Hin Daeng - Hin Muang
The world-famous Hin Daeng and Hin Muang scuba dive sites are located within the Mu Koh Lanta National Marine Park. Its remote location, far from any human settlement or island in the area, make Hin Daeng and Hin Muang the best diving spots in Thailand, even better than the famous Richelieu Rock of the Similan Islands.
Diving Hin Daeng Hin Muang is an unforgettable experience that only a world-class dive site can provide. The waters rich in plankton and other nutrients carried by the currents in the area, make these two rock formations an explosion of marine life in the middle of the blue. These nutrients attract their most famous visitors to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang; Huge oceanic manta rays, up to 4m wide, gather at this dive site to feed and float on the ocean currents. It is also a very popular site for the imposing whale sharks, who are very curious and do not hesitate to come to take a close look at the divers. Whale sharks can be seen all year round, but Hin Daeng whale shark season is usually high from early February to late April.
In addition to the pelagic giants, the coral reef enjoys excellent health and great biodiversity. Hin Daeng, which in Thai means “Red Rock” owes its name to the soft corals that cover its surface, and which are predominantly red. Similarly, Hin Muang, which in Thai means “Purple Rock” owes its name to the huge purple soft corals that carpet its entire structure.
Diving Hin Daeng Hin Muang you will also find predators such as the great barracuda or groups of large trevallies hunting in the outer areas of the reef, where large populations of snappers, various types of groupers, large moray eels, clownfish, batfish, ghost pipefish, and the busy cleaner fish lives, which are another reason why mantas visit these pinnacles.
In terms of invertebrates, it is common to find various types of nudibranchs, starfish, crinoids hunting plankton in the areas with more current. Various types of shrimps live in these pinnacles, where the colorful harlequin prawn stands out of the rest. A real trophy for macro lovers.
Hin Daeng - Hin Muang Dive Sites
- Not suitable for Open Water Divers.
- Suitable for Open Water Divers + Deep.
- Suitable for Advanced Open Water Divers.
- Not possible here.
Hin Daeng
The spectacular pinnacle of Hin Daeng offers one of the most beautiful dives in the world. From its upper part, 3 small pinnacles stand out above the water, which serves as a reference to guide us and explore this beautiful reef, which gradually descends to about 20-25m, when reaches that depth, it begins to descend almost vertically to 45 meters deep.
The outer area of Hin Daeng is where we will generally find the big fish; It´s common to spot imposing oceanic mantas feeding there, or suspended above cleaning stations. It is also common to find the whale shark foraging in the area, swimming tirelessly between Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. In this outer zone we can also find large schools of silver jacks, reef sharks, and barracudas on the lookout for any smaller fish.
The inner area of the reef is mostly covered with red soft coral, which give this rock its name. Anemones also abound in the shallow end, inhabited, of course, by lovely clownfish. Swimming between small pinnacles we can find a great variety of reef fish, such as large moray eels, batfish, various types of grouper, fusiliers, Moorish idols forming large groups, horse mackerel, snappers, nudibranchs, and shrimps.
Hin Daeng diving is a one-life-time experience that any experienced diver should miss if visit Koh Lanta.
- Not suitable for Open Water Divers.
- Suitable for Open Water Divers + Deep.
- Suitable for Advanced Open Water Divers.
- Not possible here.
Hin Muang
Hin Muang is a rock formation much more elongated than its twin Hin Daeng, in fact, it is the highest submerged vertical wall in all of Thailand, falling to a depth of 70m on its shallow side and disappearing into the blue on its deeper side.
In its upper part, it has a series of pinnacles placed in a row that are usually visited by the oceanic manta rays. As in Hin Daeng, it´s on the outside where whale sharks and other predators are usually seen in the area.
Its inner part is decorated with countless purple soft corals, which give the rock its name, and which carpet the whole place along with the red gorgonians and black corals. Hin Muang is an excellent site for macro photography. You can find thousands of nudibranchs of many species, and the iconic harlequin prawn, brightly colored and deadly to starfish.
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In Hidden Depths Diving we firmly believe that an eco-responsible diving model is possible. We strive every day to offer you a different, familiar, environmentally friendly, safe, and fun diving experience. Where you will feel part of a great family of divers who, in addition to enjoying diving, we fight so that future generations can enjoy the same wonders that we dive today.