Diving in Thailand
Diving in Thailand - Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is situated on the west coast of Thailand, in the Andaman Sea, home to some of the world's best diving. The dive sites outside of Koh Lanta are absolutely ideal for both newcomers and more experienced divers. With an average visibility of 15-30 meters and a minimum water temperature of 27 degrees celsius, the diving on Koh Lanta is an easy, carefree experience.
In the high season of Dec-April, we have resident mantarays, zebra sharks, and black-tipped sharks living on several of the diving sites. Furthermore, in the months of February, May, and November, there is also a good chance of experiencing whale sharks up close. Last but not least, you can also explore the underwater caves of Koh Ha and Koh Phi Phi and see firsthand the underwater marine life that occupies the darkness.
Prices:
Fundive:
| Phi Phi, Koh Haa and Hin Bida (2 dives, one day trip) | 3.500 Baht |
| Hin Daeng / Hin Muang (2 dives, on day trip) | 4.000 Baht |
| King Cruiser (2 dives, on day trip) | 4.000 Bath |
| Night Dive - include torch | 4.300 Bath |
| Snorkeling (one day trip) | 1.900 Baht |
Padi diving courses:
| Discover Scuba Diving (1 day, 2 dives) | 5.000 Baht |
| Scuba Refresh | 5.000 Baht |
| Open Water Diver (3 days, 4 dives) | 14.900 Baht |
| Advanced Open Water (2 days - 5 dives) | 11.900 Baht |
| Advanced Open Water (3 days - 6 dives) | 14.900 Baht |
| Advanced Open Water - Hin Deang (3 days - 6 dives) | 15.000 Baht |
| Emergency First Response course | 5.400 Baht |
| Rescue Diver | 14.500 Baht |
| Dive Master (This price is based on self study, min. logged 40 dives) |
30.000 Baht |
Include in the price is: scuba equipment, food, drinks, Dive master / Instructor, Marine fee, pick up from the resort.
Dive sites around Koh Lanta:
Hin Daeng/Hin Muang:
Level of difficulty : Medium
Depth : 8-70 meters
These two rock formations have a reputation of being one of the top 5 dive sites in the world due to the fact that in the high season, you see Manta Rays on almost every dive. Even if you don't see Mantas on your dive, Hin Daeng/Hin Muang is truly an amazing dive site.
Visibility on these rocks is normally 20-40 meters and you are literally swimming in big schools of fish. Common fish on this site are : Barracuda, Potato Groupers, Batfish, Giant Morays, Yellow Boxfish, Lionfish, Crocodile Needlefish, Trevallis, Whalesharks, and Blacktip sharks.
Koh Haa:
Level of difficulty: Easy
Depth: 5-30 meters
Koh Haa literally means "5 islands". It consists of 5 small beautiful rock formations. In truth, there are actually six islands in this dive site, but why the sixth one is not counted is still unknown.
Koh Haa is by far the most beautiful dive site around Koh Lanta. You will have the incredible experience of seeing powder-white beaches at the lagoon of Koh Ha 3.
Diving on the five islands provides a great variety of dives, from easy dives in the lagoon to the more difficult cave dives on Koh Ha 5.
With the visibility in the high season of 25-40 meters, this diving site is ideal for both underwater photographers and beginner divers. Common Fish on this site: Clown Triggerfish, Turtles, Moorish Idol, Lionfish, Clownfish, Crocodile Needlefish, Seahorse, Ghost Pipefish, Barracudas, Giant Morays, Pufferfish, Blacktip Shark, Whaleshark, Yellow Boxfish, and Banded Seasnakes.
Phi Phi Island and Bida islands:
Level of difficulty: Easy to Medium
Depth: 5-35 meters
Phi Phi Island is probably most famous for being the location of where the movie "The Beach", starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was filmed.
Amongst divers, Phi Phi island is most known for its zebra and blacktip sharks. Even though the sharks are often very large in size, they are totally harmless. Over the years, the sharks have become so familiar with seeing divers, that one often has the opportunity to see these amazing creatures up-close. Common fish on this site: Titan triggerfish, turtles, Lionfish, Clownfish, Barracudas, Tuna, Mackarals, Giant Morays, Yellow Boxfish, Banded Seasnakes, Blacktip and Zebra sharks.
King Cruiser:
Level of difficulty : MediumDepth : 14 - 32 meters
The 4. may 1997 the car feery King Cruiser sank 10 miles northwest of Phi Phi Island. This 85 meter-long steel ferry had been on the same route seven days a week, 365 days a year for the past ten years. She remarkably managed to hit the only navigational hazard within 25 miles and created the perfect wreck dive. She sank on a lovely spring day with no wind, no waves and perfect visibility. No one died. Today the wreck is in spite of a lot of corrosion damages an amazing divesite. Its completely surrounded by big schools of fish. And the actually the damages has opened up to some interesting places I the ship that was accessible for divers before. In the periods of fullmoon the wreck is not diveable. Barracuda, Tuna, Makrels, Groupers, Batfish, Giant morays, Lionfish, Crocodile Needlefish, Trevallis, turtles, Yellow fusiliers.
Hin Bida:
Level of difficulty : Medium
Depth : 3 - 25 meters
Hin Bida is big flat rock pinnacle slowly ascending from 25 meters to just below the surface. Its one the places where we almost always see zebrasharks, and often 3-4 at the time. The sharks is now used to have divers around, and they are often very curious. Zebrasharks are only living of shellfish and are therefore completely harmless for humans.
Phi Phi underwater tsunami memorial:
Thailand's first underwater tsunami memorial was laid down on the seabed in Tonsai Bay, off Koh Phi Phi Don, in a ceremony on September 30. 2006 The memorial, 1.4 kilometers offshore and at a depth of 20 meters, took about one month to install. The The monument comprises three large granite markers, each 150 centimeters tall and arranged to form an equilateral triangle, with a smaller 80cm-high granite marker standing in the center. The distance between each of the markers is 5,395cm, corresponding to the number of victims whose names and nationalities are identified. Visitors can see the memorial's location from the three yellow buoys bobbing on the water surface. At a location exactly 2,874cm from the memorial site is a traditional Thai sala, built from wood collected from the wreckage left behind by the tidal wave. The distance to the center of the monument represents the number of victims whose identity could not be determined. Napasorn Kakai, Assistant Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 4, told the Gazette that it is hoped the memorial will lure divers and snorkelers back to the Phi Phi Islands. "The three pyramids represent the three elements of earth, wind and water. Man must keep all three of these elements in natural balance; otherwise the forces of nature will restore the balance themselves. We hope the monument will serve as a reminder of the need to maintain ecological balance," she added. Representatives from England, France, China, Taiwan, Korea and Italy took part in the memorials' dedication ceremony, which was attended by a total of about 200 people. The guests were also given a tour of the island's new wastewater-treatment plant, funded by the Danish government, as well as the new tsunami warning towers and an onshore tsunami memorial garden.
