Thailand has one of the most beautiful and abundant marine worlds and animals due to the fact that Thailand has long coastlines in the shape of an axe extending into the Malay Peninsular, dividing the coastlines into two: the eastern coastline or the Gulf of Thailand which links with the Pacific Ocean and the western coastline or the Andaman Sea which links with the Indian Ocean.

Thai waters are abundant food sources and important routes for transporting cargos as well as transferring cultures since the old day. Thai sea acts like a big open gate, accepting richness of the sea brought along by the north eastern monsoon to the Gulf of Thailand and by the south western monsoon from Andaman sea into the southern and western parts of Thailand.

Thailand becomes a tourism attraction where visitors who love the sea, divers and travelers from all over the world come to enjoy the bright sun shine, white sandy beaches, clear and sparkling sea water and the rich undersea world.

EASTERNS  SEA
Thailand eastern sea ranges from Pattaya Bay, Koh Larn, Koh Sak, Samae San, Koh Mun, Koh Samet to the end of the eastern coastline at Koh Chang. The underwater marine lives are mainly hard corals, Neptune's cup sponge. The good dive sites are situated at Koh Lan, Koh Sak, Samae San while shipwrecks such as Suthatip and Petchburi Bremen are good wreck diving sites.

Chumporn
Chumporn is known for its unique black corals, sea anemones, leather soft corals and rich in marine fishes. The popular diving sites here are Koh Ngam Yai, Koh Ngam Noi and Koh Lak Ngam.

Koh Tao
The good dive sites include Kong Chumporn, Kong Tunggu, Hin Bai (Sail Rock), Kong Sai Daeng where divers will find beautiful underwater scenery with hard coral, black corals, sea whips, sea combs, and large schools of reef fishes such as jacks, bat fishes, etc.

Lo Sin
Lo Sin consists of outcrops, almost at the far end of Gulf of Thailand and is part of Pattini Province. This outcrop lies outside of Narathiwat shore by 55 miles. Here are shelters for large number of reef fishes such as schools of jacks, white and red snappers, bat fishes and barracudas. Here one also finds giant groupers, big sting rays, black tipped reef sharks and whale shark.

The Andaman Sea lies in great length along the west coastline of the golden axe. The Andaman coast stretches some 894 kilometers from Ranong Province to Satun Province. The Andaman Sea on this side has clearer and deeper water with more colorful and abundant marine animals than those at the eastern coastline. It becomes famous and known to visitors and scuba divers all over the world.

North Andaman

Surin Islands
Surin Islands lie some 60 kilometers away from Kuraburi pier. Aroung these islands there were shallow reefs with hard corals which are beautiful and complete and believed to be the most beautiful sites for snorkelers. Surins are also good for scuba divers to see turtles, lobsters, humped head parrot fishes and bat fishes.

Richelieu Rock
Richelieu Rock is known to divers all over as the site to see whale sharks. It lies around 8 miles east of Surin islands and a great site for scuba diving.

Koh Tachai
Koh Tachai is situated between Surin Islands and Similan Islands. The good dive site is submerged rock filled with big schools of reef fish such as bat fishes, barracuda, jacks, parrot fishes, wrasses and sharks.

Koh Bon
Koh Bon is a small isolated island with its unique beauty. Manta rays are found mostly near the north tip of the island, turtles and reef fishes are also abundant.

Similan Islands
Similan Islands consist of 9 islands lying from south to north, like a string of pearl necklace on a turquoise blue velvet cloth of Andaman Sea. It was rated in the top 10 best and finest dive sites in the world. The islands are favored for their rich marine life and interesting underwater granite rock formation. Similan Islands still retain their renowned name for the spectacular undersea world of soft corals of numerous colors, Gorgonian sea fans, barrels sponges, feather starts. Reef sea fishes both small and big are found everywhere.

Koh Raja
Koh Raja consists of 2 islands: Koh Raja Yai and Koh Raja Noi which lie south of Phuket Island. Raja Yai has the fringing reefs good for both snorkeling and diving. Raja Noi has some soft corals and fans, reef fishes such as frog fish.

Koh Dokmai
Koh Dokmai is situated between Phi Phi Islands and Phuket Island. It is a small island where on one side is underwater ridges covered with soft corals, sea anemones and reef fishes such as barracuda, moray eels and many others.

 
South Andaman
Musang Rock consists of Musang Nok (Anemone Reed) and Musang Nai (Shark Point). These two dive sites are very well known of hills of sea anemones and soft corals.

King Cruiser Wreck
King Cruiser Wreck is another dive site near Phi Phi Island. It has now become a new home for reef fishes such as lion fishes, barracudas and many others.

Phi Phi Islands
Phi Phi Islands consist of several islands: Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Lay, Koh Mai Pai, Koh Yoong and Koh Pida. Phi Phi Islands are islands which are very well known for its beauty both on land and underwater. They consist of marvelous underwater scenery and excellent dive spots, some have ledges and bounlders well covered with soft corals, fans, sea whips.

Koh Hah Yai
Koh Hah Yai consists of a group of small islands with underwater caves, caverns, boulders covered with soft corals, sea whips, sea fans, sea anemones and colorful nudibranchs and other reef fishes.

Hin Daeng-Hin Muang
Hin Daeng-Hin Muang are good dive sites that look like 2 underwater hills sitting next to each other. The tip of Hin Daeng just protruded out of the water whild Hin Muang is submerged. A wide variety of marine life includes those rarely spotted ghost pipefishes, decorator crabs, long nose hawkfish, etc.

Trang Islands
Trang sea is dotted with islands such as Koh Muk, Koh Kradan, Koh Wan, Koh Cheuk, etc. Koh Muk is famous of its strange beautiful shape. Koh Kradan however has clear blue water and white sandy beaches. It is known as the site where couples come to arrange underwater wedding, a real and formal one, presided by the local sheriff in his underwater gear. Other islands have good coral reefs with some beautiful corals.

Tarutao Islands

Tarutao island
Tarutao island lie at the southern most of Andaman Sea. There are may interesting dive sites.

Scubanet Rock
Schubanet Rock lies south of Koh Leepeh and consists of three submerged boulders, filled with colorful soft corals, sea fans, cup corals and sea anemones. Schubanet rock is one of the famous dive site in Tarutao area.

Koh Jabang
Koh Jabang is a place for snorkelers and divers alike. Underwater, there is a flat table full of colorful soft corals, just like an underwater garden.

Koh Dong
Koh Dong consists of several small islands with areas for snorkeling and diving. There are gardens of soft corals and divers can find various strange species of nudibranchs

Ao Nang or Ao Phra Nang, features Krabi's most developed beach. Fringed by palms, the long beach is backed by a wide range of accommodation including resorts, bungalows and guesthouses. Most travel services can be found here, and there is a good variety of restaurants featuring both local and international cuisine. Due to it's locale and range of services and accommodation, Ao Nang serves as the ideal place to both stay put and relax, or from which to explore surrounding islands and beaches.

The west side of the headland features a beautiful curved beach backed by limestone cliffs and jungle which provide contrast with the flat blue waters of the Andaman sea. The very picture of tropical paradise, it is a favourite place for climbers and water sport enthusiasts. Accommodation choice is surprisingly varied for such a small area - everything to luxury resort style to the most basic bungalows, and a few restaurants and bars provide the basic necessities. High season is busy, but it's also worth making a trip in low season when most activities can still be enjoyed, and monsoon weather changes provide spectacular views over the ocean. The east side of Rai Leh Beach is home mostly to mangroves, some accommodation and restaurants. It is also the most convenient spot from which to hail boat transport (unless you want to hike back over the headland).

Within 10 minutes walk of Rai Leh east, this beach lies on the outer most point of the headland and backed by a limestone cliff housing the Outer Princess Cave or Tham Phra Nang Nok. Swimming and snorkeling can be enjoyed off this pristine, white sandy beach, and from here it is possible to hike to the top of the headland to get spectacular views of the entire area.  

Located within 18 km west of Krabi town, this quiet beach lies within the Hat Noppharat Thara-Ko Phi Phi National Park and features a long sandy stretch lined by casurina trees. Popular with local Thai picnickers and those who like to swim and sun worship, it is also possible at low tide to walk from the beach across to some of the islands dotted in the bay. Great for a day visit.    

In the coastal waters off Krabi, lie more than 200 islands, some of them inhabited, and many that belong to Hat Noppharat Thara-Ko Phi Phi National Park. These islands offer a host of recreational opportunities including reef diving and world-class rock climbing, and harbor some of the most exotic, private beaches.  

Comprising of two main islands, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley, these islands are a part of the Hat Noppharat Thara-Ko Phi Phi National Park.

 Phi Phi Don Island One of southern Thailand's most popular tourist destinations, features sheer limestone cliffs and sandy beaches. Anvil in shape, the island covers a total area of 28sq km in length and 3.5km at its broadest point. The neck or handle of the island is where the majority of the tourist accommodation and services are located, and is the central point for boats to dock. An uninhabited section of the island lies to the west, and Cape Laem Tohng, on the northern tip, is home to the Chao Ley, or Sea Gypsys. Diving at Laem Tohng is excellent, as it is also at Hua Rah Ket to the extreme south.

 Phi Phi Ley Island Eentirely comprised of steep cliffs, with caves and a sea lake. It features several beautiful bays ideal for snorkeling, and on the northeast side, the famous Viking Cave, which contains pre-historic paintings. The island is also a popular site for nesting swifts, and local people come there daily to collect the nests used to make Bird's Nest Soup, a Chinese delicacy.
To the north of Phi Phi Don lies Koh Yoong Island featuring 2 small beaches and well preseved coral gardens off shore.
Adjacent to Koh Yoong lies Koh Pai Island with small swimming beaches on the north and east side, and coral gardens off the south end.

 

Lanta Islands

About 53 islands are included in this group, which form the southern most district of Krabi Province.

Koh Lanta Yai
The largest of the islands,it was known long ago by its name in the Malay language, Pulao Satak, which means Long Beach Island. The island is a favourite spot for those who seek peace and solitude, and is the home of the District and National Park offices. Mountainous and rugged in some spots, especially near the southern tip; with a combination of gravelly and fine white sandy beaches, the island is also home to a clan of Chao Ley, or Sea Gypsies who preserve many of their ancient customs and ceremonies. Some accomodation and services are available, and the island is easily accessed by ferry from Ban Hua Hin Pier in Tambon Koh Khlang; Bor Muang Pier in Tambon Sai Kao; or Jao Fah Pier in Krabi Town.

Koh Taleng Beng
Lies in the Lanta district and similar in shape to Phi Phi Ley. Swallows also nest at this island which at low tide features a small beach and tunnel.

Mu Koh Hah
Still in the Lanta area, this is a group of 5 islands featuring coral gardens and good diving spots. 

Koh Ngai, Koh Rock Nai and Koh Rock Nok
South of Lanta Island, these 3 islands are close to Trang Province. Koh Ngai is easily accessed via ferry from Pak Meng Beach, others are accessed by hired boat and feature both beaches and coral gardens.