Ao Nang is the island-hopping capital of Krabi. Every day, boats leave for the 4 Islands, Hong Islands, Phi Phi, and Bamboo Island. The sea is warm and beautiful. But a day in the water can leave you with a sore ear, a jellyfish sting, or a nasty cut from coral. These small injuries can spoil a big holiday.
This guide brings together the marine problems we treat most at our Ao Nang clinic. Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan and our English-speaking team see swimmers and snorkellers every day. Here you will learn what each problem looks like, what to do first, and when to come in for same-day care.
Swimmer’s Ear: The Most Common Marine Ear Problem
Swimmer’s ear has a medical name: otitis externa. It is an infection of the outer ear canal, the tube that runs to your eardrum. Water gets trapped after swimming or snorkelling, the skin stays wet, and germs grow. You feel pain when you tug your earlobe or lie on that side. The ear may feel full, itchy, or blocked, and some fluid can leak out. It is very common in Ao Nang, where people spend hours in warm sea and hotel pools each day.
The good news is that swimmer’s ear treats well. A doctor cleans the ear, looks inside with a light, and usually prescribes medicated ear drops. Do not push cotton buds inside, as this makes it worse. Keep the ear dry while it heals. If the pain is bad, spreading, or you have a fever, come in the same day so we can treat it fast.
Jellyfish Stings on Island Trips
Jellyfish drift through the Andaman Sea, and stings happen on 4 Islands and Phi Phi trips, especially in the monsoon months from May to October. A sting burns right away and leaves red, raised lines on the skin. The first aid that works may surprise you. Pour vinegar on the sting, not fresh water. Fresh water and rubbing can make the stingers fire more venom into you. Lift off any tentacles with a gloved hand or the edge of a card, never bare fingers.
Most stings settle with vinegar and time. Soaking the area in warm water can ease the pain for many people. Come to the clinic if the sting covers a large area, if it wraps around a limb, or if you feel unwell, dizzy, or short of breath. A bad reaction needs a doctor fast. We treat stings the same day and can also visit your Ao Nang hotel.
Coral Cuts and Sea Urchin Spines
Coral is sharp and alive. A brush against it on a snorkelling trip can leave a cut that looks small but hides tiny bits of coral and germs. Sea urchins are worse. Step on one near Poda or Chicken Island and the brittle spines snap off deep in your skin. In the warm tropics, these marine wounds get infected fast. They must be cleaned well, and any spines or coral pieces need to come out. A quick rinse is not enough on its own.
See a doctor for a marine wound that is deep, dirty, or has spines you cannot remove. We clean the wound, take out what we can, and dress it properly. You may need a tetanus shot or antibiotics. Watch for redness, swelling, heat, or pus over the next days, since those are signs of infection. Wound dressing and marine wound care are things we handle every day in Ao Nang.
Ear Pressure and Blocked Ears
Not all ear pain comes from infection. Snorkelling face-down, dunking your head, or diving down to see fish can push water and pressure against your ear. Flying home after an island trip can block your ears too, when the pressure inside cannot match the cabin. Old earwax swells when it gets wet and can plug the ear canal after a swim. Each of these feels different, and each has a different fix, so it helps to know which one you have.
A doctor can look inside your ear and tell wax, pressure, and infection apart in minutes. Wax can be softened and removed. Pressure problems often settle on their own, with simple steps to help. An infection needs the right drops or medicine. If your ear stays blocked, hurts, or you cannot hear well after a few days, come in. Guessing at the pharmacy can waste time and money.
When to See a Doctor in Ao Nang
Many marine problems settle with simple home care. But some need a doctor, and knowing the line keeps you safe. See a doctor if ear pain is strong, if you have a fever, if fluid or blood leaks from the ear, or if you cannot hear. See a doctor for any wound that is deep, dirty, or will not stop bleeding, or that has coral or spines inside. And see a doctor for any sting where you feel dizzy, sick, or breathless.
Our walk-in clinic in Ao Nang is open daily, with no appointment needed. Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan and our English-speaking doctors treat ear pain, stings, and marine wounds the same day. If you are too sore to leave your resort, we do hotel visits across Ao Nang, Railay, and Krabi. We give a clear quote first, and we can bill many travel insurers directly, so care is simple.
Marine Symptoms in Ao Nang: Cause and Action
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Ear hurts when you tug it, feels full after swimming | Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) | Keep it dry, see a doctor for medicated ear drops |
| Burning red lines on skin after a swim | Jellyfish sting | Rinse with vinegar, not fresh water; soak in warm water; see a doctor if severe |
| Painful cut or puncture from the reef or seabed | Coral cut or sea urchin spine | Clean well, remove spines, get wound dressing and a tetanus check |
| Ear feels blocked or muffled after a flight | Pressure or earwax | Try gentle equalising; see a doctor if it stays blocked |
| Fever, spreading pain, or fluid leaking from the ear | Deeper ear infection | Come in the same day for treatment |
| Dizzy, sick, or breathless after a sting | Bad reaction to a sting | Seek a doctor urgently or call emergency help |
Frequently Asked Questions
What marine injuries are most common in Ao Nang?
Swimmer’s ear, jellyfish stings, coral cuts, and sea urchin spines are the ones we see most. They all start on island-hopping trips to places like the 4 Islands, Hong Islands, and Phi Phi. Most treat well when you act fast and clean wounds properly. Our Ao Nang clinic handles them same-day.
How do I know if I have swimmer’s ear?
Swimmer’s ear, or otitis externa, hurts when you tug your earlobe or lie on that side. The ear feels full, itchy, or blocked, and fluid may leak out. It often starts a day or two after swimming or snorkelling. A doctor can look inside and confirm it, then give the right ear drops.
Should I pee on a jellyfish sting?
No. That is an old myth and it does not help. For most stings in the Andaman Sea, pour vinegar on the area, not fresh water or urine. Fresh water and rubbing can make the stingers fire more venom. Lift off tentacles carefully, then soak in warm water and see a doctor if you feel unwell.
Why do coral cuts and sea urchin wounds get infected so easily?
The warm tropical sea is full of germs, and coral cuts and sea urchin spines push those germs deep into the skin. Bits of coral or broken spines often stay inside. Without proper cleaning, the wound gets red, swollen, and sore. That is why marine wounds need a good clean, and sometimes antibiotics.
Can you visit my hotel for an ear or marine injury?
Yes. If you are too sore to travel, our doctor can come to your hotel across Ao Nang, Railay, and Krabi. We bring what we need to treat ear pain, stings, and marine wounds. We give a quote first and can bill many travel insurers directly, so there is no surprise on the bill.
Walk in near Ao Nang Beach, or message us and we reply in minutes. Doctor hotel visits across Ao Nang, Railay and Krabi.
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