Whale Shark
(Rhincodon typus)
Hin Muang Liveaboard Diving
Sitting just a couple of hundred metres next to the well-known Hin Daeng is Hin Muang (Purple Rock in the local language). Nobody is really sure why these two undersea pinnacles are referred to as a pair and called ‘Hin Daeng’ because neither is better than the other.
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Maybe it’s just that Hin Daeng is easier to pronounce than Hin Muang, especially for foreigners. The two dive sites are right next to each other, and very similar in their topography and the marine life there. It is claimed that Hin Muang has more purple soft corals than red, when compared to Hin Daeng. Hin Muang’s pinnacle can be seen above the water’s surface at low tide, but there is no opportunity to do anything here, such as relax on a beach. It literally is a bit of rock sticking a metre or two out of the water and hardly big enough to notice. What lies underneath is very different, though.
Hin Muang is home to the deepest and steepest drop-off wall in all of Thailand. It really is something that needs to be seen to be understood. The wall continues down into the dark depths of the sea. Experienced technical divers are able to descend to 70 metres, but of course most divers are limited to 30 or 40 metres. Those who are lucky enough to go diving at Hin Muang are guaranteed to see one of Thailand’s best dive sites. In fact, on its day it can be the best. It just depends on the sea & weather conditions, the marine life seen and how many other divers are there at the same time.
Sea & Weather Conditions at Hin Muang
Because Hin Muang is a submerged pinnacle in very deep sea far from the nearest island and even further from the mainland, it is exposed. This means that surface waves can be an issue because there is no landmass to offer shelter from wind or the waves. Also, there’s nowhere for the dive boats to get protection, so things can be a bit rocky on some days. The good news is that the depth and distance from everywhere else means that the water is usually very clear. Divers at Hin Muang can expect 20-30 metres visibility during the diving season. Currents can be an issue, but with a good dive plan, it’s normally ok. Divers can get shelter from the currents, or change the dive order, and visit Hin Daeng instead.
How many divers normally go to Hin Muang on a normal day?
This is something that makes Hin Muang arguably the best dive site in Thailand. Not only is it large, deep and right next to Hin Daeng, not many day trip or liveaboard diving boats visit this location. Therefore, the dive site is rarely crowded. It’s quite common for a dive boat to be the only one at Hin Muang & Hin Daeng, and even if there are two or more diving boats there, they can easily manage the dive timing and which of these great dive sites are visited in which order.
Conditions at Hin Muang
Depths
1 - 70 metres
3.3 - 229.7 ft
Currents
Occasional strong currents
Visibility
10 - 30 metres
32.8 - 98.4 ft
Surface
Surface waves likely
When to dive at Hin Muang
Best Times:November to April
Officially, Koh Haa National Marine Park (in which Hin Muang is located) opens each year on October 15th and closes on May 15th. However, due to the location far from land, the conditions can be unpredictable. Therefore, diving takes place from November to April, with the best months being December to March.
What type of dive site is Hin Muang
Reef, Wall diving
Hin Muang is a limestone underwater pinnacle in open sea, surrounded by water that is 70 metres deep or more. Therefore, the surface can be rough and currents are often present. It's covered in plenty of hard & soft corals, which attracts a huge amount of marine life.
Where is Hin Muang?
Hin Muang is just 200 metres from Hin Daeng, its sister dive site. They are at least 60 km. from Thailand's mainland, with the nearest province being Trang. The nearest island is Koh Rok, which is almost half way (25km) from Hin Muang to the mainland. 60 km north from Hin Muang is Koh Phi Phi, and Phuket is 90 km to the northwest.
How to get to Hin Muang
Liveaboard Boat
Although day trips are possible to Hin Muang, it's not practical, and it's expensive. By far the best way to get to Hin Muang is on a scuba diving liveaboard cruise (diving safari). These leave from Phuket and travel through the night so you wake up ready to dive.
Who can dive at Hin Muang
PADI Open Water + Adventure Deep 30m, SSI Open Water + Adventure Deep, CMAS 2, NAUI Experienced equivalent or higher.
Minimum 20 logged dives.
There are no official regulations forbidding inexperienced divers from Hin Muang, but in reality, you need to be Advanced or Open Water with a 30m (99ft) Deep Dive certification. It's also necessary to be comfortable in a current, and with waves at the surface.
What marine life can you see at Hin Muang?
Diver at Hin Muang
Almost anything can be seen when scuba diving at Hin Muang. This includes bony & cartilaginous fish, invertebrates and reptiles. Some divers who are able and prepared to go very deep at Hin Muang report several shark species which are not normally seen by divers in Thailand. The wall is covered in soft corals, which are home to many interesting critters. And every diver at Hin Muang hopes to be lucky enough to spot a visiting Manta Ray or passing Whale Shark, but these can never be guaranteed.
You can also see
Summary of Hin Muang
On a good day, Hin Muang is the best dive site in Thailand! It is rarely busy with other divers, which means shy species aren't scared off. Plus for most of us, a tourist attraction is better enjoyed when not busy. With or without lots of other divers, the topography, clear water and marine life ensure a great dive every time. It has a steep & deep (70m.) wall, a vast amount of marine life, and large pelagic visitors are often seen. Surface waves and currents can be an issue, but your divemaster guide will plan and lead the dive so that everyone enjoys as long & safe dive as possible.
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Liveaboard Dive Boats That Visit Hin Muang
Latest Reviews Average Rating 9.1/10 Based on 19 Diver Reviews for Liveaboards - Hin Muang
Mip
Australian
Review score: 6/10
Dived: 01 Apr 2024
Food - excellent
Accommodation 2 star suitable for a back packer
Crew - fantastic
Diving- good dives for divers with basic to intermediate skills...
aurelien mery
French
Review score: 9/10
Dived: 08 Mar 2024
great boat, convenient departure time. good equipment, great to have nitrox onboard. food was ok.
nice crew, briefing can be improved...
Helen & Tomas
Swedish
Review score: 9/10
Dived: 01 Dec 2023
Boat with à lot of space. Some cabins with space for your stuff as well so all in all the boat is a good choice for liveaboard.
Staff was great and...
KC
American
Review score: 9/10
Dived: 13 Nov 2023
Tour leader and divemasters were excellent.
I had toured much of this before, but the diving seemed much better. I’ think much of that was due to ...
Dani
American
Review score: 10/10
Dived: 22 May 2023
My husband and I did the 5 day trip on Merdeka 3. Our dive master Conner, Captain Addy, Chet, Fah and Bah were all wonderful. The room was comfortable...
Trish
New Zealander
Review score: 9/10
Dived: 10 Apr 2023
Great dives and snorkelling…..saw sharks, turtle, moray, etc. People were wonderful, food very yummy! Had a fun evening on Phi Phi amongst the Songk...
Jon
American
Review score: 10/10
Dived: 10 Mar 2023
Absolutely amazing experience with the friendly boat crew and amazing dive teams. This was my 1st Liveaboard and didn’t 6nts and couldn’t have as...
erskine
Hong Kongese
Review score: 10/10
Dived: 22 Feb 2023
Well maintained dive boat with experience dive guide, many awesome dive site, luckiest, saw the leoshark 😍😍, 4 meal per day cooked by the great ...
Ren
Malaysian
Review score: 9/10
Dived: 11 Feb 2023
Had a very good LOB experience on the Phinisi. Very nice, good sized clean rooms, well equipped and comfortable dive platform, and just wonderful guid...
Tomas
Swedish
Review score: 10/10
Dived: 25 Nov 2022
This was a really nice trip. The best diving in the west coast of Thailand. Richelui-HinDaeng. The food was great....
HelenandTomas
Swedish
Review score: 9/10
Dived: 25 Nov 2022
Great trip. Nice boat.
Food was intresting ⭐️lokal food the way it should be done and the strange local dishes you don’t dare to try . You won...
Thomas
Thai
Review score: 9/10
Dived: 10 Oct 2022
We enjoyed our time on the Merdeka very much. It is certainly not a pure boat for divers. But I think that is also in the description. It is primarily...
