Rob: Hin Daeng and Hin Muang the two premier dive sites south of Koh Lanta are nothing short of spectacular. Traditionally at the start of the dive season on Koh Lanta, it is manta ray heaven and this year is no exception – this week we’ve had up to 4 manta rays being spotted together.

Manta at Hin Daeng, November 2007 – Photo by King from Go Dive

Hin Muang, a long oblong submerged pinnacle, has one of the deepest drop offs in Thailand, going down to 70 metres. Hin Daeng, although only 400 metres apart, features several different drop offs connected by rock shelves at different levels. Strong currents are sometimes present so the site is for the more experienced diver.

Although Koh Lanta daytrips go regularly to the site, doing a Lanta liveaboard is a great option. When so many mantas are sighted together, the Thai boat captains radio each other. After hearing the radio chatter, the Lanta Diving Safaris Liveaboard changed its schedule slightly and decided to head to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang first for a morning dive, getting there before the day boats.

Manta up close and personal at Hin Daeng, November 2007 – Photo by King from Go Dive

The decision to change schedule paid off. All customers on the Lanta liveaboard saw 4 Majestic Mantas flying, swirling, diving, just like watching an aerobatic display. When they seemingly stop on top of the reef being cleaned you always have a special moment when you look straight in their eye.

When the day boats arrived at 11am they were unlucky this day and the customers didn’t spot any. With the mantas it’s amazing diving at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang but without them it’s still amazing diving – when you have the mantas you forget to look at the dive sites and the smaller critters that still make for a great dive.

Read more about Koh Lanta’s dive sites and send us a message if you’d like to come and see the mantas yourself!