Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Feb–Apr · Strong current · 28–30°C (coldest Jan, warmest Mar)
- Current
- Strong
- Water temperature
- 28–30°C (coldest Jan, warmest Mar)
- Visibility
- 10–30m: Often 20-30m in the calm, dry season.
- Experience
- Advanced-only in practice.
01 · Marine life
What you may see
Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | peak season |
| March | peak season |
| April | peak season |
| May | destination closed |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | destination closed |
| November | rare |
| December | occasional |
Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are among Thailand's most reliable oceanic manta sites: a recognised aggregation area: with best odds during the Feb-April plankton season.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | peak season |
| March | peak season |
| April | peak season |
| May | destination closed |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | destination closed |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Reef mantas also visit the pinnacles alongside the larger oceanic mantas, most often Feb-April.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | destination closed |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | destination closed |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Grey reef sharks are among the more reliable large animals here, patrolling the deeper walls of both pinnacles.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | destination closed |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | destination closed |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Barracuda school over the drop-offs at both sites.
02 · Dive sites
Dive sites worth knowing
A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.
Hin Daeng (Red Rock)
The larger, marginally shallower of the two pinnacles, named for the red soft coral on its walls.
5–45m · Strong current
Hin Muang (Purple Rock)
A completely submerged pinnacle ~200m from Hin Daeng, topping out around 8-12m and falling away past 60m on the deep side.
8–65m · Strong current
Koh Ha Lagoon & Cathedral Caverns
A cluster of limestone islets roughly midway between Koh Lanta and Hin Daeng, usually dived on the same day trip or liveaboard.
5–30m · Mild current
See all 4 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsModerate. Fly to KBV. Typical trip $$–$$$.
Route overview
Moderate
Reachable but with some friction: a 2.5h overland transfer, a 2h boat crossing.
Airport options
KBV
Krabi International Airport
Main arrival airport; about 2-2.5 hours by road (and bridges/ferry) to Koh Lanta, where boats depart. Sites are a further open-water crossing south
HKT
Phuket International Airport
Alternative international airport; roughly 3-4 hours by road and ferry to Koh Lanta, or a boarding point for some southern-Andaman liveaboards
Typical trip cost
$$–$$$
$2,000–4,000 to over $4,000
Per person, excluding international flights.
- Multi-day southern-Andaman liveaboards that include these sites plus Koh Ha and the Similans run higher.
Permit or park fee
What you pay
Mu Ko Lanta National Park foreign-adult entrance is roughly 400-500 THB plus a per-day diving surcharge, paid in cash. Amounts vary by operator and change
confirm at booking.
How it works
The sites lie inside Mu Ko Lanta National Park; park fees are collected in cash by operators at check-in, separate from the trip price.