Hidden Depths Diving

Hidden Depths Diving is situated in Saladan, the main village in the north of Koh Lanta. This PADI 5 Star IDC centre provides a gateway to some of the most diverse marine environments in the Andaman Sea, ranging from deep pinnacles to intricate cave systems.

The centre is distinguished by its commitment to environmental stewardship, holding the PADI Green Star award. Following Green Fins guidelines, the team integrates conservation into their daily operations, including participation in Coralwatch surveys to monitor the health of the local reef ecosystems.

As an Instructor Development Centre, the team is highly qualified to take you from your first Discover Scuba Diving session through to professional levels. The staff is multilingual, providing guidance in English, Spanish, Thai, and Chinese to ensure clear communication during briefings and underwater training.

Safety and attention are central to their operation, with a strict ratio of no more than four divers per guide. This small group size allows for a personalised approach, whether you are working on your Peak Performance Buoyancy or completing a Divemaster internship.

The training programme covers the entire PADI spectrum. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the Scuba Diver course, progressing through Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Rescue Diver. For those looking to refine their skills, specialties such as Peak Performance Buoyancy, Deep Diver, Drift Diver, and Underwater Navigator are available.

Professional divers can pursue the Divemaster and Instructor Development Course (IDC) on-site. The centre also offers specialised training in Underwater Photography, Search & Recovery, Underwater Naturalist, Coral Conservation, and Shark Conservation.

The centre operates the HDD1, an 11-metre speedboat equipped with twin Yamaha engines. The vessel is designed to reach the offshore sites quickly, with a capacity for 12 diving customers. It features a low, easy-access platform and a double-runged ladder to make entering and exiting the water straightforward.

On board, you will find comfortable shaded seating areas alongside a dedicated sun area. The boat is well-provisioned for full-day excursions, providing breakfast, lunch, Thai snacks, and fresh fruits, alongside complimentary drinks. Nitrox is available for use on all trips.

The centre provides a full range of rental kit for those not travelling with their own equipment. All gear is maintained on-site by qualified technicians to ensure everything from regulators to BCDs is in good working order. They are also a supplier for reputable brands including Cressi, Scubapro, and Suunto.

Shore-side facilities include a classroom, a showroom, and an equipment room. The centre also features a large terrace overlooking the water, where breakfast and lunch are served.

The area is a haven for large pelagics and reef species. You may encounter Manta ray (Mobula alfredi) and Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) at Hin Daeng or Koh Haa, while Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) are common around the Bida's and Shark Point. Other frequent visitors include Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), various species of Jack (Carangidae), and schooling fish.

On the reef, look for a vibrant array of life including sea turtles (Cheloniidae), stingrays, and various species of Grouper (Epinephelus). The colourful scenery is provided by a wealth of soft corals (Alcyonacea) and hard corals, alongside sea anemones (Actiniaria) inhabited by anemonefish.

Macro divers will find plenty to observe, from Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani) and various shrimps to Ornate ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) and Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda). Keep an eye out for Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), Moray eel (Muraenidae), and various species of Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) tucked into the reef structure.

Diving conditions vary depending on the site. While many reefs offer manageable environments, sites like King Cruiser and Shark Point can experience moderate to strong currents. Visibility typically ranges between 10 and 30 metres.

Excursion timings depend on the destination; departures for Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are at 08:00, while trips to Koh Haa, Koh Bida, and Koh Phi Phi depart at 08:45.