Diving in Koh Lanta
Relaxed and authentic, less discovered than its neighbouring islands in Krabi province and with an Andaman coastline fringed by tangled mangroves and endless beaches, Koh Lanta is a picture postcard. It is also offers some of the best diving in Thailand, with underwater coral gardens, multicoloured reef fish, sharks and whales. Stay here and you have a whole variety of dive sites on your doorstep, from the pinnacles, wrecks and lagoons that are a short boat ride away, to the pristine waters of Koh Haaa and the whole of Koh Phi Phi, which is just under an hour away by speedboat. At the deeper sites in open ocean, the current can be strong, while the amazing visibility and calm waters at Koh Haa make it a favourite with beginners, and more advanced divers head to explore its many limestone caverns and karsts. The Cathedral is made up of a series of interconnected chambers, while The Chimney feature vertical and horizontal tunnels to explore. Other nearby sites also offer adventure, the seabed blanketed in corals and wrecks creating artificial reefs populated by brilliant, rainbow-hued fish. Don’t miss Koh Rok Nok for amazingly clear waters packed with marine life, while Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, which translate as ‘red rock’ and ‘purple rock’, are among the best dive sites in Thailand.