Aqua Vision 5 Star IDC Dive Center

Located in Ao Nang, Aqua Vision has been a fixture of the Krabi diving scene since 1997. As a PADI 5 Star IDC centre, it serves as a significant training hub for the region, catering to those looking to progress from their first breaths underwater to professional instructor status.

The centre operates with a focus on reaching the more remote, high-quality reef systems of the Andaman Sea. By utilising specially constructed speedboats, they can access offshore sites that are often out of reach for standard excursion boats, providing a more direct route to the best diving in the area.

The team at Aqua Vision is built on extensive local knowledge, with a combined experience of over 40 years in the Krabi region. The staff includes highly qualified professionals, including Course Directors and Master Instructors, ensuring a high standard of instruction for both recreational and professional students.

Communication is streamlined through a multilingual team. Instructors and staff are able to provide guidance in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, and Swedish, alongside Thai. This makes the centre a practical choice for international divers looking for technical or professional training in their native tongue.

The training programme is extensive, covering the entire PADI spectrum. Beginners can start with the Open Water Diver course, while those looking to progress can enrol in Advanced Diver, Deep Diver, or Rescue Diver courses.

For those moving into technical diving, the centre offers TecRec training, including specific courses such as Tec40, Tec45, and Tec50. They also provide specialised training in Sidemount, Wreck Diver, and Search & Recovery. Professional divers can pursue the Divemaster and Instructor Development Course (IDC) to begin their careers.

The centre operates specially constructed speedboats designed specifically for diving excursions. These vessels are used to reach more distant reef systems, such as Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, which are a key part of the local diving offering.

Aqua Vision functions as a full-service dive centre with equipment sales and rental facilities available on-site. Divers looking to travel light can hire the necessary kit for their trips, including regulators, BCDs, and fins.

Nitrox is available for divers looking to extend their bottom times. The centre also maintains two separate locations to serve divers, with the main base in Ao Nang and an additional branch in Klong Muang, situated opposite the Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort.

The Andaman Sea surrounding Krabi is home to significant pelagic life. Divers on offshore excursions may encounter Manta ray (Mobula alfredi) and Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), making these trips a priority for those seeking large marine species.

On the reefs, you will find a diverse array of fish including Barracuda (Sphyraena), various species of Grouper (Epinephelinae), and many types of Jacks (Carangidae). Snappers (Lutjanidae) and various fusiliers are also common residents of the reef walls.

The macro life is particularly varied for those who enjoy searching the smaller details. You can find Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani), various species of Seahorse (Hippocampus), and Ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae). The reef also hosts a variety of crustaceans, including Mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda) and various types of Shrimp (Caridea).

The hard and soft coral structures provide the foundation for this ecosystem, with soft coral gardens and various corals providing habitat for species like the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and many types of reef sharks.

Diving in this region is influenced by the seasonal patterns of the Andaman Sea. The use of speedboats allows the centre to navigate to more exposed offshore sites, though local conditions will dictate the specific sites chosen for each trip.