Thailand's southern Andaman sea boasts numerous beautiful islands & beaches, plus some great diving opportunities.
The southern Andaman region of Thailand is less developed than further north, offering a refreshingly relaxing alternative to the hustle & bustle of Phuket & even Ko Phi Phi.
The most famous dive sites are the twin sea mounts of Hin Daeng & Hin Muang - home of the Manta Ray - while the picturesque islands of Ko Haa also have a number excellent sites for both beginners & more experienced divers.
Highlights
Best diving spots
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, with Manta Rays popular visitors & Whalesharks seen occasionally.
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. 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.
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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.
When to dive
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.
Getting there
While liveaboards occasionalkly venture to this region from Phuket, Ko Lanta is generally the best island on which to base yourself to explore this region. The island is fairly easy to reach. The closest regional airport is in Krabi. From here, it is possible to travel by road and ferry to Ko Lanta. Most resorts will arrange transfers for you.
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.
Activities
Apart from the diving, there is also plenty to do on this relaxing island, from sunbathing & massages to thai cooking classes & elephant trekking.
Resort and liveaboard options
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.
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Tunku Abdul Rahman
Just off the coast from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah's regional capital - the five islands that make up Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park are often overlooked by divers heading straight to Sipadan in the south.
The national park, which is named after a former Malaysian president, has some very good diving though, with pretty fringing reefs sloping gently down from white-sand beaches, plus some rare & unusual species.
Negros & Dumaguete
Negros Island is a large island in the Visayas. It’s eastern shore is separated from Cebu by a narrow channel, while it’s west coast faces the Sulu Sea. Much of the diving is in the south of the island.
Like many of the Philippines dive spots, it is blessed with the combination of big fish encounters and fascinating smaller critters that will keep avid divers happy for many dives.
Puerto Galera
Originally a safe harbour during typhoons, Puerto Galera has become one of the Philippines' most popular tourist & diving destinations.
Situated only 150km south of the capital Manila, the curious geography of the area has created not only a perfect natural harbour, but also many picturesque beaches and coves to enjoy.
Best places for beginner divers
Asia has a huge number of dive spots that have perfect conditions for learning to dive. It has so many in fact, that you may be having a hard time choosing where you should go.
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is all about wreck diving. This area of Luzon has a rich maritime history and was a key harbour in WWII, resulting in excellent diving options for wreck afficanados.
The wrecks of Subic Bay are not the only option for divers on the island of Luzon however. Others may also wish to explore Nasugbu to the south, or La Union to the north.
Wakatobi
