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Hin Daeng
Some 40 nautical miles South of the Phi Phi Islands lies one of the best dive sites in Thailand. Just breaking
the surface, Hin Daeng is a huge dive site with depths down to well below normal recreational limits.
The South West side drops to over 60m, creating a steep wall of soft corals - Manta Rays and Whalsharks
leopard sharks are often seen in this area. The East side has the best soft coral growth and two ridges that
slope gently into deeper water. Pelagic fish such as jacks hang out close to the rock. In shallower areas
moray eels are commonly found hiding in cracks in the rock face. Hin Daeng is also good for critters such
as nudibranchs, cowrie shells and various species of shrimps. |
Hin Muang
Hin Muang is a long rocky ridge just a few hundred metres from Hin Daeng with it's top at a depth of
8-9m and it's bottom at 50-60m. It is actually connected to Hin Daeng, but the depth prohibits a dive
between the two. Currents can sweep quite strongly over the ridge, but you can always stay on the
sheltered side. The surface of Hin Muang is covered in purple soft corals and anemones and swarms of
tiny silversides are constantly under attack from predators such as jacks and trevallies.
Even if you don't see a "big fish", Hin Muang is a beautiful sight with it's colourful corals and steep walls.
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Ko Ha
Ko Ha lies between Phi Phi and Hin Daeng, close to Ko Lanta. There are 5 small islands (Ha is Thai for five)
with several dive possibilities. The best is on Koh Ha Yai where you find two enormous caverns with their
entrance at 10-14m depth. A dive is best started on the reef to the West of the caverns, where there are
some nice coral heads and fields of sea whips down to a depth of 20-25m. The caverns, though are the
highlight. You can surface inside and see large stalactites hanging over your head. The light coming into
the caverns makes for some beautiful photographs. |
Ko Bida Nok & Ko Bida Nai
At the Southern end of the Phi Phi Islands chain lie two small rocky islands, both of which provide excellent
and varied diving suitable for beginners and experienced divers. There are shallow reefs and steep walls,
with depths from 8-28m. Leopard sharks are often seen on these sites, usually resting in the sand, but
sometimes swimming - a beautiful sight. Colourful soft corals are mixed with hard coral reefs where moray
eels and scorpionfish hide. At Ko Bida Nai there is a beautiful archway filled with tiny baitfish which leads
to a shallow hard coral garden. Bida Nok has several swimthroughs of the West side where you find a
complex jumble of giant boulders. Turtles are occasionally seen on this reef.
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Shark Point
Shark Point (Hin Musang), a small rock outcropping about 11 hours East of Phuket, is a famous marine sanctuary due to its tremendous variety of marine life. Particular attractions you should look out for are the colourful soft corals, gorgonians and sea fans decorating the limestone pinnacle, the great range of tropical fish and the
famous leopard sharks, often to be found resting on the sandy bottom. This site and the neighbouring
Anemone Reef are also good for macro life.
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Anemone Reef
This submerged reef, located not far from Shark Point is similar in character and you will be amazed at the extensive fields of sea anemones covering the shallower areas of the reef. Harmless leopard sharks are also
to be found together with some massive schools of smaller fish and some larger pelagics such as tuna,
jacks and barracudas.
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King Cruiser Wreck
On May 4th 1997 King Cruiser, an 87m catamaran ferry, strayed off course and hit Anemone Reef ripping
one of her twin hulls open. King Cruiser sunk within an hour, thankfully with no loss of life. Schools of
snappers and yellowtail barracuda swarm over the wreck, sheltering from the (sometimes quite strong)
currents. Lionfish, scorpionfish and porcupinefish are other notable residents. With it's multiple decks, great
open passages and depths between 15 and 30 meters (50 to 100 feet) the King Cruiser used to be a fairly
easy dive. In the last few years however the condition of the wreck has deteriorated and it has collapsed
in places. There is now very little shelter from the currents in shallow parts and we recommend this site
only for Advanced certified divers with recent diving experience.
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