Diving in Ao Nang

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Koh Phi Phi Maya Bay became world famous thanks to the Hollywood movie production “The Beach”. It’s a popular spot for wall diving and some outer offshore coral blocks and pinnacles which are covered with a rich diversity of colorful soft and hard corals down to a depth of 25 meters. Leopard sharks and the occasional sting ray are seen at this dive site. Several sea anemones and other varieties of anemone populate this spot. Ao Maya also hosts a big variety of invertebrates, which delights macro photographers.
Information taken from www.kolantadivingcenter.com

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Ao Nui hosts a rich variety of coral and marine fish life and is popular for its swim-through. The depth of this dive spot located around the large rocks in front of the bay ranges from 10 to 20 mt.

It’s easy to dive and suits divers of all levels. As there are some coral formations in shallow water and Ao Nui is an amazing spot for snorkeling as well. Sea Horses and a rich population of invertebrates are commonly found here, as well as many different species of tropical marine fish like butterfly fish, snapper,angelfish and bannerfish.


Information taken from www.kolantadivingcenter.com

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King Cruiser was a car and passenger ferry servicing the Phuket to Phi Phi Island route that sank on 4th May 1997 after hitting a submerged rock known as Anemone Reef on its way to Phi Phi Island. Fortunately, no lives were lost during the incident. Having settled in an upright position on the sandy bottom, the wreck stays relatively close to Anemone Reef and Shark Point and is 25-27 km east of Chalong Bay with a north south orientation. The depth is around 32 meters at the sand bottom and about 14-15 meters on top. The wreck is 85 meters long by 25 meters wide with four decks with large passages and window holes divers can use to gain easy access to explore the spacious interior. However, some parts of the wreck has noticeably deteriorated and in mid-2003 the top deck at the stern collapsed into the mid-section so the wreck is now considered unsafe for penetration. Divers can explore the passenger deck level at a depth of around 18-22 meters, while others may be more interested in checking out the remains of the wheel house at the top level. There is usually at least one buoy tied to the south side of the wreck.
Information taken from www.kolantadivingcenter.com

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The group of Koh Haa Islands hosts 5 small rocky islands and Koh Haa Yai Island. This area is one of the most amazing dive sites of the southern Andaman Sea with its great variety of coral reef structures and tropical marine life.
Koh Haa Nueng is the northernmost island of Koh Haa group. The island is surrounded by reefs, with the north coast featuring a wall line covered with soft coral, sea fans and barrel sponge. A hard coral reef slope stretches from the southeast side to the east side of this island. The maximum depth at Koh Haa Nueng is 25-30 meters. The most popular diving spot on this island is located on the south side and it is characterized by stunning outcrops covered by dense growths of soft coral and sea fans that create a dazzling swim-through. At 16-18 meters there is a grotto that leads to a chimney-like vertical hole – another highlight of this dive site. This chimney has two exits at a depth of 5 meters.
Koh Haa Lagoon (Koh Haa 2, 3 and 4) is a picturesque lagoon and is located in the center of the Koh Haa Group,surrounded by a pair of small limestone towers (Koh Haa 2 & 4) to the east, and Koh Haa 3 in front, complete with a small beach which only appears at low tide. The most popular spot of this dive site is located around the two limestone towers. The south tower is covered in colourful soft coral, impressive sea fans, black corals and various species of anemones; cup corals form the south side of the islands. The sandy bottom reaches down to a depth of below 30 meters. There, some rare garden eels can be seen. Numerous rocks nicely covered with purple soft corals are scattered beyond the wall. Divers may find schooling snappers and lionfish there. Hard corals scattered all around the sandy sloped area connect the two islands. The north tower is quite similar to the south tower, except things are on a larger scale. Koh Haa 3 is also another good dive site with the best spots being on the opposite side of the lagoon. Koh Haa Lagoon is ideal for all levels of divers. Depths range from 5 meters to more than 30 meters. Just look out for currents outside the bay, especially if you plan night dives.

These islands are popular to macro lovers. Along the walls are many cracks and crevices offering shelter to several small creatures like different species of shrimps and crabs. Some sea fans are populated by ornate ghost pipefish and cowries camouflaged among the fronds. Sometimes harlequin shrimps and seamoth as well a variety of nudibranches can be spotted. If you are lucky you can see bigger fishes like barracudas, tunas, black spotted stingrays or white tip reef sharks passing by. Koh Haa Islands can also offer you a sight of eagle rays and whale sharks. The biggest of the Haa islands is Koh Haa Yai. It is characterized by a steep cliff perpendicular to sea level that stretches all the way from above the water to depths of up to 30 meters. Koh Haa Yai is surrounded by reefs and the most famous dive spot is the rock wall at the south side of the island which ends in a sandy bottom at 25-30 meters and is covered with a variety of soft corals, sea fans and hard coral. There are two underwater caves on the southeast side. The entrance of the first cave is at a depth of 12 meters. As this cave gets narrower as you go deeper, cave penetration is not recommended unless divers have obtained cave specialty certification.The second cave is actually a shallow cavern and can be found to the left of the first. The entrance is split into two by a vertical rock plate, but the rest of the cave is spacious and well illuminated. The hall height of the cave is 2-3 meters above sea level, so swimming to the surface from inside the cave is possible. This cave is also known as “The Cathedral” because of the blue light reflected from the surface. The exterior of the cave is covered with soft corals, sea whips and rock outcrops, ending in a sandy bottom at depths of 28-30 meterst.
Information taken from www.kolantadivingcenter.com

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Boasting a remarkably dramatic underwater topography, Koh Bida Nok is characterized by steep precipices, caves, swim-throughs and underwater crags. It’s no wonder that Koh Bida Nok and its sister island Koh Bida Nai are two of the most popular dive- sites around the Phi Phi Islands! There is a small underwater bay at the southern side of the island made up of a reef slope and rocky floor that starts at 6 meters and ends in a sandy bottom at 20 meters. A vertical swim-through at the southwest side of the island beautifully illuminated by surface light is not to be missed. Divers who have obtained Cavern Diving Specialty or who are in training with a certified instructor may also want to check out a narrow cave on the northern side of the island. The cave’s entrance is at 20 meters and the wall is covered with colourful soft corals and gorgonians. Outcrops of various sizes are scattered along the west coast sloping down to depths of 26-28 meters, while the east coast is a reef slope with a mixture of hard and soft corals and small outcrops.Hin Bida is a popular spot to encounter leopard sharks in relatively shallow water, between 12 and 18 meters. As Hin Bida is located in the open sea, good weather conditions and a calm sea are necessary to enjoy easy diving or snorkeling. The reef offers a big variety of colourful marine life, many different species of tropical reef fishes and an amazing diversity of soft and hard coral formations. Hin Bida is populated by many moray eels, like leopard, grey, banded and giant morays. It is also well known for schooling cuttlefish and colourful sepias.
Informatin taken from www.kolantadivingcenter.com

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Located around 25-27 km to the east of Chalong Bay, Anemone Reef is a submerged pinnacle with its top around 5 meters underwater giving this dive site its Thai name ‘Hin Jom’. Its English name is similarly straightforward.Sea Anemone's thrive in stunningly dense populations in the shallow areas and presents an amazing view of the sea’s own version of the living carpet. The pinnacle has a north-south orientation with a small sloping channel close to the south part. The depth ranges from 5-25 meters and while there is a gentle slope down to the sandy bottom on the east side, it is steeper on the west side. Because of the quantity, quality and the variety of marine life that make their home in the beautiful soft coral and sea fans that cover the pinnacle, Anemone Reef is the choice site for naturalist's and no doubt a favorite amongst photographers as well.
Information taken from www.kolantadivingcenter.com

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If Richelieu Rock is the best dive site in Northern Andaman, then Hin Deang and Hin Muang, the striking twin outcrops alone in the open sea, are undoubtedly be the best of Southern Andaman.

Meaning ‘red rock’ in Thai, Hin Deang is covered with red soft corals which make the rock appear red. Only three small pinnacles are visible from the surface, but once underwater, the vast form of Hin Deang stretches 30-40 meters down before reaching the sandy bottom. A long rocky wall consisting of soft corals, sea fans, and black coral stretches from the west to the south side of Hin Deang, reaching the sandy bottom 40-45 meters underwater. The east and northeast side on the other hand, is a reef slope with pinnacles and hard corals. The contour slopes down to the sand to depths of around 35-40 meters. Divers can also swim across the big channel on the north side of Hin Deang, which leads to the west side. The hard coral reefs that top the pinnacles are good for snorkeling and are only 5-10 meters deep.
Information taken from www.kolantadivingcenter.com

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The twin outcrops to the west of Hin Daeng are referred to as Hin Muang, which means “purple rock” in Thai. The outcrops are totally submerged and are covered with purple soft coral, hence the site name. The outcrops are long and narrow and reminiscent of loaves of French bread. There are several pinnacles with drop-offs stretching down to the sandy bottom at 45 to 60 meters. The drop-offs around Hin Muang are rich with marine life and covered by soft corals, gorgonian sea fans and black corals. There are two mooring lines easily spotted at Hin Muang. One is at the west near the channel where there’s a split in the rocks at 14 meters. The other is located at the pinnacle on the western side of the dive site in a shallow, eight-meter deep area covered by anemones. To the east of this mooring buoy there are a number of pinnacles around 12 to 16 meters depth. Nearby is another mooring line tied off at a depth of 22 meters where the bottom is a mix of sand and rocks.
Information taken from http://www.kolantadivingcenter.com/

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Koh Rok Islands are very popular for snorkeling. They are famous for their amazing and beautiful hard coral gardens. Divers can enjoy wall diving and the scenic soft coral formations at best at a depth between 12 and 20 meters. Great hard coral life is found in the channel between the two islands. Turtles are common visitors around Koh Rok and the reefs host several invertebrate species like shrimps, crabs and shells. Some rocks shine in a sharp orange colour and this is due to a high concentration of iron in the fresh water stream. Koh Rok Nai offers a number of dive sites around the island and is best at depths from 8 to 20 meters. This channel, the south corner of the island and the outer coastline boast nice formations of soft and hard corals along with rich fish life. Koh Rok is a popular destination for diving safari boats that tend to anchor between the two islands in calm waters. Here you have a good opportunity to operate night dives around the islands.
Information taken from www.kolantadivincenter.com

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Shark Point was named for the frequent sightings of Leopard sharks (Stegostoma fasciatum) in the area. Known as Hin Mu-sang by locals, this dive site lies nearby the Anemone Reef and King Cruiser Wreck and is made up of 3 main pinnacles that lie in an almost north-to-south formation with the axis slightly tilted to the east. These pinnacles are usually referred to by their numbers – the north-most pinnacle is “Number 1”, and so forth. They are located around 25-27 km to the east of Chalong Bay, or a one-and-a-half hour’s boat ride from there. Shark Point is about 5-10 mins by boat from Anemone Reef and King Cruiser Wreck. This site has the most diversity of fish and corals among the 3 dive sites in the area. Each pinnacle is about 10-15 mt away from the other and has areas covered with striking purple and pink soft corals, sea fans ranging from 50 cm to as big as a person, as well as beds of table coral, stag horn coral and coral head. Pinnacle No.1 is the only one visible from the surface and has a small lighthouse with a surprisingly large submerged portion. No.2’s peak is 5-7 meters below surface and No.3’s peak is at 15 meters underwater. The sand bottom is about 12 meters down on the north side and the pinnacle stretches out a little to the northwest to a depth of around 24 meters and shallower to depths of around 15-22 meters on the south and east side, with scattered rock all around. The dive usually starts from one pinnacle and finishes at the next pinnacle with the direction dependent on the current. As there is a great diversity of marine life here it is almost impossible to cover all three pinnacles in one dive and do justice to it. The third pinnacle is rarely visited because the average depth is quite deep. For a more enjoyable one-hour dive, most people dive from No.1 to No.2 or vice versa.
Information taken from www.kolantadivingcenter.com

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The team at Aqua Vision consists of PADI Instructors and Dive Masters. Aqua Vision teaches dive courses from entry level to instructor level. Languages include Thai, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Swedish and Japanese.

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Kon-Tiki Dive and Snorkeling Center has branches in Ao Nang, Phuket, Khaolak and Koh Lanta, which makes it one of the biggest dive schools along the Andaman coast. Kon-Tiki offers PADI courses and also Live aboards to the Similan Islands and Burma Banks.

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Local Diving is a PADI Dive Center under Thai Management. One of their offices is located at Ao Nang Beach Road, the other one at Nopparat Thara Beach. Further tlephone numbers 089-9090939, 089-7498821

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