Reisebericht Ko Lanta Diving Center
Ko Ha Islands The group of Koh Haa Islands hosts 5 small rocky islands and Koh Haa Yai Island. This area is one of the most amazing dive sites of the southern Andaman Sea, with its great variety of coral reef structures and tropical marine life. Ko Ha Nueng (1) Koh Haa Nueng is the northernmost island of Koh Haa group. The island is surrounded by reefs, with the north coast featuring a wall line covered with soft coral, sea fans and barrel sponge. A hard coral reef slope stretches from the southeast side to the east side of this island. The maximum depth at Koh Haa Nueng is 25-30 mt. The most popular diving spot on this island is located on the south side, and it is characterized by stunning outcrops covered by dense growths of soft coral and sea fans that create a dazzling swim-through. At 16-18 mt, there is a grotto that leads to a chimney-like vertical hole – another highlight of this dive site. This chimney has two exits at a depth of 5 mt. Ko Ha Lagoon (2, 3, 4) This picturesque lagoon is located in the center of the Koh Haa Group, surrounded by a pair of small limestone towers (Koh Haa 2 & 4) to the east, and Koh Haa 3 in front, complete with a small beach which only appears at low tide. The most popular spot of this divesite is located around the two limestone towers. The south tower is covered in colourful soft coral, impressing sea fans, black corals and various species of anemones; cup corals form the south side of the islands. The sandy bottom reaches down to a depth of below 30 mt. There, some rare garden eels can be seen. Numerous rocks nicely covered with purple soft corals are scattered beyond the wall. Divers may find schooling snappers and lionfish there. Hard corals scattered all around the sandy, sloped area connect the two islands. The north tower is quite similar to the south tower, except things are on a larger scale. Koh Haa 3 is also another good divesite, with the best spots being on the opposite side of the lagoon. Koh Haa Lagoon is ideal for all levels of divers. Depths range from 5 mt to more than 30 mt. Just look out for currents outside the bay, especially if you plan night dives. These islands are popular to macro lovers. Along the walls are many cracks and crevices offering shelter to several small creatures like different species of shrimps and crabs. Some sea fans are populated with ornate ghost pipefish and cowries camouflaged among the fronds. Sometimes harlequin shrimps and seamoth as well a variety of nudibranches can be spotted. If you are lucky, you can see bigger fishes like barracudas, tunas, black spotted stingrays or whitetip reef sharks passing by. Koh Haa Islands can also regale you with sight of eagle rays and whale sharks. Ko Ha Yai The biggest of the Haa islands is Koh Haa Yai. It is characterized by a steep cliff perpendicular to sea level that stretches all the way from above the water to depths of up to 30 mt. Koh Haa Yai is surrounded by reefs, and the most famous dive spot is the rock wall at the south side of the island, which ends in a sandy bottom at 25-30 mt and is covered with a variety of soft corals, sea fans and hard coral. There are two underwater caves on the southeast side. The entrance of the first cave is at a depth of 12 mt. As this cave gets narrower as you go deeper, cave penetration is not recommended unless divers have obtained cave specialty certification. The second cave is actually a shallow cavern, and can be found to the left of the first. The entrance is split into two by a vertical rock plate, but the rest of the cave is spacious and well illuminated. The hall height of the cave is 2-3 mt above sea level, so swimming to the surface from inside the cave is possible. This cave is also known as “The Cathedral” because of the blue light reflected from the surface. The exterior of the cave is covered with soft corals, sea whips and rock outcrops, ending in a sandy bottom at depths of 28-30 mt