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Hin Daeng – Hin Muang Diving

Hin Daeng dive site
Hin Muang dive site

Best Scuba Diving trips to Hin Daeng & Hin Muang

Hin Daeng and Hin Muang scuba dive sites are situated in the Mu Koh Lanta National Park – south of Phuket at the distance of 100 km (62 miles) and are THE BEST dive sites in Andaman Sea, Thailand – better than the famous Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock.

Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are world-class dive sites and provide the most stunning scuba diving in the area, with a high chance of seeing Manta Rays and Whale Sharks.

The greater depths and currents make these sites suitable only for experienced divers with minimum of 20 dives. Hin Daeng – a.k.a. Red Rock, and Hin Muang – a.k.a. Purple Rock, are named after the beautiful red and purple corals that cover the pinnacles and they boast good visibility, unless the waters become extremely plankton-rich and attracts the larger marine-life such as Manta Rays and passing Whale Sharks throughout the season.

Because of the distance it is not easy to reach these dive sites and there is no regular day trip leaving from Phuket. A grouped private dive trip (6-8 divers) is the best way to visit Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more informations.

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Hin Daeng dive site

If Similan and Richelieu Rock are the best dive site in the Northern Andaman Sea, then Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, the striking twin outcrops alone in the open sea, are undoubtedly the BEST of the Andaman Sea and in Thailand.

Meaning Red Rock in Thai, Hin Daeng is covered with red soft corals, which makes the rock appear red. Only three small pinnacles are visible from the surface, but once underwater, the vast form of Hin Daeng stretches to 45 meters (148 feet) down before reaching the sandy bottom.

A Long rocky wall consisting of soft corals, sea fans and red corals stretches from the west to the south side of Hin Daeng. The east and northeast side, on the other hand, is a reef slope with pinnacles and hard corals. The contour slopes down to the sand to the depth of 40 meters (133 feet). Divers can also swim across the big channel on the north side of Hin Daeng, which leads to the southwest side. The hard coral reefs that top the pinnacles are suitable for snorkeling and are only 5 – 8 meters deep (16 – 26 feet).

Hin Daeng marine life

Diversity of marine life here ranges from big pelagic fish like Manta Rays and Whale Sharks, to the extraordinarily variety of nudibranchs or sea turtles.

Manta Rays, in small groups of 3-4, and Whales Sharks are often spotted at Hin Daeng particularly during March to end of April when they stay for a long time in these feeding grounds. Leopard sharks are often seen resting in the sand. You may even get to witness big fish like barracudas and moray eels hunting.

Many other fishes are also common to these waters, including the rainbow runner, jackfish, fusilier, longfin batfish and pickhandle barracuda.

Heading back to the rocky wall, you may also find an abundance of macro critters such as the ghost pipefish, longnose hawkfish, and nudibranchs.

Visibility: 15-30m
Difficulty: Advanced
Current: Moderate to Strong
Overall Note: 5/5
Hin Daeng Diving - dive map
Hin Daeng Diving - dive map
Phuket to Hin Daeng - Hin Muang
Phuket to Hin Daeng - Hin Muang

Hin Muang dive site

The twin outcrops to the west of Hin Daeng are referred to as Hin Muang, which mean Purple Rock in Thai. The outcrops are totally submerged, and are covered with purple soft coral, hence the site name.

The outcrops are long and narrow, reminiscent of loaves of French bread. There are several pinnacles, with drop-offs stretching down to the sandy bottom at 60 meters (200 feet)

Hin Muang marine life

Hin Muang is an oasis in the expanse of the South Andaman sea, attracting a wealth of pelagic visitors like Manta Rays and Whale Sharks, particularly during the peak plankton-bloom period around the end of March and April.

The drop-offs around Hin Muang are very rich with marine life and covered bu soft corals, gorgonian sea fans and black corals. In addition, sea turtles, schools of rainbow runners, barracuda, snappers, batfish and many other tropical reef residents surround the pinnacles of Hin Muang, while other fish like groupers, snappers and giant morays lurk among the many crevices. In sandy areas, scuba divers frequently come across leopard sharks as well as gray reef sharks and marble rays.

The area is also rich in macro life, such as ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimp and unimaginable variety of nudibranchs just waiting to be discovered. Take a peek among the intricate branches of a black coral forest, and you may spot a longnose hawkfish.

Visibility: 15-30m
Difficulty: Advanced
Current: Moderate to Strong
Overall Note: 5/5
Hin Muang Diving - dive map
Hin Muang Diving - dive map
Hin Muang Diving - dive map top
Hin Muang Diving - dive map top