Trat

Trat Province Dive Sites Overview

Diving in Trat Province is centered around the islands of the Mu Ko Chang National Park, particularly Koh Chang and the nearby Koh Rang archipelago. The dive sites are known for their vibrant coral reefs, calm waters, and spectacular wreck diving opportunities.

Key Dive Areas & Sites

1. Koh Chang Local Sites

These sites are easily accessible from Koh Chang and are ideal for beginners and casual divers due to their shallow depths and gentle currents.

Hin Luk Bat: A rock pinnacle known for its dramatic underwater formations and diverse marine life. It's a great spot to see shoals of fusiliers, snappers, and barracuda, and it's a popular site for both day and night dives.
Hin Raab: A trio of underwater rock formations with vibrant soft corals and excellent visibility. Divers can spot turtles, batfish, stonefish, and occasionally even whale sharks during the right season.
Blueberry Hill (Hin Tai Nam): Known for its rocky reefs and an abundance of nudibranchs, making it a favorite for macro photographers. It's a great place for relaxed exploration.

2. Koh Rang National Park

Located southwest of Koh Chang, this protected marine park offers some of the best visibility and most pristine reefs in the area. It is a popular destination for day trips.

Hin Ga Daeng (Red Rock): A deeper pinnacle dive suitable for more experienced divers. The site can have strong currents but rewards divers with a chance to see larger pelagic species.
Hin Yai: A large reef with impressive coral formations and schools of reef fish. It's a beautiful site for a calm and colorful dive.
Koh Thian, Koh Kra & Koh Thonglang: These small islands offer beautiful, shallow reef dives with hard corals and abundant reef fish, making them perfect for training dives and snorkelers.

Wreck Diving

Trat is a fantastic destination for wreck diving, featuring some of Thailand's most famous sunken vessels.

HTMS Chang Wreck: At 117 meters long, this former US Navy LST is Thailand's largest shipwreck. Sunk in 2012 to create an artificial reef, the wreck lies in 30 meters of water with the topmast at just 5 meters. It's home to a huge variety of marine life, including barracuda, groupers, lionfish, and octopuses, and is an absolute must-dive site.
T11 Wreck: A smaller, more fragmented gunship that rests at a maximum depth of 16 meters. Despite being broken, it's a great site for new wreck divers and is home to groupers, lionfish, and schooling fish.
Thonburi Wreck: A historical Thai warship sunk in 1941. It is a more challenging and broken wreck at 15 meters, but it offers a unique historical dive experience.

Marine Life and Conditions

Marine Life: The waters around Trat are teeming with life, from macro creatures like nudibranchs and seahorses to larger species such as groupers, barracuda, and schools of snappers. Divers can also frequently spot sea turtles and blue-spotted stingrays. Lucky divers may even encounter whale sharks, especially during the peak season from March to May.
Visibility: Visibility can range from 3 to 20 meters, with the best conditions typically found during the dry season.
Currents: Currents are generally mild, but some of the deeper sites and pinnacles, like Hin Ga Daeng, can have strong and unpredictable currents.
Dive Season: The best time to dive in Trat is during the dry season, from November to May. The rainy season from June to October can bring rougher seas and reduced visibility, but diving is still possible on calmer days.