Diving oh Ko Lanta

Ko Lanta’s reputation as one of the leading scuba diving bases in Thailand’s Andaman Sea is built on two factors: easy access to a few of the region’s finest dive sites, and a strong selection of local dive companies.

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Due west of Lanta and often ranked among the best dive sites in the region, the pinnacles of Hin Daeng (“Red Rock”) and Hin Muang (“Purple Rock”) descend to depths of 50 and 70 metres, respectively, with visibility often topping 30 metres. Soft corals strike vibrant colours and support octopi and moray eels. Manta rays come around from November to May, and whale sharks are spotted with some frequency. These sites are roughly 60 km southwest of Lanta and a one-day day trip to both goes for around 4,000 baht.

So where would you like to dive today? Photo taken in or around Diving, Ko Lanta, Thailand by David Luekens.

So where would you like to dive today? Photo: David Luekens

Also located southwest of Ko Lanta but only around 25 km away is Ko Haa, the “Five Islands” composed of limestone splinters and several dive sites including the Lagoon, the Chimney and the Cathedral. We’ve heard the underwater scenery is just about comparable to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, and day trips to Haa tend to cost 500 to 1,000 baht less.

Other sites accessible from Lanta include the twin islands of Ko Rok and several spots around the Phi Phi islands. The latter covers two wrecks: the World War II-era HTMS Kledkaeo was sunk specifically for diver use in 2014, while the King Cruiser car ferry sank unintentionally in 1997 with no fatalities. You’ll also find reefs around the tiny Bida islands, where sea snakes, crocodile needlefish, nurse sharks and stingrays roam.

Two small dive outfits recommended to us are Flip Flop Divers and Dive and Relax. Other well-known companies include Blue Planet, Go Dive Lanta, Hidden Depths, Kon-Tiki, Lanta Diver, Phoenix, Raya and Scubafish. Some stay open year round, though the majority of divers come through when the sea tends to be calmest from November ... please log in to read the rest of this story.