Hin Klai Diving

Just 2 kms east of Koh Phi Phi lies the submerged pinnacle of Hin Klai (sometimes called Gareng Heng).

Out in the open, and difficult for dive boat captains to locate without a GPS, the corals and marine life are in fantastic condition as Hin Klai is only dived occasionally by dive boats from Koh Lanta.

Even though this dive site is much closer to Phi Phi than Lanta, the Phi Phi dive shops rarely dive here, making Hin Klai a perfect second dive after Phi Phi or the HTMS Kledkaeo Wreck.

We try to dive this site around times of milder currents, however the tide tables are not always accurate.

Fun divers should be minimum Open Water Diver certified (or equivalent), and be reasonably confident in the water to dive Hin Klai.

Currents can occasionally be a little stronger around Hin Klai, meaning this dive site is less suitable for beginner level or less confident divers. This site is however a great place to include in the SSI Advanced Adventurer course.

Hin Klai Marine Life

Pristine Coral Reef

The marine life at Hin Klai is rich and diverse, making it a haven for underwater photographers and marine enthusiasts. The site is teeming with a wide variety of fish species, including both resident and pelagic species.

Find out more from the Thailand Department of National Parks on the Mu Koh Phi Phi Marine National Park.

Coral Reef

Covered with many hundreds of huge rocks, this oval-shaped reef is home to thousands of anemones, countless giant barrel sponges, huge gorgonian sea fans, mushroom corals, and extensive staghorn coral gardens.

There are significantly more healthy staghorn corals, barrel sponges, and giant gorgonian sea fans at Hin Klai than any other dive site around Koh Lanta.

Reef Fish

Hin Klai is home to a myriad of reef fish, including butterflyfish, angelfish, moorish idols, lionfish, boxfish, pufferfish, and clownfish.

The site is also home to huge schools of snappers and fusiliers, often hunted by passing schools of trevallies. Here we also find grouper, emperors, damselfish, and wrasse.

The colourful hard and soft coral formations provide a perfect backdrop for these fish, making it an ideal location for photography.

Macro Life

For those interested in macro photography, hin Klai offers plenty of opportunities to spot smaller marine creatures. Nudibranchs, shrimp, and various species of crabs can be found hiding among the corals and crevices.

The site is also known for its occasional sightings of the elusive ghost pipefish and seahorses, which are a delight for divers with a keen eye.

Other Marine Life

While Hin Klai is primarily a site for reef and macro life, it is not uncommon to encounter larger pelagic species. Barracudas and trevallies are frequent visitors, often seen patrolling the outskirts of the reef.

If they are lucky, divers may also have the chance to spot stingrays, leopard sharks, or passing eagle rays.

Invertebrates

The coral formations at Hin Klai are home to a variety of invertebrates, including vibrant sea anemones, sponges, and sea stars. The site is also a good place to observe different types of mollusks, such as giant clams and colourful nudibranchs, which are often found on the coral heads and rocky surfaces.

Exploring Hin Klai

Diving Hin Klai from Koh Lanta

Hin Klai is a smaller dive site, and can be fully explored in a single dive. We normally like to begin a dive in the deeper areas, circumnavigating the pinnacle, and slowly spiraling to the top.

Hin Klai: The Pinnacle

This gently sloping pinnacle starts with a rocky plateau at around 6 metres, covered with anemones, hard and soft corals and smaller barrel sponges.

The reef slopes gradually to around 13 m on the south, and more steeply to 16 - 17m on the north east side. At just 6 metres deep, the pinnacle is easily spotted from the surface once the boat arrives at the dive site.

As you slowly make your way deeper on the reef, you’ll start to encounter many different species of gorgonian sea fan corals. This area is home to millions of juvenile glassfish, and a massive carpet of fusiliers, snapper, and damselfish that seem to cover the entire reef.

Hin Klai: The West Reef

The west side of Hin Klai is a gently sloping reef, reaching 14 - 17 metres in places. There are huge clumps of massive gorgonian sea fan corals and giant barrel sponges along the outer edges of the reef. Large schools of snapper can be found at the reef edges and among the fan corals and sponges.

Look out for moray eels, sea horses and ghost pipefish in the coral bommies around the reef edge. Here we can also sometimes spot stingrays, larger grouper and snapper, leopard sharks, and occasionally a hawksbill turtle.

The south west features a large soft coral and whip coral garden which stretches out into the blue, home to several species of fish that we don’t often see at other dive sites.

Hin Klai: The East Reef

The south east part of Hin Klai is quite shallow, just 12 to 13 m in places. Here we can find huge areas of staghorn corals and barrel sponges, mixed with hard coral outcrops and anemone covered rocks.

Here we can also find butterfly fish, soldierfish, grouper, schools of snapper, giant pufferfish, and leopard sharks. Everywhere you look, you will see thousands of colourful reef fish.

As you move further north along the east side, the bottom gently becomes deeper, eventually dropping down to around 17 metres, and the staghorn corals give way to a steeper reef slope on the left.

Here we can find moray eels, grouper, wrasse, shrimp, crabs and again, barrel sponges, anemones and a mix of hard and soft corals, together with thousands of reef fish.

Hin Klai: Dive Site Guide

• NameHin Klai
• Visibility5m - 20m +
• Level of DivingMedium
• SnorkelingNo
• Depth6m - 17m +
• CurrentsMild to Medium
• Journey Time30 - 40 mins

Hin Klai Diving Price

Koh Lanta Dive Trips

Fun Diving price at Hin Klai is ฿3,150 for 2 dives. Diving price includes dive guide, free equipment rental, lunch & soft drinks on the boat when booked online in advance.

• You must be certified minimum SSI/PADI Open Water Diver, CMAS 1 Star Diver, BSAC Ocean Diver, or equivalent.
• Scuba Skills Refresher for extra ฿900 when Booked Online (Normal Price ฿1,000).
• Does not include Marine Park Diving Fee: Thai ฿240, Foreigner ฿600, per day.

See a complete list of all our Koh Lanta Diving Prices.

Koh Lanta Dive Sites

Some of Thailand's Best Diving

Hin Klai is one of the best dive sites in Thailand, and can be easily dived from Koh Lanta by speedboat along with many of Thailand's other top dive sites:

Find out more at the Thai Department of National Parks.

Our Dive Trip Schedule

Lanta Dive trips from 15 Oct - 15 May

Our dive trips depart Koh Lanta in the morning every day during high season from the south end of Long Beach, normally returning around 1:30 - 2pm.

• All trips are 2 dives a day
• Trips depart from the beach at our dive shop @ Lanta Castaway Beach Resort
• Trips Depart 8/9am, return 2pm
• Dive & Relax is open from Oct 15 - May 15.
• E-mail us info@diveandrelax.com in advance with any questions, or to make a booking.

We may schedule a Shark Point & Anemone Reef dive trip or a KledKaeo Wreck & Hin Klai dive trip upon request. A minimum of 5 divers are required for these trips, please let us know if you are interested.

We love to dive as much as possible during the high season, however all our dive trips depend on the weather, sea conditions, currents and minimum numbers and may be subject to change at short notice.

For more information on our weather and climate, check out the best time to visit Koh Lanta.