South Andaman Sea
Discover the South Andaman Sea in technicolour, visiting the best dive sites the Thai Gulf and beyond has to offer.
ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore the wreck of the King Cruiser
- Marvel at iconic leopard sharks
- Dive with turtles among colourful soft corals
- Chance encounters with manta rays and whale sharks
The following are some of the areas you may visit on this itinerary:
Anemone Reef – Hin Jom
Anemone Reef is a stunning submerged pinnacle laying in 5-25m of water. This shallow reef has allowed anemones to thrive as they form a living carpet, and clownfish bustle for territory. To the east the pinnacle slopes to a sandy bottom, whereas the west provides a steep wall adorned with soft coral and sea fans. A very popular location for underwater photographers.
Shark Point – Hin Mu Sang
Known to the locals as Hin Mu Sang, Shark Point comprises three main pinnacles dotted 10-15m apart. Leopard sharks are occasionally spotted snoozing in the sand below. Large areas of staghorn coral and table corals sit between striking purples and pink soft corals typical of the area.
King Cruiser Wreck
The King Cruiser is the wreck of a car and passenger ferry that sunk in May 1997, after hitting Anemone Reef. Fortunately, no lives were lost, and she settled on the sandy bottom in an upright position. Although now considered unsafe for entry, divers can explore the passenger deck at 18-22m and the wheelhouse slightly shallower. Nurse sharks are often seen around the propeller remains, and scorpion and lionfish scatter the wreckage, blending in with the rusting metal. In the blue, schooling snapper, trevally and rabbitfish are often seen.
Hin Daeng and Hin Muang
These deep-water dive sites are a real highlight of the sailing. Literally translating to ‘Red Rock’ and ‘Purple Rock’ respectfully, both are covered in soft corals of each colour. Hin Daeng’s red soft corals are neighboured by black corals and sea fans cover each of the three pinnacles protruding from the deeper plateau below.
Nearby, Hin Muang streams with rainbow runners around the gorgonian sea fans and purple soft corals. This is Thailand's deepest dive site, with areas dropping to 45-60m. These deep waters bring in pelagics, and it's not uncommon to see whale sharks and manta rays. Out in the blue, shoaling barracuda and snapper can be seen alongside batfish and groupers.
With great wreck dives including the Donna Marilyn and idyllic day trips also on offer, this diving destination cannot fail to excite. Manta rays are most prevalent here in the rainy season, June to August, but may be spotted year round.
Koh Haa
Koh Haa is a group of five islands to the south of Phi Phi. Here the limestone rock formations carry on underwater and offer some of the best swim throughs in the area. The Cathedral is also aptly named; underwater the rock face is covered in colourful soft corals lead to a big cavern with swim throughs. Although the cavern is not dark and doesn't go more than 5m back from the entrance, this is not what gives it the name. The cave breaks the surface inside, allowing light to flood down as if through a stained-glass window.
Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi has the amazing Bida Nok and Bida Nai dive areas, the two small rock islands at the south of Phi Phi Ley. Bida Nok has sheer walls, caverns, swim throughs while Bida Nai is characterised by its crevices, huge boulders and abundant staghorn reefs. Turtles, schooling jacks and barracuda are common around here, but many divers come to see the fast-moving black tip reef sharks in the shallow water.
Itineraries are subject to change and at the discretion of the liveaboard staff and crew.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: While there's no prerequisite level, Regaldive strongly recommend that divers are qualified to a minimum of PADI Advanced Open Water, or equivalent, with a minimum of 30 logged dives.