Hin Daeng – Hin Muang

These two sites are located very close to each other, however, one is covered in red soft corals (Daeng means red), and the other is covered in purple soft corals (Muang means purple).  This is the area big draw – all the guidebooks rate it as one of the best in Thailand.

It takes between an hour and an hour and a half to get there by speedboat.

At both sites the fish are found in large numbers – it can be like fish soup!  Large manta rays (up to 4 meters wide) are regularly found here in December and January and whale sharks are also spotted here, although not as frequently as the mantas.

We would usually recommend divers have some experience in drift or deep diving here, especially if diving at Hin Muang.

Hin Daeng

This is a submerged boulder pinnacle where, looking at the bare rocks above water, you would have no idea that it is such a beautiful dive site below water. Healthy soft corals in various shades of red are all around here and plenty of small scale action goes on. One of the most impressive sights is that of a silver wall of trevally cruising past.

However, diving at Hin Daeng is not always about paying attention to the foreground since there are frequent sightings of graceful mantas swooping by and overhead. There will be no mistaking the presence of a whale shark should you be lucky enough to be there at the right time since the tank banging and mood of excitement will alert you to the arrival of this most awesome fish.

Conditions

· Depth:  5m -45m.

· Visibility:  Between 10m – 30m.

. Current:  Moderate to strong.

· Level:  Suitable for Advanced divers or Open Water divers + Deep.

· Snorkeling:  No.

Hin Muang

Here you will find Thailand’s highest vertical wall, bejeweled with vibrant purple soft corals. One side of the submerged rock levels out at around 70 meters and the other disappears into the abyss. Vast carpets of anemones cover shallower sections of the reef while sea fans cling precariously to the steep walls.

Hin Muang is good for big fish, but also for macro life. Don’t be surprised to see a photographer focusing on some tiny critter on the rock, happily oblivious to a manta ray soaring overhead. Grey reef sharks and leopard sharks are often seen patrolling the depths. Hin Muang is a larger dive site than Hin Daeng but due to its relatively greater depth, most of it lies in waters beyond the reach of the Thai diving masses and so it tends to be less crowded than its neighbor.

Conditions

· Depth: 8m – 70m.

· Visibility:  Between 10m – 20m.

· Current:  Moderate to strong.

· Level:  Suitable for Advanced divers or Open Water divers + Deep.

· Snorkeling:  No.