Hin Muang, (Purple Rock) is totally submerged
and is located just a few hundred meters north of Hin Daeng. This unique dive
site is so completely covered with lush purple soft corals that it actually seems
to glow, and it attracts the most incredible amount of marine life you will find
anywhere. Compared with the relatively barren Hin Daeng it's as if you are swimming
in an entirely different ocean and not just a short distance away. This limestone
pinnacle stretches for more than 200 meters in length and in some places is less
than 20 meters in width. The almost vertical walls are carpeted with anemones
and colorful sea fans and the numerous little caves, ledges, and rocky outcroppings
provide shelter for virtually every underwater creature found in Southeast Asia. It
is one of the best sites for viewing Manta Rays, and many species of sharks including
the Grey Reef Shark which are commonly seen congregating in groups of a dozen
or more. Hin Muang like Richelieu Rock in the Surin Islands to the north
is also a magnet for Whale Sharks and ranks among Thailand's best places for observing
these gentle giants.
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