Your Travel Partner - FairSky Travel House

Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta Dive Sites

Independant dive guides have classed the dive sites around Koh Lanta as some of the best in the world. The divesites offer a variety of unspoilt reefs, amazing drop offs, caves and wrecks. Here we introduce some of the dive sites which can be reached within an hour or few from our dive centre on Koh Lanta.

	Kho Ha Haa means 5 in Thai and Koh Haa is made up of five small islands (actually six but somebody must have miscalculated!!) These islands are situated about two hours away from Koh Lanta. Just enough time to have breakfast and get prepared before the dive. Koh Ha is one of our favourites as there are (nearly) always very good conditions for diving. We find a nice spot between the islands to stay during the surface intervals. The average depth is 18-34 metres and there is an abundance of marine life and also a few caves. Our favourite is a cave with two entrances one at a depth of 5 metres and the other at 16 metres. Inside the cave there is a “cathedral” which stretches 30 metres above the surface inside the cave. The light finds it’s way in and creates a magical atmosphere.
	Koh Bida Nok Koh Bida Nok Just over an hours journey from Koh Lanta we find Koh Bida Nok. The depth around here is on average 19-30 meters. Beautiful dives with fantastic gorgonians, soft corals, large schools of Moorish idols, well camouflaged scorpion fish and many different types of lionfish. We nearly always meet the beautiful leopard sharks here and there is a chance of meeting the Whale Shark of Manta Rays. As from 2001 there is also a small wreck a fishing boat which sank of the northern coast of the island.
	Koh Bida Nai (or Fantasy Rock) Koh Bida Nai (also known as Fantasy Rock) Right next to Koh Bida Nok there is Koh Bida Nai also known as Fantasy Rock. A few large underwater bolders of the island makes diving extra interesting. The marine life is basically the same as that of Koh Bida Nok as are the chances of encountering the leopardsharks.
	Hin Daeng A well known name to most divers interested in diving in Thailand. Hin Daeng is classed as one of Thailands best dive sites. Possibly the best. We do not think you can find one single dive guide to Thailand which does not rate Hin Daeng as a five star dive site. Several drop offs connected by rocks at different depths. The corals and fish are outstanding, larger and more abundant than any where else. Barracudas, tuna, rainbow runners, grey reefshark (seldom encountered anywhere else) etc etc. Many of the published dive guides tell you that Hin Daeng is a sure place to see Whale Shark and Manta Ray. This is not true, there are no such places but with a bit of luck you may well se them here. On the other hand with a bit of luck you may well come across them any where around Koh Lanta.
	Hin Mouang Hin Mouang is situated only 500 meteres from Hin Daeng. Another five star dive site. Not the first dive you do after the open water course but after a few more dives this place is a must. Under the surface there are 5 ”legs” the most shallow of which starts at 8 metres. We do not go to the bottom here as here we have some of the deepest drop offs in Thailand stretching down to over 70 metres.
	King Cruiser Wreck This wreck could tell a strange tale. Not that long as the car ferry sank as late as in 1997. Year after year King Cruiser ferried navigating and run right up onto Anemone Reef. King Cruiser sank to the bottom and is now a perfect dive site neatly parked between 20 and 30 metres under the surface! All passengers and crew were saved in the “accident”. Given the right education and experience the King Cruiser is a very interesting dive. If you are tired of the actual wreck (if this is possible?) the marine life is already abundant. The problem with King Cruiser passengers from Phuket to the Phi Phi islands. The same route each day, then on the very last day before the ferry was due to retire the captain “made a mistake” when it that the wreck is so interesting there are sometimes more “passengers” on the ferry today than during it’s heyday on the surface! We have a three hour trip to King Cruiser from Koh Lanta, one of the reasons for us not to go here as often as to our other dive sites.

Koh Rok
A dive site which is also an extremely popular spot for snorkelling. An abundant marine life and shallow depths make the colours very clear. A sweet water (!) stream has coloured the cliffs red from the high content of iron. Sometimes Koh Rook is part of our two day live aboards when we do the night dives here. For diving day trips Koh Rook is not too good but for snorkelling there are not many better places around Koh Lanta.

Koh Kraden Wreck
A little bit off from the other dive sites and a site we visit occasionally. This Japanese destroyer sank in 1944 during an air raid. The wreck which is split in two is situated about 25 metres below the surface. Usually there are strong thermo clines which considerably reduce visibility from about 20 metres. A reason many divers choose other dive sites around the islands.
Koh Muk
Not a particularly good dive site but a very popular spot for snorkelling. Average depth 5 metres and you can not go any deeper than 10 metres no matter how hard you try. A 60 metre long tunnel wind it’s way through the rock and ends up in a fantastic lagoon surrounded by tropical forest and a wonderful sandy beach. A very special place,s however, avoid Koh Muk during the large Thai holidays as this place gets invaded and turns into a rather hysterical place. If you still choose to come here during these holidays make sure you bring a camera as the endless “chains” of fully dressed snorkelling (including shoes and handbags!) Thais are quite a sight!

[ Back ]