DIVE SITE INFORMATION

Regular Dive Sites

Dive Site Name: Hin Lak Bat Shark Fin Rock

Though at first sight Shark Fin looks to be a very small dive site, once in the water a large reef appears. On the north western side of the rock the reef close to rock is shallow, large areas of stag horns, brain corals, barrel sponges, and anemones are abundant. The main attraction is the southeastern side with its 16 m (55 ft) vertical wall almost breaking the surface. The northeastern side has a single rock formation that is vertical on the west and has a large sand bank sliding down to 25 m (80ft) on the east, this is home to some large Black Spotted Sting Rays. On a good day, this is the best dive site Pattaya has to offer. Marine life is plentiful and varied.

Location: Approximately 1 km west of the Hardeep shipwreck lies a small rock resembling a shark fin.

Conditions: During northerly winds, this site is suitable for novice divers. Southerly winds, however, make it suitable for more experienced divers only. Visibility ranges between 5 m (16 ft) and 15 m (50 ft). Strong currents can make the site unsuitable for novice divers, although one side or the other is normally protected.

Maximum Depth: Average depth 15 m (50 ft), Maximum depth 28 m (95 ft)

Visibility: Depending on the weather conditions. Usually, the best weather range for diving in this place is from October to January and April.

Did You Know? Most stingrays have a hard tubercle of scales on the middle of their back. These scales can be used for various purposes, such as producing leather goods like bags and making jewelry such as rings.

Dive Site Name: HTMS Hardeep, HTMS Suthathip

History of Dive Site
The sunken ship Suthathip is a steel steamer of the Siam Steam Navigation Company, which has a twin boat named "Walai" built together. Both ships are named after the daughters of King Chulalongkorn, Princess Sutthathipayarat and Princess Valaya Alongkorn. The Suthathip sank at about 12:40 on 1 June 1945 when it was blown up by Allied bombers and sank in a starboard side down at a depth of about 25 meters. The starboard height is about 16 meters, the hull is 68 meters long, and 11 meters wide, with the bow facing south (SSW) and the stern facing north (NNE). The Suthathip boat is still graceful, though most equipment and stuff is almost completely lost.

Maximum Depth: 30 m

Visibility: Depending on the weather conditions. Usually, the best weather range for diving in this place is from October to January and April.

What You Will See: Wrecks, various creatures inside the ship's interior, and exploring many others.

Dive Site Name: Shark Rock

History of Dive Site
San Shark Island in Chunburi Province is an island located in the sea south of Samaesarn, about 15 km away from the coast. It is used as the target of warship shooting training by the Royal Thai Navy. The underwater feature of San Shark Island is a rock island appearing on the water, with cliffs underwater. Divers can enjoy the beauty of corals, sea whips, sponges, and various sea fish. The area around the island is rich in underwater life, making it a popular destination for scuba divers.

Maximum Depth: 7 - 30 m

Visibility: Depending on the weather conditions. Usually, the best weather range for diving in this place is from October to January and April.

What You Will See: Large hard corals, many schools of fish, soft corals of various colors, seahorses, colorful slugs, giant stingrays, sea eels, plate corals, cuttlefish, barracudas, triggerfish, clownfish, sea anemones, groupers, spotted rays, and sea turtles.

Macro Lover Dive Sites

Dive Site Name: Koh Chan

This island can also be divided on either side due to winds and currents. The southernmost tip of the island has huge rocks that have fallen from the cliff. The best dive site here is the headland on the southeast corner of the island on the seaward side. Large rocks are covered in sea fans, whip corals, hard and soft corals. Many blue spotted Sting Rays, schools of Yellowtail Fusiliers, and lionfish can be seen feeding in the current.

Maximum Depth: Average depth: 6 m (20 ft). Maximum depth: 12 m (60 ft)

Visibility: Depending on the weather conditions. Usually, the best weather range for diving in this place is from October to January and April.

Did You Know? Most stingrays have a hard tubercle of scales on the middle of their back. These scales can be used for various purposes, such as producing leather goods like bags and making jewelry such as rings.

Dive Site Name: Koh Chuang

The largest island dived around Samae San, almost 8 km south of the harbor.

Maximum Depth: Average depth: 8 m (20 ft). Maximum depth: 18 m (60 ft)

Visibility: Depending on the weather conditions. Usually, the best weather range for diving in this place is from October to January and April.

What You Will See: This diving point is only suitable for finding colorful sea slugs, because there are not many corals. But it's an easy diving spot with a small bay.

Did You Know? Sea slugs build up toxic chemicals on their skin for self-defense. Some species have breathing organs on top of their head or body. They inhabit coral reefs and nearby areas, feeding on algae, sponges, sea anemones, soft corals, sea fans, and barnacles. Around the world, about 2,000 species are found, with about 100 species in Thailand.

Dive Site Name: Koh Rong Khon

Maximum Depth: Average depth: 15 m (50 ft). Maximum depth: 28 m (95 ft)

Visibility: Depending on the weather conditions. Usually, the best weather range for diving in this place is from October to January and April.

Did You Know? Most stingrays have a hard tubercle of scales on the middle of their back. These scales can be used for various purposes, such as producing leather goods like bags and making jewelry such as rings.

Dive Site Name: Koh Rong Nang

On certain tides, divers prefer to drift, dropping into the water at the southern end of the rocks on the east side. The tide then takes you the whole length of the two islands from Koh Ron Nang all the way down to the backside of Koh Ron lakhon. The waters can move quite quickly, so it is suggested to dive in smaller groups and perhaps with some previous drift experience. Its fairly simple drift down to the northern end and around to the other side, where you can remain out of the current for the rest of your allowable bottom time.

The northern tip of these islands, Koh Ron Nang, is a huge expanse. Regular divers can explore close to the coral line, which is really interesting if you enjoy complex rocky structures to snoop through looking for what aquatic life hides beneath. Out down the sand bar is where it can get quite deep. Most popular with Tech divers as depths can well exceed the limits of recreational divers. You will see many clusters of filter-feeding corals and sponges attached to the boulders, and the reef goes on and on. Expert navigational skills and air management are a must for this route dive plan.

Maximum Depth: 22 m. Average depth: 16 m

Visibility: Depending on the weather conditions. Usually, the best weather range for diving in this place is from October to January and April.

What You Will See: It is an area rich in soft corals, sea turtles, various soft corals, nudibranchs of various colors, and schools of various fish.