Koh Haa Islands
Koh Haa is a group of 5 islands located within the Mu Koh Lanta National park situated approximately 20km from Ko Lanta and approximately 65 km from the Phi Phi islands. The 5 small islands (actually 5) are small in fact rocky outcrops that offer some of the best dives sites in the south Andaman area. There is no accommodation on these islands, but day trips are offered by boat.
The journey from Phi Phi Island generally takes just over 2h hours to reach the Koh Haa Islands.
THE DIVE SITES
There are a number of dive sites spread across the 5 islands in this group.
Koh Haa Island #1
Koh Haa island #1 is the northernmost island in the group and also known as Koh Haa Neung.
On the south side of the island ‘The Chimney‘. A vertical cavern open at both ends that drops from 4 – 5 meters depth down to 18 meters. We recommend dropping in from the top and heading downwards at the beginning of the dive although it can be daunting for inexperienced divers since the entrance is only a couple of meters wide, however as soon as you enter, the tunnel widens and you can easily see the exit at the other end.
As you exit ‘The Chimney’, you’ll encounter the large rocky outcrops and the substrate is covered with white seafans. Continuing anti-clockwise with the reef on your left, you can slowly ascend with a very nice sloping reef covered with montipora leafy (plate) corals. Twin spot yellow snappers and groupers are often found here. Careful inspection under the corals you might find harlequin shrimps and nudibranchs.
Continue around to the Northeast side the reef shallows out, with larger bommies, before it drops off again to a wall type reef in the north /northwest side where deepens.
For divers that are conservative on their air, it’s possible to do the whole island in one dive.
The Chimney at Koh Haa #1
Koh Haa Gallery
Koh Haa Island #2 and #4
We have included these two islands together since they are only located 100 – 200 meters apart and a dive here usually encompasses both islands.
Starting in the white sandy lagoon we go anti-clockwise around Island #4. The reef drops off quickly here and is better for the dive profile heading to the deeper part of the reef first. The walls are covered in sea fans and soft corals. These sites offer the chance to see pelagic species such as trevallies, Whalesharks, turtles and Guitar sharks.
From Koh Haa Island #4 we head north across the small channel that takes us to Koh Haa Island #2. In the channel we might find Kuhl’s stingrays or garden eels. Koh Haa Island # 2 is a smaller island and its crystal clear waters are perfect for finding macro life, octopus, squid etc
Relaxing in Koh Haa Lagoon
Koh Haa Island #5
Koh Haa island #5 is the largest island in the group and is the location of the spectacular caverns known as The Cathedral’.
The Cathedral is a very large (double) cavern that runs almost from the surface down to approximately 15 meters depth and approximately 20 meters wide and 15 meters deep. It is in fact one large cavern but is separated by a narrow limestone wall which splits the cavern into one small and one much larger section.
Visible from the exterior of the main cavern, in the lower far right is an alternative 2 meter entrance that gives access to a 4 meter tunnel that leads into the main cavern section and this is an easy and fun access point for divers with good buoyancy.
At the base of the main cavern in the right corner is the entrance to a tunnel which should not be entered with the proper cave diver training or safety equipment.
Outside of the tunnel is a small field of whip corals and as you swim out and over the edge the reef drops off to 30-35 meters, The boulders here are covered in beautifully coloured soft corals and large schools of snappers, emperors and trevally are often found here. Keep an eye out into the blue though for the occasional encounter of a passing whaleshark or manta ray.
Further to the north of the Cathedral is a 2nd smaller cavern but again, divers should be cautious as there are tunnels that lead off and should not be attempted without the proper cave diver training or safety equipment.
