Garang Heng
Garang Heng (aka Hin Klay) is a mid ocean mount located just inside the marine protected area of the Had Nopharathara National Park, east of Phi Phi Ley island.
It consists of a small mound of rocks that range from 5 meters depth to 22 meters on one side but the whole site is generally shallow. As it is not visible from the surface only vessels with GPS and bottom sounders can locate the site.
It takes 20 minutes to reach there from Phi Phi Don Island.
This dive site can be visited as part of our Amazing Two Dive package, or, during our special three dive Leopard Seafari
THE DIVE SITES
This dive is suitable for divers of all levels. However as a mid ocean mount it is an exposed site, meaning there is no protection from any land mass, and therefore offers little relief on times when there are strong currents or rough ocean conditions. Therefore dives here have to be scheduled according to daily shifts in tides and sutiable weather conditions.
Garang Heng dive site
This is small rocky dive site surrounded by a sandy substrate. Divers descend onto a shallow mount which is made of large coral outcrops and rocks. The gradual sloping reef makes it easy to navigate down to the deeper spots of dive site. On one side, the depth does not exceed 15 meters while on the other side you may reach a depth of 22 meters. On average, most of the site is at 10 -12 meters depth, or less.
This site is teeming with marine life. Large gorgonian seafans on the western slope. Traveling east along the northern edge there are plenty of nooks and crannies to discover a plethora of species. Cuttlefish, yellow snappers, turtles are common to be seen here.
Out on the sand or hidden between the large porites corals you may come across the leopard sharks resting on the bottom. Swim slowly and make little noise as they are sensitive to both movement and sound. Avoid swimming over the top of the leopard sharks and keep your distance – the goal is to avoid disturbing them. Under no conditions is touching permitted.
As you circle around the eastern side and start heading south-south west the bottom flattens out. If you want to go to explore out over the sandy substrate keep an eye on your compass or other navigational skills, as its easy to get disoriented here if you too busy searching for the next amazing discovery.
A dive usually ends with a safety stop over the top of the reef, where the boat will be waiting to come to collect you once you surface.
A montipora foliose coral at Garang Heng
Garang Heng Dive Gallery
