Hin Klang (Hin Klai) Phi Phi: Diving, Snorkeling & Access

Featured image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

What Is Hin Klang (and Is It Hin Klai)?

Hin Klai is the spelling dive operators use for a submerged pinnacle. Dive & Relax, a Koh Lanta dive center, places it 2 km (1.2 miles) east of Koh Phi Phi and lists Gareng Heng as another name. Speedboat tour itineraries write Hin Klang instead and put it between Phi Phi Don and Bamboo Island. Both descriptions may point to one reef, or to two neighbors. Treat the names as interchangeable only after your operator says so. Either way, the site sits inside Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, so park rules apply. Our Phi Phi diving overview covers the wider region.

Diving or Snorkeling Hin Klang: Who It Suits

Dive & Relax asks fun divers to hold at least an Open Water certification, such as PADI Open Water Diver, and to feel reasonably confident in the water. Currents run mild to medium and can occasionally pick up. Freshly certified divers may prefer a calmer site for their first trips. Snorkeling is where sources split. Dive & Relax's site table says no, with the pinnacle top near 6 m (20 ft). One full-day speedboat itinerary lists a snorkel stop at Hin Klang Island, and another guide calls the water shallow. Until a boat crew describes the day's conditions, treat snorkeling as unconfirmed. Not certified yet? Look at PADI courses on Phi Phi. Want a first breath underwater? Try Discover Scuba instead.

What You'll See Underwater

Hin Klai is small, and Dive & Relax says one dive explores all of it. Its guides start deep, circle the pinnacle and spiral up toward the top. Visibility is reported at 5–20 m+ (16–66 ft). Operators report glassfish, fusiliers and snapper over the pinnacle. Leopard sharks, ghost pipefish and seahorses turn up occasionally, but sightings are never guaranteed. Dive & Relax also says staghorn coral, barrel sponges and sea fans are denser here than at other Koh Lanta-area sites. Depths below come from that operator.

• Pinnacle: a rocky plateau at about 6 m (20 ft) with anemones and small barrel sponges, sloping to about 13 m (43 ft) on the south side and 16–17 m (52–56 ft) to the northeast.
• West reef: gentle slope reaching 14–17 m (46–56 ft), with large gorgonian sea fans and giant barrel sponges along the outer edge.
• East reef: shallow staghorn gardens at 12–13 m (39–43 ft), dropping to about 17 m (56 ft) farther north.

How to Get to Hin Klang from Phi Phi

From Phi Phi, the starting point is Tonsai Pier. Ask your dive center whether the site is on the day's plan, because Dive & Relax says Phi Phi shops rarely dive it. Tour boats are the other route. One full-day speedboat itinerary departs Ton Sai pier at 10:30am and lists a Hin Klang snorkel stop at 2:30pm. Compare departures among the dive centers on Phi Phi Don before you book.

• From Phi Phi: dive boat or speedboat from Tonsai Pier, if the operator schedules it.
• From Koh Lanta: Dive & Relax lists a 30–40 minute speedboat ride, and runs a Kled Kaeo wreck and Hin Klai trip on request with at least 5 divers.
• From Phuket: Aloha Diving puts Phi Phi about 3 h away by boat, so this is the longest route.

Cost, Park Fees and What's Included

Prices and hours checked November 2026. Dive & Relax charges ฿3,330 for two dives at Hin Klai when booked online, or ฿3,700 as a walk-in. Both rates include a guide, equipment rental, lunch and soft drinks. The marine park fee is extra at ฿240 for Thai nationals and ฿600 for foreigners, per day. A Skills Refresher adds ฿900 online. Those are Koh Lanta rates, and Phi Phi operators set their own. See Phi Phi diving costs for local comparisons.

Best Time to Go and Conditions

Dive & Relax runs Koh Lanta trips from mid-October to mid-May, with Koh Bida and Phi Phi days on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Trips depend on weather, sea state, currents and minimum numbers, and can change at short notice. Its crews aim for milder current, though tide tables are not always accurate. Aloha Diving reports 10–20 m (33–66 ft) visibility around Phi Phi. Read the season guide for Phi Phi diving before picking dates. Then check water temperature by month to choose your wetsuit.

Hin Klang vs Other Phi Phi Dive Sites

Hin Klai is shallower and smaller than the big Phi Phi walls. Depths below come from Aloha Diving and Dive & Relax. Aloha also notes that access to individual sites can change with National Park conservation measures. The full Phi Phi dive site list covers more options.

Diving Responsibly in the Marine Park

Hin Klang lies in a marine national park, so rules apply. Keep buoyancy neutral above the staghorn coral on the east reef. Do not touch or chase marine life. Removing shells or coral is illegal. Keep food and rubbish out of the water, since feeding fish disrupts the reef. Wear reef-safe sunscreen. Closures and fee rules sit with the Department of National Parks.

Mistakes to Avoid and Questions to Ask Your Operator

Most problems come from assumptions made before the boat leaves. Use the lists below to settle them at the counter.

• Mistake: assuming it is snorkel-friendly because a tour lists it.
• Mistake: ignoring current and tide on the day.
• Mistake: booking without checking the site is on the plan.
• Mistake: forgetting the ฿600 foreigner park fee per day.
• Ask: Is Hin Klang on today's plan?
• Ask: What minimum certification do you require?
• Ask: What current do you expect, and what is the group size?
• Ask: Are the park fee and gear included?