Liveaboard Diving at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang

Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, which translate directly into English as Red Rock and Purple Rock, are considered by experienced guides to be two of the best liveaboard dive sites in Thailand. Often spoken of in the same breath as 'Manta Rays', Hin Daeng and Muang are this and so much more! There are fields of Magnificent Anemones, walls of Hemprich's Soft Corals, with countless pelagics hunting in the blue. Combining Hin Daeng and Hin Muang with the Similans and Richelieu Rock truly provides the best livaboard diving in Thailand

Though Hin Muang (and to a lesser degree Hin Daeng) were damaged in the 2006-7 season by an 'unknown incident' (theories range from algie blooms to fishing with electricity), the diving here is still magnificent and eclipses almost everything else in south. Almost perpetual good vis and dramatic topography combined with huge fish number makes for excellent liveaboard diving.

When to dive at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang by liveaboard

Diving on Hin Daeng and Hin Muang by liveaboard is only really practical from November to April or maybe even May. The reason for this is that the western monsoon makes both getting to, and diving at, these sites virtually impossible for liveaboards outside of these times. The best time of year to see Manta Rays and, less often, Whale Sharks while diving at Hin Daeng or Hin Muang is January through to April, though even then sightings are not always guaranteed on your liveaboard trip.

Which Hin Daeng and Hin Muang Liveaboard Itinerary to choose

This season MV Philkade is only running two liveaboard cruises to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, with both of them over the Christmas and New Year period. To check out the itinerary of the trips and to pick out your perfect liveaboard cruise see MV Philkade liveaboard prices and schedules

Hin Muang

Site Layout:

Large steeply sloping limestone pinnacle

Diving depth:

surface to 30m+

Currents:

Can be strong

Visibility:

Generally 25m+

Surface:

Very open, can get choppy early and late in the season

Site access:

Depends upon the conditions, normally dinghy

Hin Muang is thought to be the deepest liveaboard dive site in Thai waters with eastern end of this limestone monolith descending to over 70m. The name in English translates as Purple Rock and comes from the fields of Magnificent Sea Anemones that adorn the western end of the site and when closed display their purple undersides. Many of the corals in the deeper areas disappeared after some unknown event during the 2006 liveaboard season but this has not taken away too much from the dive site. Because of the size of the rock and the depth of the water the scenery is spectacular and massive numbers of Rainbow Runners, Blue Fin Trevally, Yellow Tail and Chevron Barracuda and Yellow Tail Jacks are constantly circling the Hin Muang on the lookout for prey. This prey will include Angel Fish, Butterfly Fish, Snapper, Goat Fish and Wrasse, and there is still more. Macro lovers aboard our liveaboard can see Nudibranchs, Cleaner Pipe Fish, and numerous juvenile Ringed and Emperor Angel Fish. If you like the big stuff you can often see Leopard Shark and Marbled Whip Rays here on Hin Muang too!!

Hin Daeng

Site Layout:

Large limestone pinnacle with gently sloping hard corals and walls

Diving depth:

surface to 30m+

Currents:

Can be strong though the site offers plenty of shelter

Visibility:

Generally 25m+

Surface:

Very open, can get choppy early and late in the season

Site access:

Depends upon the conditions, normally dinghy

Though only a few hundred metres from Hin Muang, Hin Daeng (Thai for Red Rock) is suprisingly different. Just breaking the surface, this pinnacle drops to a much a mere 40m, and is largely covered in red Hemprich's Soft Coral. To the north of the site, two canyons run parallel to each other and this is the place to see Manta Rays when the season and conditions are right. In the past, divers have spent the whole dive in this one spot, never getting deeper than 14m while coming within (not) touching distance of these amazing creatures. Keep your fingers crossed really tightly and you may also see Whale Shark here as well. If the time is not right however, you can still see Rainbow Runner, Barracuda, Wahoo and Dogtooth Tuna, while the ever present school of Long Fin Batfish will generally be waiting to the south east. There is also the chance of Leopard Sharks and Marbled Whip Rays. For the macro people, Ornate Ghost Pipe Fish, Banded Cleaner Shrimp and Cleaner Pipe Fish are usually around throughout most of the liveaboard season.

To see more dive sites in Thailand, choose another area:

Thailand liveaboard - Northern Phuket dive sites

Similan Islands - Surin Islands - Ko Bon - Ko Tachai - Richelieu Rock

Thailand liveaboard - Southern Phuket dive sites

Phi Phi Islands - Ko Haa

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