Explore Hin Daeng
Hin Daeng (Red Rock) lies to the south of Phuket and is located in the Andaman Sea within the Mu Koh Lanta National Marine Park. The site itself is a huge underwater rock formation covered in reefs, that gently slopes down to around 70 meters.
Sitting right beside its sibling dive site, Hin Muang (Purple Rock), the two are usually visited together as part of a day trip. As they're located in the open ocean, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, they are only accessible by boat. Conditions can also be somewhat unpredictable, meaning currents, waves and weather can make diving challenging, and therefore better suited to advanced divers.
The exciting weather and ocean conditions make the area an ideal feeding spot for mantas, whalesharks and many other large fish, as currents deliver nutrient-rich water to these hungry passing pelagics. Though it’s not just the likelihood of spotting gentle giants that attract divers to this iconic site. Hin Daeng and Muang boast dramatic rock formations and exceptional amounts of stunning reef fish and schooling fish, all which put on a colorful display even if the pelagics don’t show up.
Many dive centers and dive resorts from various islands offer trips to Hin Daeng and Muang, such as those in Phuket, Koh Lanta, and even operators based in the Phi Phi Islands. However, due to these sites’ distance from land, they’re usually visited by speedboats. Liveaboard safaris cruise the area as well, and you can opt between covering Thailand's west coast which usually involves the Similans and Richelieu Rock, or you can go for a shorter trip which focuses on the best of these Thai southern parts, such as the Phi Phi Islands and Koh Ha.
It’s also possible to take a dive course at Hin Daeng, particularly an advanced course, drift or deep specialty, thanks to appropriate training conditions.
Top Hin Daeng Dive Sites
1. Hin Daeng
Hin Daeng, or “Red Rock,” is famed for its deep walls covered in soft red corals. Advanced scuba divers often encounter manta rays, barracuda, and even whale sharks. The site plunges to 60m, offering thrilling drift dives in open water with excellent visibility.
2. Hin Muang
Located near Hin Daeng, Hin Muang (“Purple Rock”) is blanketed in violet soft corals and features a long ridge teeming with moray eels, reef sharks, and schooling trevallies. This is an advanced scuba dive due to strong currents and depths beyond 30m.
3. Koh Haa Lagoon – Freediving possible
Koh Haa’s calm central lagoon is ideal for easy scuba and freediving. It features clear, shallow waters home to lionfish, clownfish, and vibrant coral gardens. Great for beginners, it also offers a stunning night dive with bio-luminescence and hunting cuttlefish.
4. Koh Haa Cathedral
This cavern-like site features dramatic swim-throughs and an underwater cave that filters sunlight into beams. Suitable for intermediate scuba divers, it’s home to glassfish, scorpionfish, and occasional leopard sharks. A must-see for unique topography lovers.
5. Koh Rok Nok
This site offers easy to moderate scuba and freediving with healthy hard corals, sea turtles, and macro life like nudibranchs. Calm conditions make it ideal for all levels. The surrounding area is part of a marine park, ensuring rich biodiversity and reef protection.