Red Rock
(also known as Nang Yuan Pinnacle) is a popular dive site located on the northeast side of Koh Nang Yuan. While the rock itself is a relatively small submerged pinnacle, the site is famous for its dramatic swim-through and its function as a “drift dive” entry point for those heading toward Japanese Gardens.
Key Details
- Depth: 2 to 22 meters. The pinnacle itself drops to about 18–20 meters at the sandy bottom.
- Skill Level: Open Water to Advanced. While the pinnacle is deep, the subsequent swim-through is suitable for most divers with good buoyancy.
- Visibility: 10 to 25 meters.
- Topography: A large, solitary granite pinnacle that starts just below the surface (often visible as a reddish hue from the boat, giving it its name). The main highlight is the “Nang Yuan Cave,” a long, beautiful swim-through located about 15–20 meters west of the main rock.
Marine Life
- The Swim-Through: Inside the cave, you can often find Durban Dancing Shrimp, Cleaner Shrimp, and Yellow Boxfish. The light filtering through the cracks creates a great atmosphere for photos.
- Pelagics: Because it is an offshore pinnacle, you have a higher chance of seeing larger marine life like Great Barracuda and the occasional Whale Shark passing by in the blue.
- Reef Residents: Look for Blue-spotted Stingrays in the sand at the base of the rock and Moray Eels tucked into the crevices. Hawksbill Turtles are also very common here, often seen chewing on sponges along the rocky walls.
- Macro: The vertical walls of the pinnacle are covered in colorful cup corals and small nudibranchs.
The “Long Journey” Dive Plan Red Rock is frequently used as the starting point for a “Long Journey” or drift dive. Divers drop at the pinnacle, explore the rock and the nearby cave/swim-through, and then navigate South-East across the reef. This path leads you directly into the shallower, protected coral gardens of Japanese Gardens, where you can spend your safety stop exploring the “Nemo” anemones and schools of butterflyfish before surfacing.
Location
10.12267, 99.81513 Get Directions
