Scuba Diving in Koh Lanta Reviews
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Scuba Diving in Koh Lanta, Thailand
Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: Hin Daeng (Red Rock) & Hin Muang (Purple Rock)
Location: Ko Lanta, Thailand
Description: Pinnacle dive sites
Depth: Hin Daeng 3m - 70m (10 - 230 feet), Hin Muang 12m - 60m (40 - 200 feet)
Visibility: 10 - 30 metres (30 - 100 feet), (sometimes plankton rich!)
Rating: *****
World class diving - with plenty of big stuff! Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are the deepest drop-offs in Thailand. They are world-class dive sites and provide some of the most stunning diving in the area, with a high chance of seeing manta rays and even whale sharks. The greater depths and currents make these sites suitable for advanced divers or open water divers with 20+ dives.
Hin Daeng ('Red Rock') and Hin Muang ('Purple Rock') are named after the beautiful red and purple corals that cover the pinnacles. Located 70km south of Ko Lanta, they boast good visibility, unless the waters become extremely plankton-rich. It is this plankton that attracts the larger marine-life and there is a high chance of seeing manta rays and passing whale sharks.
Hin Daeng protrudes about 3 metres above the water, but below, it drops straight down to 70+ metres on the southern side. It gets its name from the beautiful red corals that populate most of the dive site. Hin Muang is completely submerged and derives its name from the vast number of purple corals covering the pinnacle. 200 metres long and less than 20 metres wide, there are three main points and several smaller ones. At these sites, the marine-life seems to be on a larger scale than elsewhere in the Andaman Sea. Many giant morays can be seen amongst the cracks and crevices and large leopard sharks are often found on the 40 metre ridges. It's fascinating to watch the huge schools of snappers and fusiliers swim around the pinnacles while rainbow runners, jacks and trevallies dart in, hoping for a quick snack. Large, round batfish swim in composed groups, while schools of barracuda cruise past. Due to the greater depths and currents, these dives are suitable for advanced open water divers or open water divers with twenty dives or more.
Saffron Kiddy, PADI OWSI
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Hin Muang photos
Scuba Diving in Koh Lanta, Thailand
Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: Ko Haa
Location: Ko Lanta, Thailand
Description: Group of five islands offering 5 or 6 different sites
Depth: 3 - 50 metres (10 - 150 feet)
Visibility: 20 - 30 metres (60 - 100 feet)
Rating: *****
A photographer's paradise! Ko Haa offers beautiful diving with spectacular visibility and is suitable for divers of all levels. Ko Haa, meaning 'Five Islands' has a central lagoon area that is ideal for beginners. It offers a safe and relaxed starting point for you to take your first underwater breaths and there are some extremely friendly little porcupine pufferfish ready to make your acquaintance in the large, sandy bay area. The bay slopes gently onto the reef allowing you to progress into your first dive effortlessly.
The marine life that can be found at Ko Haa varies from rare ghost pipefish measuring only a few centimetres, to an abundance of octopus hiding amongst the rocks and crevices. A hawksbill turtle is often seen swimming amongst the pristine coral. Manta rays, eagle rays and even whale sharks are spotted here occasionally. You can't predict exactly what you'll see, but it's always a pleasant and rewarding surprise!
One of Ko Haa's highlights is the series of caverns and swim-throughs. The largest cavern has three chambers. The first two chambers are connected by a shallow swim-through at about 9 metres. There are also various chimneys and other systems to explore. You can find banded sea snakes, lionfish, crustaceans and beautiful cowries. Huge schools of silverside fish, glassfish, barracudas abound. The clear waters and consistent visibility of 25m+ make Ko Haa an un-forgettable diving destination.
Saffron Kiddy, PADI OWSI
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Scuba Diving in Koh Lanta, Thailand
Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: Ko Phi Phi
Location: Ko Lanta, Thailand
Description: Wall dives, pinnacle dives, caves & caverns, coral gardens and more!
Depth: 5 - 30 metres (15 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 5 - 30 metres (15 - 100 feet)
Rating: *****
With year round diving to rival the Similans, Phi Phi's 30+ dive sites are great for beginners and experienced divers alike. Phi Phi is best known for its fabulous sea fans and as home of the leopard shark. Located about 22km west of Ko Lanta, the Phi Phi Islands comprise Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Ley, Ko Yung (Mosquito Island) and Ko Mai Pai (Bamboo Island) and offer consistently good diving. The rugged limestone cliffs plunging into aquamarine waters make Phi Phi an unforgettable destination for holidaymakers and divers alike. Underwater, the scenery only becomes more breathtaking. With long caves, dramatic overhangs, walls that go down to 30m and a fabulous display of hard and soft coral, the diving around Phi Phi is varied and spectacular.
Phi Phi is best known as home of the leopard shark. These docile, nocturnal creatures are normally found lying on the sand facing into the current; they are one of only four species of shark that doesn't have to keep swimming in order to breathe. They eat crustaceans, small fish and sea snakes. Surprisingly little else is known about the species, although they are believed to be closely related to the whale shark. They can grow up to 3.5 metres and are completely harmless to humans. Other marine life is plentiful and varied. Most of the fish and coral species that are found in the Similans can also be found around Phi Phi. Even the elusive whale shark is spotted several times a year - most often at Bidah Nok.
Saffron Kiddy, PADI OWSI
Scuba Scuba Diving in Koh Lanta, Thailand
Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: Ko Rok
Location: Ko Lanta, Thailand
Description: Pinnacle dive sites
Depth: 3 - 22 metres (10 - 72 feet)
Visibility: 15 - 30 metres (50 - 100 feet)
Rating: *****
The two sister-islands of Ko Rok offer beautiful diving with fabulous beaches and are suitable for divers and snorkellers of all levels. Located approximately 25km south of Ko Haa and visible on the horizon from Kan Tieng Bay, Ko Rok offers relatively shallow diving with abundant marine life and thriving corals in the shallower areas. The shallow channel between the islands reaches a maximum depth of 15m, which makes Ko Rok a great destination for students, beginner divers and snorkellers.
The uninhabited islands of Ko Rok (Ko Rok Nai - Inner Rock, and Ko Rok Nok - Outer Rock) are part of Ko Lanta's National Marine Park and are named after a small furry animal (called 'rok' in Thai), which can occasionally be spotted on the islands. Giant monitor lizards (often over a metre in length!) are regularly seen on the beautiful, powder-white sandy beaches, which are among prettiest in Thailand. Hard corals, interspersed with a few more colourful, soft corals, dominate the deeper areas on the east side of Ko Rok Nok. The marine life that can be found at Ko Rok varies from abundant and colourful reef fish to black-tip reef sharks, which can be spotted, cruising past the reef and if you're lucky you can find a hawksbill turtle near the beach. The spectacular twin beaches, crystal clear water and abundant wildlife, both above and below the water, make for memorable day for all the family.
Saffron Kiddy, PADI OWSI
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