Koh Lanta Diving

On the world-renowned Andaman coast of Thailand’s Krabi province lies the idyllic island of Koh Lanta, where glimmering turquoise waters, pristine beaches, luscious rainforests and tropical mangroves are only the beginning for budding and seasoned nature-lovers. 

 

Diving in Koh Lanta

Many fantastic dive sites are around Koh Lanta itself, including those around Koh Haa, where kaleidoscopic reefs and spectacular caves attract underwater adventurers, but the island is also a gateway to some of Thailand’s best diving destinations that are only a boat ride away, such as sites at the Phi Phi Islands, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, and the King Cruiser Wreck, Shark Point and Anemone Reef.

Scuba Diving in and around Koh Lanta is done by boat, either by speedboat or larger slow boat. It takes around an hour to reach Koh Haa by slow boat, and around 45 minutes to get to Koh Phi Phi and the Bida Islands by speedboat. 

Dive centers and dive resorts that cater to all budgets and needs are in abundance, so there’s never any lack of availability. It’s a great place to take a dive course as conditions are generally good for all skill levels. Beginners will enjoy the calm, beautiful reef sites, while certified divers will be enthralled by advanced or speciality training, like cave, wreck and deep courses, as there’s a multitude of exciting training sites to discover.

Opting for a liveaboard is also a great choice. There are lots of liveaboard companies to choose from, from luxury to budget-style boats. Some come from Phuket and Krabi, while some depart from Koh Lanta. The south Andaman Sea liveaboards and operators normally include the best sites around the island, along with sites around Ko Klang, Ko Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi, which are all part of the Mu Koh Lanta National Park. Also visited are the nearby islands of Koh Haa, Koh Rok, the Phi Phi Islands, the King Cruiser Wreck, and even the iconic Similan Islands.
 

Best time to dive

Koh Lanta boasts fantastic diving year-round, thanks to its welcoming tropical climate, with water temperatures averaging between 28-30C. November to April is the high season and the best time to dive, as the weather is usually dry and sunny, and sea conditions are the most favourable. In this season, the ocean is normally calm and visibility at its highest, although dive sites can be more crowded. Furthermore, this is the only time to dive at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, due to favourable surface conditions.

From around May to the end of September, it’s the rainy season, although downpours are typically short and refreshing. Clear days still occur, and diving is still possible at sites that aren’t exposed to wind. Dive sites are way less crowded, and you’ll likely find deals on accommodation and diving in the low season.
In any season, the best time to dive is always just after the half-moon period, when minimal tidal variation results in better visibility and next to zero current.
 

Types of diving

Koh Lanta offers all kinds of diving adventures for all skill levels. The beautiful, shallow reef and lagoon dives around Koh Lanta, Koh Haa and the Phi Phi Islands will mesmerize even seasoned divers. 

Underwater pinnacles like Hin Daeng and Muang attract pelagics like manta rays and whale sharks, while sites around Lanta, Koh Haa, Koh Rok, and the Phi Phi Islands boast plunging walls and drop-offs covered in life.

There are also some exciting cave diving opportunities for experienced divers, such as those at Koh Haa, in particular, The Cathedral dive site, which is unmissable.

Many dive sites in this region are relatively shallow, though there are some deep diving possibilities, particularly at deeper open ocean sites. Wreck diving is also possible at the Kled Gaeow shipwreck, which was a Royal Thai Navy vessel that was sunk purposely in 2014 to serve as a diving attraction. Plus, there’s the world-famous King Cruiser Wreck, which was a passenger ferry that sank in 1997 and is now home to a wealth of critters.
 

What to see

“What can’t be seen here” is a more accurate question. An array of Indo-Pacific species thrive in and around Koh Lanta and please everyone from macro-lovers to fanatics of big fish. Macro critters to be seen include various nudibranchs, shrimp, crabs and juvenile fish. 

Barracuda stalk the reefs, where tons of hard and soft corals, anemones and sea fans decorate dive sites. Schools of fish like trevally and great barracuda form silver walls that shimmer in the sunlight and schools of snapper create huge clouds that block out the sun.

Seemingly endless reef fish thrive too, including colorful anemonefish, lionfish, batfish, damselfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, triggerfish and countless more. Camouflage experts like octopus, cuttlefish, scorpionfish and stonefish can be seen by observant eyes, and curious critters like eels and sea snakes can be found almost everywhere. Crustaceans of impressive sites, like lobster, shrimp and crabs like to hide in rocky cracks.

Green and hawksbill turtles can be spotted, while reef sharks like blacktips pass by. Leopard sharks and stingrays can be found in sandy areas, and lucky divers might see a resting nurse shark. Eagle rays may be spotted passing by in the blue, and in certain places, like at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, mantas can be seen feeding and being cleaned of parasites. The star of the show is of course the whale shark, which again, can be encountered at Hin Daeng and Muang, though very lucky divers might see one pretty much anywhere in the region.
 

Best places to dive

Koh Haa features five big rocks that hold caverns and swim-throughs and beautiful shallow reefs. ugh to larger reef inhabitants including hawksbill turtles and occasional manta rays. The Lagoon is a great shallow dive boasting tons of vibrant coral. Perfect for beginners, it’s a great site to take your first underwater breaths. The Chimney is also worth visiting, which is a cave and reef site suitable for all experience levels. On Koh Haa Yai, the highlight is The Cathedral, which is a cave site inside that allows you to surface inside.

Koh Muk also boasts great sites, including The Emerald Cave, which is an interesting spot for both divers and snorkelers. Koh Rok’s best sites include Koh Rok Nai and Koh Rock Nok, where reefs and caves wait to be explored. Marine life and topography are equally exceptional.

The King Cruiser Wreck is one of the best shipwrecks accessible from Koh Lanta, which sank after hitting Anemone Reef. It’s now home to clouds of lionfish and pufferfish. Currents can be strong, so it’s best to dive here during the half-moon period. 

Anemone Reef is a pinnacle carpeted by thousands of swaying anemones, which is a truly hypnotic experience. Along with superb marine life, the anemone garden promises a unique experience.  Shark Point, right next to Anemone Reef and the King Cruiser, is a series of pinnacles that are teeming with corals, tons of fish species both large and small, and ooze color from every corner. Plus, whale sharks are sometimes seen here.

Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, respectively Red Rock and Purple Rock, are incredibly famous, and for good reason. Not only is the topography beautiful, the pinnacles are covered in bright red and purple soft corals, among which tons of tropical fish thrive. They’re also great spots to see mantas and whale sharks.

Bida Nok and Bida Nai are two limestone islands that are as stunning above water as they are below. Both feature breathtaking walls, caves, drop off and shallow reefs, in addition to clouds of yellow snapper, simply stunning marine critters and plenty of fish action.

Finally, Hin Bida is a large reef suitable for beginners, where lots of leopard sharks live among the sensational hard and soft corals that thrive.
 

FAQ

The top dive centers are the Phoenix Divers Koh Lanta, Blue Planet Divers and Lanta Diver.

Bubblemaker Program prices range from €38-€128. See all Bubblemaker Program courses in Koh Lanta.

Advanced Open Water Diver prices range from €307-€325. See all Advanced Open Water Diver courses in Koh Lanta.