The archipelago of Lanta, consisting of many picturesque islets, is surrounded by beautiful underwater reefs, caves, rocks and rich in marine life. The dive season lasts from the end of October to the end of April, therefore most dive centers are closed during the rest of the year.
Directly on the island there are no dive sites, they are all nearby, but they can not be reached by their own means, it is necessary to hire boat. Among the divers, Ko Lanta is famous for its location - it is the closest resort to the stunning sites of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. They are only 1-1, 5 hours of swimming.
How to get
You can get to popular dive sites in two ways:
- on large slow boats from Saladan (1, 5 hours up to Koh-Haa, 3-4 hours to Hin-Daeng and Hin-Muang)
- on small speed boats that depart almost from all the beaches of the island and deliver even to the most remote sites (like Hin-Muang, for example) in just an hour.
Despite the fact that slow boats are much more comfortable, no one wants to lose half a day of excellent diving.
Cost
Traditionally, all dive trips include two dives and a third dive for an additional fee (about 1000 baht). The cost for the whole day varies around 3-4 thousand baht at the nearest sites and 4-5 thousand at remote Hin-Daeng and Hin-Muang.
Equipment rental will cost 500 baht per day, PADI rate about 15 thousand baht for a 4-day Open Water, 12 thousand for a two-day Advanced Open Water (5 dives).
Permits
Many Lanta dive sites are part of the territory of the Lanta Marine National Park, so for diving in these areas you will have to pay: 200 baht to adults and 100 children. The cost is usually given to guides from the dive centers when booking the trip.
The National Park includes: Lanta-Noi, Lanta-Yai, the Ko-Haa Islands group, Ko-Rock, Ko-Ngai, Ko-Waen , Ko-Maa, Ko-Cheauk, Ko-Mok, Koh-Kradan and located far to the south of Hin-Daeng and Hin-Muang.
Where to dive
The most popular sites, as mentioned above, is Hin-Daeng ("Red Rock"), and Chi -Muang . Here more than 200 species of coral and 108 species of exotic fish . Hin-Daeng is located 70 km south of Lanta and offers excellent visibility, despite the abundance of plankton, which, by the way, attracts large and very bright the inhabitants of the underwater world . The reef here descends to a depth of more than 70 m and is famous for its red corals . Hin-Muang descends to a depth of about 60 m, stretches for 200 m and width - 20 . Local corals are struck in deep purple color .
Also popular are trips to the group Ko-Haa (Ko Haa), which It is 25 km from Lanta to the west and divides the canal into 6 separate dive sites. Here are all kinds of caves on the largest island - Ko-Haa Yai, which is located at a depth of 12 m. In addition, the island is famous for its excellent sandy beaches, picturesque landscapes and rich underwater life. Local Attractions - The Lagoon, The Cathedral and The Chimney Dive Sites.
The Japanese Rack, floating during the Second World War, sank near the miniature island of Koh Kraden to the south of Lanta, and from it, in fact, got its name .
Ko-Rock is two twin islands: Ko Rok Nok and Ko Rok Nai, which are well known among snorkelers. Other popular sites are Ko Wean, Ko Chueak, Ko Maa and Ko Ngai, as well as many others.
Dive centers
- Dive & Relax PADI Dive Resort. Address: 223 Moo 2 Phra Ae, Saladan, Castaway Resort, tel .: +66 848 422 191. A small friendly dive center offers PADI courses, as well as diving from speed boats that depart every day from Long Beach at 9am on Ko Haa, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Bida, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, Shark Point and King Cruiser rack.
- Blue Planet Divers. Address: 3 Moo 1, Saladan, tel .: +66 75 684 165. Daily diving trips from Saladan.
- Go Dive. Address: 6 Moo 1, Saladan, tel .: +66 75 668 320. PADI courses, free pick-up from all the hotels / beaches of Lanta, dives at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, Ko Haa, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Bida, Hin Bida, Shark Point, Anemone Reef and King Cruiser rack.
- Kon-Tiki Lanta Diving & Snorkeling Center. Phone: +66 75 668 394. Diving and snorkelling near Ko Haa, Ko Bida and Hin Bida, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Exclusive snorkelling trips to Ko Haa Yai, Ko Phi Phi Islands and Koh Rok.
- Ko Lanta Diving Center. Address: 1/3 Moo 1, Saladan, tel .: +66 75 684 065. The first dive shop in Lanta opened here in 1992. Dive sites: Ko Haa, Ko Bida and Hin Bida, Ko Phi Phi, Shark Point, Anemone Reef and King Cruiser, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, as well as two-day trips to Ko Ngai and Hin Daeng.
- Laguna Fun Divers. Address: 147 Moo 1, Saladan, tel .: +66 75 684 528. PADI courses, high-speed boats to Hin Daeng, Ko Rok, Ko Haa, Ko Ma, Hin Bida and Ko Bida, Ko Phi Phi.
- Lanta Discovery Diver. Phone: +66 75 684 035. High-speed boats to various dive sites, take tourists from all beaches in Lanta.
- Lanta Diver. Address: 197/3 Moo 1, Saladan, tel .: +66 75 684 208. PADI courses. The dive center is operated by a Swedish couple and is very popular with divers from Scandinavia. Swim to Ko Haa, Ko Bida and Hin Bida, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang (the last two must be booked in advance).
- Lanta Diving Safaris. Address: 289 Moo 1, Saladan, tel .: +66 87 88 96 802.
- Lanta Scuba. Address: 242 Moo 1, Saladan, tel .: +66 75 668 231. An excellent choice for small groups.
- Narima Diving. Address: 98 Moo 5, Klong Nin Beach, Narima's Resort, tel .: +66 75 662 671.
- Palm Beach Divers. Address: 47 Moo 3, Pra Ae Beach, tel .: 075 684603, 0878064314. Courses of PADI, snorkeling and diving.
- Pimalai Divers. Address: 99 Mu 5, Kantiang Bay, tel .: 0 7560 7999.
- Scubafish. Address: 152/3 Moo 5, Kantiang Bay, tel .: +66 75 665 095. PADI IDC, guided boats depart every morning from Kantiang Bay in the south of Lanta and return around 14:30.
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