muang, Hin Daeng and Shark Point as well as the area's prime shipwrecks. Anemone Reef is a hot favourite among local divers as it is a limestone pinnacle that's situated underwater and is known for its whale shark and puffer fish population. Shark Point, in contrast, is several submerged pinnacles where reef sharks and reef fish of every hue can be spotted. 

The Diversity of Its Underground Landscapes 

Ao Nang's ability to offer exciting dive site both for experienced divers and beginners also sets it apart from similar diving destinations in the country. Providing a safe diving environment for every skill level, the dive sites themselves are made up of enchanting swim-throughs and caverns.