 Hin Daeng & Hin Muang, meaning Red Rock & Purple Rock, are two sea-mounts located south from Ko Lanta, right out in the Andaman Sea. They are Thailand’s deepest dive sites, plunging to between 50 & 70 metres and offer the chance to see larger pelagic life, particularly Manta Rays & Whalesharks.
Even if the giants aren’t around though, these two dive sites are still teeming with life, with Tuna, Trevally, Rainbow Runner & Mackeral all hunting on the numerous smaller reef fish. Schools of Chevron & Yellowtail Barracuda lurk in the blue, while Batfish, Snapper, Morays & plenty critters also call these sites home.
Hin Muang is fully submerged, with its anemone-covered top at around 10m. It can receive strong currents and has little protection, so check conditions before you go. Hin Daeng is the larger of the two mounts & just reaches the surface. It offers greater protection and is the easier of the two sites to dive. Due to the depths, currents & exposed nature of the sites, they are only recommended from more experienced divers.
West of Ko Lanta, Ko Haa is a group of five uninhabited limestone outcrops. Topside, the islands are stunning and they do not disappoint below the water either, offering good diving opportunities for both beginners & advanced divers alike. They are famous for their visibility, calm conditions and spectacular underwater caverns.
The central area, known as the lagoon, is excellent for macro life, photography & training dives, while Island No. 1 offers boulders & wall diving with the chance to see larger marine life. Ko Haa Yai, the largest island, has two huge, connected underwater caverns which rise about 30m above sea-level inside the cave, allowing divers to surface inside. Just off from Ko Haa Yai is a small rocky outcrop that also has excellent diving.
The islands offer a good chance to see Hawksbill Turtles, plenty of reef & macro life, plus occasional Leopard Sharks & Marbled Rays. Whalesharks & Manta Rays have also been known to pay a visit from time to time.
There is also good & snorkelling around Ko Rok to the south, which is famous for its stunning beaches and colourful coral gardens. Further south again, Ko Lipe is beginning to develop as a dive destination, with a range of nice easy dives for beginners plus a spectacular submerged pinnacle called 8-Mile Rock that is famous for sightings of Leopard Sharks, Manta Rays & Whalesharks.
|
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
 |
The sites the southern Andaman can all be reached as day trips from Ko Lanta & Ko Phi Phi. Liveaboards from Phuket sometimes visit the area as an alternative to the Similans.
The main dive season runs from November until May. While many dive shops close in the low season, it is possible to dive the more protected sites all year round. |
- Ko Lanta
- Ko Phi Phi
- Krabi
- Phuket
- Ko Lipe
 
Ko Lanta is a popular tourist island on the west coast of Thailand. It is famous for its laidback atmosphere and beautiful sunsets.
Ko Lanta's dive operators make daily trips to Hin Daeng, Ko Haa, the Bida Islands, King Cruiser & Shark Point. It is a popular place to learn to dive and there is also one liveaboard operator.
The island is fairly easy to reach. The closest regional airport is in Krabi. From here, it is possible to get a bus or ferry to Ko Lanta. There is also a small airport in Trang to the south and a larger international airport in Phuket. In high season, boats leave daily from Phuket for Ko Lanta and it is also possible to go by bus.
There is a huge range of accommodation on the island from cheap bamboo huts to luxury hotels. The cheapest accommodation costs just a few US dollars per night, but if you want real luxury, it is possible to pay hundreds of dollars. Most of the resorts & tourist facilities are on the west coast, which has the best beaches.
Apart from the diving, there is also plenty to do on this relaxing island, from sunbathing & massages to thai cooking classes & elephant trekking.
Ko Phi Phi is a stunning & hugely popular tourist destination about 40km off the coast of Krabi on Thailand’s west coast.
Ko Phi Phi's numerous dive shops make daily trips to all the local sites, including the Bida Islands, King Cruiser & Shark Point. Occasionally, there are speedboat trips to Hin Daeng in Ko Lanta Marine Park to the south & Liveaboard trips to the Similan Islands to the north.
The island is well connected, with airports close-by in both Phuket & Krabi. From either airport, you simply hop on a minibus to the ferry port and then on a passenger ferry for the short journey to the island. In the high season, there is also a ferry connection to Ko Lanta, 30km to the east.
There are many accommodation options on the island, although due to its popularity & small size, the rates tend to be higher than most places in Thailand. The most luxury resorts tend to be on private bays away from the tourist centre and can only be reached by boat. It is advisable to book in advance, especially in high season.
The island is famous for its lively nightlife, with many bars remaining busy into the small hours of the night. Due to the numerous limestone cliffs around the island, Rock-climbing is also popular, as are day-trips to Maya Bay, where the hit film 'The Beach' was filmed.
Krabi is the gateway to Thailand's Southern Andaman region. It is a beautiful area, with white-sand beaches and a stunning landscape of limestone karsts that rise imperiously to the sky.
There are many dive centres in the area, with most based around Ao Nang - the region's most popular tourist spot. They make trips to local dive sites, plus the sites around Phi Phi, Phuket & Ko Lanta.
Krabi Town has a small airport with flights to Bangkok, KL & Singapore. From the airport, a short minibus or taxi ride can take you to your resort. The region is well-connected by ferry and it is possible to reach Krabi by passenger ferry from Phuket, Ko Phi Phi & Ko Lanta. There are numerous bus connections from Trang to the south and Bangkok & Phuket to the north and Surat Thani to the east.
There is a huge range of accommodation options in Krabi, from budget hotels to luxury resorts & spas. Most of the accommodation is centred around the beaches of Ao Nang and Raleigh, but there are also quite a few options in & around Krabi Town.
Due to the spectacular limestone topography, one of the most popular activities in the area is rock-climbing and there are many excellent schools in the region. There are also numerous islands to visit, some hot springs, a golf course and plenty of shops.
Phuket is one of Thailand’s most famous & well established tourist centres. It is a large island, around 50km from north to south, and can almost be considered part of the mainland as it is connected by bridge. The island is fairly mountainous, with numerous white sand beaches.
The dive industry in Phuket is very well established and there are literally hundreds of dive shops to choose from. Many run a combination of Liveaboard trips to the Similans & beyond, plus local day trips to sites around Phi Phi & Phuket.
There is a well-connected international airport on the island, with flights to destinations in Asia & Europe. The airport is in the north of the island, while most of the tourist facilities are in the south. While the island is busy, it has excellent roads so getting from the airport to the resorts is no problem. The island can also be reached by passenger ferry from Ko Phi Phi & Ko Lanta. There are also land connections north to Bangkok & Khao Lak and south to Krabi.
There is a huge range of accommodation options in Phuket, from budget hotels to luxury resorts & spas. Most of the accommodation is centred around the main beaches of Patong, Kata & Karon, but there are places to stay all around the island.
There are numerous other activities aside from diving in Phuket. There are many beaches to explore, plus vibrant nightlife & great restaurants. It is a great place for shopping, with numerous malls selling Thai & western goods. There are many watersports available and even a zoo for kids.
Ko Lipe is the Andaman coast's latest island paradise. It lies in the far south of Thailand, just a short distance from Langkawi in Malaysia. The beaches are beautiful, there are no cars and the pace of life is decidedly tranquil.
Ko Lipe is not one of Thailand's more well-known dive bases, but it does have a few small dive shops that offer a range of dive courses, plus fun-diving trips to the sites around Ko Lipe.
The island can be reached by ferry from Pak Bara on the mainland, with trips made daily in high season. There are also regular connections to Ko Lanta further north and Langkawi in Malaysia to the south. The closest airport is in Trang, which has flights to & from Bangkok, plus flights to Malaysia & Singapore.
Most of the accommodation on the island is in relatively simple huts around the two main beaches, Sunrise beach & Karma beach. The island is becoming increasingly popular, so it is adviseable to book accommodation in advance in high season.
Ko Lipe is a very small island with a tranquil vibe. The island can be explored on foot, or you can simply relax on the beach or enjoy a cocktail at the bar. It is part of the Taratao Marine Park, which consists of numerous unsploilt islands.
|
| |
 |
|
| The Similan Islands are Thailand's most famous group of dive sites. offering great visibility, stunning corals, prolific marine life and fascinating topography... |
| |
|
 |
We have teamed up with Amazon to bring you a hand-picked selection of the best underwater photography books available today - with top techniques, tips from the pros and priceless pointers to transform your images from average to amazing... |
| |
|
Dive Spots
Dive Bases
Dive
Travel
Stay
