Hin daeng Hin Moung

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.

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!!