Dive & Snorkel the Five Magical Islands of Koh Haa

Diving and Snorkeling Koh Haa

Koh Haa means 'Five Islands' in Thai, and is named after the five spectacular limestone islands, whose sheer cliffs plunge into the beautifully clear water that surrounds them. Koh Haa is located off the south west coast of Koh Lanta, around 30 minutes journey time on our boat.

Along with the great diving at Koh Haa, there is a beautiful, sheltered coral lagoon formed by three of the five islands and there are pristine, white sandy beaches on Koh Haa Three and Koh Haa Five which are great for snorkelling from.

Koh Haa Lagoon

The shallow, clear waters of Koh Haa coral Lagoon boast exceptional visibility, sloping gently into deeper water. This provides a superb location for divers and snorkelers alike. Two of the islands which form Koh Haa Lagoon are perfect for both experienced and less experienced divers. With an average depth ranging from 5 to 30 meters, the best way to get as much out of your dive as possible is to plan your journey around the coral gardens of islands of Koh Haa Two and Four.

Throughout this dive, you're likely to spot yellow boxfish, hawksbill turtles, banded sea snakes, lionfish, leopard and black-tip reef sharks, butterfly fish, trumpet fish, squid, barracuda and countless other tropical fish - the list is endless! Like any dive site, the lagoon has its aquatic residents, a favourite of which is "Pete" the porcupine fish, who will often curiously folow divers around the lagoon.

For macro photography enthusiasts, the lagoon and all other Koh Haa islands offer almost unlimited opportunities for the patient and keen diver. Ghost pipefish, seahorses, nudibranch, sea moths, frogfish and various shrimp are all regularly spotted.

Koh Haa One (The Chimney)

The island of Koh Haa One is a very short boat journey from the lagoon and boasts a tall vertical chimney which you can easily swim through. Starting from 5 meters, and dropping to around 15 meters, the chimney itself is filled with crustaceans and tiny glassfish. Once out the of chimney, a large arm can be seen holding a bundle of life, including a resident sea horse. Along the way, be sure to keep your eyes open for large schools of snapper, trevally, barracuda hunting along the reef, along with the shy octopus, cuttlefish and many other Koh Haa residents.

Koh Haa Five (The Cathedral)

The large cavern located on Koh Haa Five is nick-named the Cathedral and is easily accessed through an opening from 6 to 13 meters. With high ceilings and imposing stalactites, you can surface inside the Cathedral and witness the breathtaking view above and around. There are two large entrances where the natural light filters through, giving the Cathedral cavern a magical effect. Be sure to take along your camera, as this is one shot you don't want to miss!

Continuing around Koh Haa Five, numerous species can be found including, harlequin shrimps, leafy ghost pipefish, gorgonian sea fans, spiny lobsters in cracks and, if you are lucky, the magnificent whale shark. The whale sharks can visit any time of year, so be prepared to be graced with their beautiful presence.

The shallow area in front of the beach is a must see for snorkelers and great for beginner divers. Lying at around 6 meters, the beach is filled with coal formations which can be several meters high, purple anemone beds homing clown fish but no shallow coral area would be complete without its angel fish, banner fish, Moorish idols and colourful parrot fish.

Site Guide

Snorkelers and divers should not miss a visit to these beautiful islands, which are as stunning above, as they are below, the surface.

Visibility:	Between 15 and 30 meters
Level of Diving:	All Levels
Depth:	From 5 to 50 meters
Journey Time:	30 minutes
Quality of Corals:	****
Variety of Fish:	****

Our photo gallery gives you a preview of some of the diving and snorkeling which we have to offer here at Dive & Relax.

Get picked up in style from your resort each morning! Book any Multi-Day Diving Package online, and where possible, we will send our speedboat to your resort in the morning to pick you up from the beach, returning you by speedboat directly to your resort again in the afternoon, completely free of charge. If you plan to stay at a resort on Long Beach (Phra Ae), Klong Dao beach, or Kaw Kwang beach then please ask us about our free speedboat transfers.

Dive & Relax PADI Resort offers PADI Scuba diving courses for both beginners and experienced divers. For beginners, we offer a one-day, 2 dive Discover Scuba Diving experience, and for those wanting an internationally recognised scuba diving qualification, we offer the 3 to 4 day PADI Open Water Diver course. Of course, we also offer PADI Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver and Divemaster courses.

Experienced or first-time underwater photographer? Rent a camera or bring your own and learn how to capture those stunning professional shots often seen in magazines on our 1 day, 2 dive photography workshop at one of the stunning coral reefs in the Andaman Sea.

All dive sites are between 30 and 60 minutes journey time on our private speedboat, which means you can sleep late and enjoy a 9am beach departure and an early afternoon return to Koh Lanta with plenty of time to relax on the beach, or prepare your hammock for one of the spectacular sunsets here on Koh Lanta.