Koh Bida Nai and Koh Bida Nok are two spectacular limestone rocks jutting out the water just south oh Koh Phi Phi. They are really impressive to view above sea level and even more impressive under the water when you go scuba diving.

Koh Bida Nok is one of my favourite dive sites in the Andaman Sea due to the marine diversity and amazing topography. One minute you can be swimming along a reef wall, floating in a garden of soft corals or cruising by some of the biggest sea fans you may ever experience whilst encountering Black Tip Sharks, Leopard Sharks, Turtle, Cuttlefish, Trevally, and smaller critters like Ghostpipe Fish, and Shrimps.

Below are some great photo’s taken at Koh Bida Nok by Tasha an Instructor who works on Koh Lanta. The first few shots are of a Sea Horse which has been hiding in the same fan for a few years, they do look very shy when you view them.

This is a great silhouette shot of a swimming Leopard Shark

Juvenille Harlequin Sweetlips

Thank you Tasha for sharing your photo’s with AmazingLanta. They are great!

If you would like to go diving around the Koh Bida Islands why not join a day trip which departs Koh Lanta around 8am and returns around 15:30. Or how abaout a Liveaboard trip on the MV Flying Seahorse Koh Lanta’s only Liveaboard operator.

I have dived Koh Ha many times and it still impresses me every time I go. At the moment the water is chrystal clear. The Lagoon is still one of my favourite places especially when learning to dive.

Its the variety of marine life what makes Koh Ha so special and its where you will find small is beautifull!

Koh Ha Lagoon

Koh means Island and Ha means 5 in Thai. The lagoon is surrounded by 3 impressive Lime stone rocks. The other 2 Islands sit a few hundred meters apart. The pictures below where taken at the biggest Island named Koh Ha Yai ( Yai meaning big ) and the pictures where taken around 200 meters apart, its that easy to see funky fish.

Harlequin Shrimp at Koh Ha

Ornate Ghostpipe Fish at Koh Ha

For day trips to Koh Ha please check out the all day dive boat and for those who want to make the most of diving check out Koh Lanta’s Liveaboard.

Enjoy your diving!

I have just dived Hin Muang again and it was AMAZING!

I was diving with Steve who took the Open Water Course with Go Dive on Koh Lanta several yaesr ago. Steve luckily keeps returning back to Koh Lanta where he has now taken the Advanced Open Water Course and Nitrox Speciality.

This vacation Steve wanted to keep going with his learning and took the Deep Speciality which is diving to the maximum of recreational diving of 40 meters. On one of these dives we headed to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. The plan was to drop down to 40 meters shallow up slowly and look for the Lacey Scorpionfish.

Lacey Scorpionfish at Hin Muang don’t be fooled the white dots, they are not its eyes.

I shallowed up looking for the scorpion fish but could not find it as the fish is Purple and well camouflaged next to some purple soft corals, plan out the window I thought!

But luckily Steve was focused on a clownfish and when I looked down the scorpionfish was just next to him. BRILLIANT!

Beautifull and Ugly at the same time

Thank you to Steve for letting me use your photo’s on this blog they are great shots of a remarkable fish and also Thank you some great diving.

Hin Daeng and HIn Muang 2 of the best dive sites in Thailand and easily accesible from Koh Lanta. I joined the Go Dive Boat for a one day trip and was amazed by 12 hours of fun.

We departed Saladan at 7am and was taken back by the incredible sun rising. Also there was around 40 Eagles flying around swooping down to pick up some samll fish for breakfast. It is amazing in a small area how they do not collide, and wow what a great sight to see.

Then it was time to relax as the trip is around 3.5 hours long. When we arrived we dove Hin Muang first due to it’s depth. This was a nice easy dive today with no current present. Cruising around we did not see any Manta Ray action but we had a few wonderfull sights.

Lacy Scorpion Fish ( Rhinopias ) an unusual sighting for this area.

Everything on these dive sites seem bigger, and this Moray Eel was massive. So nice watching it gulp loads of water as it is breathing.

On the second dive the best thing was an unusual sight. I have seen it only a few times and was very happy to witness it again. Just in the current at the right time all the corals ooze out the next generation. It looks like the whole area is about to erupt.

On the way home we experienced an amazing sunset which made the whole day perfect. One I will never forget!

Sunset from the boat after the dive trip.

Koh Lanta is the nearest place to dive Hin Daeng and Hin Muang with several trips a week scheduled by Go Dive. Or if you fancy something a little bit different why not join Koh Lanta’s only Liveabaord with 2 day and 1 night trips to these great dive sites.

Koh Lanta always has this lure about it. Believe me most people who come here either stay well over what they planned or they return year after year. So it was a fantastic surprise when Stephan and Cecille walked in the dive shop again. They dive with Go Dive nearly every year and everytime they come back they are like one of the family.

Stephan told me about his camera flooding as the case was not so secure anymore. So I lent him mine for a few days. After all Memories are amazing! and these are some of the top photo’s he took.

Nudibranch found on Koh Ha

Leopard Shark found resting around Koh Bida

You don’t see these Honey Comb Morays to much so this was a nice find

This is one of my favourite photo’s a Banded Sea Snake

Diving Thru the Caves at Koh Ha 1

Sunset whilst returning from Hin Daeng and HIn Muang

They both dived around Koh Ha, Koh Bida and Hin Daeng for around a weeek and there are several options you can also choose to do the same. Join the One day Dive Boat which allow you 2 dives per day. You can choose an option of 3,4,5 and 7 day packages which save you money and also they don’t have to be dived every day. You can take a break in between. Or for the lovers of Night Dives why not join Koh Lanta’s only Liveabaord which operate trips with 4 dives a day and also visit the Similan Islands.

Thank you to Stephan and Cecille for letting me use these photos, we hope to see you both again soon!

There are times when you have to stop your motorbike and have a look around. These Monkeys where found on the main road heading to the car ferry on Koh Lanta.

The first monkey looks like he is getting a bit of grief from his friends and he keeps moving to stay away. Not long after this around 6 monkeys gace chase to him.

Now I know why my phone does not work sometimes?

There is no better way to kick back and relax dreaming of what to do whilst lying in a hammock.

You know tho! you won’t achieve anything that day as time slips you by . You will contemplate the energy needed to roll out of the Hammock and realise you might as well stay lounging listening to some great tunes, reading a book or simply hanging out with your friends.

Hammock House the original one is found in the Old Town of Koh Lanta

I went to Koh Lanta’s old town which is found on the East Coast of Koh Lanta. Its a great little town with homes built on stilts jutting out in to the sea and has a Chinese culture as you will see by many lanterns.

In the middle of the main road you will find Hammock House which offers a unique selection of comfy, handwoven hammocks with designs and colours you won’t find anywhere else. They offer indoor and outdoor hammocks, travel or family sized, hanging chairs, parachutes and extra special V-weaves

A selection of the many colourfull hammocks on offer inside Hammock House

Hammock House is owned by Butch and Jeab 2 great people who have created a perfect atmosphere to there shop and will listen and advise on what you need. Why not pop over any day of the week and have a chat with them, if you not sure of how to arrive in Old Town hire a motorbike and follow the Lanta Biker Map which can be found in many shops. On this map are clear instructions opr check out our google map of Old Town below. If your really struggling call them on 075 697 098 and ask for directions.

Map of Old Town and Hammock House Koh Lanta
Here is AmazingLanta.com’s interactive map of Old Town on Koh Lanta – click on the icons to see information.

Use the + and – buttons on the map’s top left to zoom in and out of the map. You can also drag the map area by clicking on it with your mouse and holding down the mouse button as you drag.

Have a Hammock and a smile more like!

Not only do you get to purchase a Hammock which you can take home and use to remember you holiday but it gives a sustainable source of income for disadvantaged groups in rural Thailand.

Its been great diving at the moment. I have just finished diving around Koh Ha where the visibility as usual is pretty exceptional.

I really enjoy Koh Ha as its got some shallow reefs for learning to dive and also drops of to 30 meters for the more experienced divers. Its also got an abundance of marine life to keep everyone happy and interested.

Below are 2 videos which where taken this week. The first one was of this Sea Snake. On land it has to be admitted Snakes scare the life out of me, however when I see one underwater they are the most graceful creatures ever. You can see how close I get!

This video of a cuttle fish was taken near Koh Ha Lagoon in around 4 meters of water which makes it great for every diver to see. I think it liked me!

Thank you to Anna and Aki for letting me use there camera on this dive. Don’t forget you should always take your camera because you never know what you may see.

You can visit Koh Ha by a One day trip, Sailing Boat or a Liveabaord which offer night diving and free Nitrox.

Enjoy your diving where ever it may be!

Koh Lanta in the south of Thailand is a favourite spot for families due to the great beaches, friendly people and excellent choice of food.

Although most Thai people are Budhist or Muslim it does not stop them celebrating Christmas.

Happy Christmas and Good fortune for 2010 from AmazingLanta! and also all our Thai friends who make Koh Lanta an experience to enjoy.

Some drastic and big improvements where made in the quieter part of the season to the Go Dive, Diving and snorkeling boat.

New colour scheme for Go Dive

If you came on the boat before the upper deck would look pretty much the same except for the colour scheme. Down stairs how ever has taken on a massive improvement as they have redesigned and rebuilt the whole of the lower deck.

They jacked up the upper deck and ripped out the old toilets, kitchen and first aid room from the lower deck.

Go Dive have now built the lower decks with more space to gear up. Moving the kitchen to the left of the boat. This is where P’Nee the captains wife cooks the fresh breakfast and lunch everyday, ensuring enough food for everyone. Then there are 2 new toilets which both include water shower. The boat was redesigned tho for the very large dry area at the front of the boat. This is a great and comfortable place to sit if it rains or if you need to stay out of the sun! Go Dive are also going to improve the area with plasma T.V and also a few tables which will be great for teaching.

Picture taken this week of Koh Ha Lagoon

The Go Dive boat operates from Koh Lanta and does daily trips to Koh Ha, Koh Phi Phi and Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. They specialise in one day diving trips and all Padi courses from the Open Water Course through to the Divemaster Certificate.

With more added comfort and great staff they truly make for a memorable dive and snorkeling trip.