Advanced Thailand
Koh Lanta / Hin Muang-Hin Daeng
Two open-water pinnacles with one of Thailand's deepest walls
Two pinnacles a few hundred meters apart in the middle of the Andaman Sea, more than an hour's boat ride from the nearest coast. One is red from the soft coral covering it, the other purple. And from one of them drops one of the deepest walls in the country.
In this guide you'll find out what makes these two pinnacles exceptional, why their isolation attracts mantas and whale sharks, what their currents are like, what level the deep wall demands, and where to access them from.
These are the most demanding and most sought-after dives in the Thai Andaman, and the place where the difference between a vacation diver and one with real skill in current gets tested.
Geography and access
The two pinnacles are in open water south of the Thai Andaman, far from any coast, and are visited from the island of Koh Lanta or on liveaboard routes.
The first is a formation whose summit lies below the surface and is covered in purple soft coral, hence its local name. From one of its sides drops a wall that descends beyond recreational range.
The second breaks slightly above the water and is dominated by red soft coral. It's somewhat shallower but just as exposed.
Both share the condition that makes them special: they're the only relief in a wide expanse of deep water, which makes them a stopping point for pelagics and a cleaning station for mantas.
Access is a domestic flight to the Thai west coast and a transfer to Koh Lanta, from where speedboats depart. The crossing is long and the sea can be uncomfortable.
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