Krabi and Had Nopparat Marine National Park
Krabi undoubtedly features some of Thailand's most stunning landscape and forms part of the Had Nopparat Marine National Park, Sheer rocky cliffs are crowned with elevated jungles, and coconut palms clad the hillsides above glorious beaches. The rusty red and gray limestone cliff-faces are scarred with numerous caves and crevices, some of which can be climbed by more adventurous to reach a mountain-top lagoon.
Away from the mainland, in Ao Nang Bay, large outcrops tower from the water to form curious monoliths; you can see how the abrading seas have shaped the limestone into a series of jutting overhangs, with limestone 'icicles' that offer natural mooring holds.
As yet tourism remains in its infancy, Krabi province is some 940 kilometer south of Bangkok. The extremely picturesque Phang Nga Bay is 100 kilometers north; it, and its surrounding limestone outcrops were the featured location for the film 'The Man with the Golden Gun', and Koh Phing Kan is affectionately known as 'James Bond Island'.
The area's general activities, including diving, are centered on the two beaches of Ao Nang and Railae, located 16 kilometer to the north of Krabi town.
Diving around Krabi
Directly off Ao Nang Bay there are two islands, known locally as Koh Podah Nai and Nok, and a handful of limestone outcrops – most of the area's diving concentrates around these. All the local diving, which is relatively shallow, can be reached in an average of 45 minutes by Longtail boat.
Like tourism, diving in this area is very much in its infancy. The local reefs have suffered minimal damage except in the north of the bay. Schools of dolphins used to swim into the bay to feed, but sightings of these graceful creatures are now extremely rare.
Divers can enjoy an abundance of radiant soft corals and a tremendous diversity of marine life. There are gently sloping reefs, caves and exciting swimthrought. The shallow reefs also offer opportunities for some tremendous snorkeling which is quite possibly among the best in the country.
Krabi and Had Nopparat Marine National Park
Krabi undoubtedly features some of Thailand's most stunning landscape and forms part of the Had Nopparat Marine National Park, Sheer rocky cliffs are crowned with elevated jungles, and coconut palms clad the hillsides above glorious beaches. The rusty red and gray limestone cliff-faces are scarred with numerous caves and crevices, some of which can be climbed by more adventurous to reach a mountain-top lagoon.
Away from the mainland, in Ao Nang Bay, large outcrops tower from the water to form curious monoliths; you can see how the abrading seas have shaped the limestone into a series of jutting overhangs, with limestone 'icicles' that offer natural mooring holds.
As yet tourism remains in its infancy, Krabi province is some 940 kilometer south of Bangkok. The extremely picturesque Phang Nga Bay is 100 kilometers north; it, and its surrounding limestone outcrops were the featured location for the film 'The Man with the Golden Gun', and Koh Phing Kan is affectionately known as 'James Bond Island'.
The area's general activities, including diving, are centered on the two beaches of Ao Nang and Railae, located 16 kilometer to the north of Krabi town.
Diving around Krabi
Directly off Ao Nang Bay there are two islands, known locally as Koh Podah Nai and Nok, and a handful of limestone outcrops – most of the area's diving concentrates around these. All the local diving, which is relatively shallow, can be reached in an average of 45 minutes by Longtail boat.
Like tourism, diving in this area is very much in its infancy. The local reefs have suffered minimal damage except in the north of the bay. Schools of dolphins used to swim into the bay to feed, but sightings of these graceful creatures are now extremely rare.
Divers can enjoy an abundance of radiant soft corals and a tremendous diversity of marine life. There are gently sloping reefs, caves and exciting swimthrought. The shallow reefs also offer opportunities for some tremendous snorkeling which is quite possibly among the best in the country.
|
