Discover Blueberry Hill – Koh Chang's Twin Pinnacle Paradise

Discover Blueberry Hill – Koh Chang's Twin Pinnacle Paradise

Imagine descending into crystal-clear waters toward two magnificent submerged pinnacles rising from the sandy bottom like underwater mountains, their surfaces completely blanketed with vibrant staghorn corals that create a colorful underwater garden. Welcome to Blueberry Hill – one of Koh Chang's most captivating dive sites, where twin rock formations create a unique underwater playground perfect for divers of all experience levels.

What makes Blueberry Hill truly special is its clever structure and accessibility. Located just northwest of Hin Raap South, this site features two distinct pinnacles rising from 15 meters depth to just 3-5 meters below the surface. Follow the mooring buoy line down to approximately 8-9 meters, and you'll find yourself at the entrance to a small underwater canyon that sits between the two pinnacles. This canyon serves as your gateway to adventure – from here, you have two exciting routes to choose from, each offering a completely different perspective of this underwater wonderland.

As you navigate through the canyon and around the pinnacles, you'll quickly understand why this site is so beloved by both new and experienced divers. The entire formation is covered with stunning staghorn corals in various shades of brown, green, and purple, creating a branching forest that provides shelter for countless marine species. Look into the shadowy recesses of the canyon, and you'll spot large schools of soldierfish – their bright red bodies and big eyes creating a mesmerizing display as they hover in perfect formation. Along the coral walls, graceful trumpetfish drift vertically, perfectly camouflaged as they hunt for smaller prey.

But the real stars of Blueberry Hill are the green turtles that frequently visit this site. These gentle giants are often spotted swimming gracefully around the pinnacles or resting on the coral-covered walls, completely unfazed by divers. Watch quietly, and you might witness a turtle feeding on the algae growing on the rocks, or simply cruising past you with slow, powerful strokes of their flippers – creating memories that will last a lifetime.

The beauty of Blueberry Hill lies in its perfect depth range for all experience levels. The canyon at 8-9 meters provides an ideal depth for beginners and try divers, while the sandy bottom at 15 meters allows more experienced divers to explore deeper sections. Best of all, both pinnacles rise to just 3-5 meters below the surface, creating perfect conditions for safety stops. Instead of hanging on a line, you can spend your safety stop time exploring the shallow coral gardens at the pinnacle tops, watching the play of sunlight through the water, and spotting the smaller reef inhabitants that thrive in these well-lit areas.

Here's what makes Blueberry Hill unforgettable: versatility meets natural beauty. The site offers protected canyon diving perfect for training and try dives, two distinct routes that keep the dive interesting even for repeat visits, and excellent visibility that typically ranges from 10-20 meters – allowing you to appreciate the full structure of both pinnacles from a distance. Whether you're taking your first breaths underwater or you're a seasoned diver looking for a relaxed yet rewarding dive, Blueberry Hill delivers an experience that showcases the best of Koh Chang's underwater world. Ready to explore these twin underwater mountains? Blueberry Hill is waiting! 🌊🪸

Dive Site Overview

Max Depth	15 meters (sandy bottom between pinnacles)
Shallow Depth	3-5 meters (pinnacle tops for safety stops)
Canyon Depth	8-9 meters (entry point between pinnacles)
Marine Life	Green turtles, staghorn corals, soldierfish schools, trumpetfish, moray eels, lionfish, reef fish

Don't miss this spectacular twin pinnacle dive! Book your next fun dive or scuba diving course with Chang Diving Center today!

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Diver Level for this dive site.

Min. certification level: Junior, Open Water Diver (or equalled) Try Diving possibility: Yes Snorkelling possibility: Not Recommended

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Dive Briefing Example for Dive Professionals – Blueberry Hill

This is a comprehensive dive briefing template/example for dive professionals. Use this as a reference guide to structure your own briefings. Customize the placeholders (marked with square brackets) with your specific information, guide names, and current conditions. This ensures a safe, organized, and professional dive briefing experience.

1. Dive Site Name & Introduction

Hello everyone and welcome to Blueberry Hill! Blueberry Hill is one of Koh Chang's most spectacular dive sites, featuring two magnificent submerged pinnacles that rise from 15 meters to just 3-5 meters below the surface. This site is famous for its vibrant staghorn coral coverage and small underwater canyon at 8-9 meters depth that connects the two pinnacles, creating a unique underwater playground perfect for all experience levels.

My name is [Your Name] and I will be your dive guide today. I've been diving this site for [X] years and I'm excited to share these twin underwater mountains with you!

2. Site Description & Dive Route

We have excellent diving conditions today at Blueberry Hill. Visibility is typically good, and we have calm surface conditions with minimal current.

• Maximum Depth: 15 meters (sandy bottom between the two pinnacles)
• Average Depth: 8-9 meters (canyon entry point), 3-5 meters (pinnacle tops for safety stop)
• Dive Route: We'll descend along the mooring buoy line to approximately 8-9 meters depth where you'll find yourself at the entrance to a small underwater canyon that sits between the two pinnacles. From this canyon, we have two route options: we can explore the left pinnacle first and circle back, or take the right route. Both routes offer excellent coral coverage and marine life viewing. The pinnacles rise dramatically to 3-5 meters below the surface, which we'll explore during our safety stop. We'll spend our final 3 minutes at the shallow pinnacle tops, enjoying the coral gardens in excellent natural light.
• Site Features: Two distinct submerged pinnacles covered entirely with staghorn corals, connected by a small canyon at 8-9 meters. Large schools of soldierfish shelter in the canyon areas, trumpetfish hunt along the walls, and green turtles frequently visit the site.
• Weather Conditions: [Current conditions - e.g. "Clear water, visibility 15-20 meters, minimal current"]

The site's unique twin pinnacle structure creates two distinct dive routes, making it perfect for repeat visits. The shallow tops (3-5 meters) provide excellent conditions for extended safety stops.

What You Can See at Blueberry Hill

Blueberry Hill is famous for its spectacular coral coverage and diverse marine life. During your dive, you can expect to see:

• Staghorn Coral Gardens: The site's signature feature – both pinnacles are completely covered with vibrant staghorn corals in shades of brown, green, and purple, creating a branching underwater forest
• Green Turtles: Frequent turtle sightings – these gentle giants are often spotted swimming around the pinnacles or resting on the coral walls
• Soldierfish Schools: Large schools of bright red soldierfish sheltering in the shadowy canyon areas, creating spectacular displays
• Trumpetfish: Elegant trumpetfish drifting vertically along the coral walls, perfectly camouflaged as they hunt
• Macro Life: Moray eels hiding in crevices, lionfish hunting in the open, various crustaceans, and countless colorful reef fish species

For a complete guide to the marine life you might encounter while diving in Koh Chang, check out our Marine Life Guide. This comprehensive resource covers species identification, behavior, and the best spots to find various marine creatures.

3. Your Guide's Role & Positioning

I will be leading this dive and wearing [Color] and [Color] fins with a [Description of equipment/identifying feature]. You can easily identify me by [specific visual identifier - e.g. "my bright yellow BCD with the Chang Diving logo"].

[If applicable] Our Divemaster [Name] will be positioned at the back of the group, keeping an eye on everyone. [Name] will be wearing [Color] fins and will use [signal device - e.g. "this tank banger"] to get your attention if needed.

Important: Stay close to the group and maintain visual contact with your buddy and guide at all times. If you need to communicate, use standard hand signals or get my attention by tapping on your tank.

4. Entry & Exit Techniques

Boat Entry (Giant Stride)

We'll enter the water from the side of the dive boat with a Giant Stride. Here's what you should remember:

• Pre-Dive Safety Check: Complete your BIG WHALES REALLY ARE FUN check before entering the water
• BCD Inflation: Fully inflate your BCD before entry
• Regulator: Keep your regulator in your mouth
• Mask: Make sure your mask is properly fitted
• Entry: Step forward with one leg, then the other, keeping legs together
• After Entry: Clear the area immediately, signal OK, and swim to the mooring line

Boat Exit (Ladder)

After completing your safety stop and surfacing:

• Swim back to the ladder on the side of the boat
• Stand on the ladder and remove your fins (hand them to the crew)
• Climb up the ladder with your regulator still in your mouth
• CRITICAL: Never position yourself directly under another diver climbing the ladder
• Once on deck, move away from the entry/exit area

Dinghy Entry (Backroll)

If we're using a dinghy, we'll enter with a backroll entry:

• Sit on the edge of the dinghy with your back to the water
• Complete your pre-dive safety check
• Hold your mask and regulator in place
• On three, lean back and roll into the water
• Clear the area and signal OK

5. Dive Procedures & Turn-Around Points

To ensure we have enough air for a safe return and safety stop:

• Turn-Around Point: We'll turn the dive around when you reach 130 bar (or 1900 PSI). This gives us more than enough air reserve to safely return to the entry point and complete our safety stop.
• Air Monitoring: Check your air gauge frequently throughout the dive. Don't wait until you're low on air to signal – communicate early!
• Safety Stop: At 5 meters depth, we'll conduct a swimming safety stop for 3 minutes. However, at Blueberry Hill, we have the luxury of exploring the shallow pinnacle tops (3-5 meters) during our safety stop – a much more interesting experience than hanging on a line!
• No-Decompression Limits: For this depth range (8-15 meters), your no-decompression limit is very generous. We'll keep the dive well within safe limits, typically spending most time around 8-12 meters.

Remember: The most important rule in diving is to never hold your breath. Breathe normally and continuously throughout the entire dive.

6. Emergency Procedures

While we don't expect any problems, it's important that everyone knows what to do in an emergency:

Buddy Separation

• If you become separated from your buddy, search for 1 minute while staying at the same depth
• If you can't find your buddy, make a controlled safety ascent to the surface
• Wait at the surface – we'll reunite there
• DO NOT continue diving alone

Out of Air / Low on Air

• Low on Air: Signal immediately – we'll end the dive and ascend together
• Out of Air: Signal "out of air" and use your buddy's alternate air source or make a controlled emergency swimming ascent (CESA)
• Always signal problems early – don't wait until it's an emergency!

Emergency Contacts & Equipment

• Police: 191
• Tourist Police: 1155
• Emergency Medical Service: 1669
• DAN International: +1-919-684-9111 (24/7 emergency hotline for dive emergencies)
• Recompression Chamber: Koh Chang Hospital, Phone: 039 521-657 or 039 586-131
• Suspected DCS: See our DCS Field Evaluation Slate (PDF) for assessment procedures
• Emergency Oxygen: Located in the transport box on the right of the captain's seat in the captain's cabin
• First Aid Kit: Located in the transport box on the right of the captain's seat in the captain's cabin
• Emergency Action Plan: For detailed emergency procedures, see our Emergency Plan Guide

7. Hand Signal Review

Hand signals can vary between countries and certification agencies, so let's make sure we're all on the same page. Here are the essential signals we'll be using today:

• OK: [Description/visual] - Used to ask "Are you OK?" and respond "I'm OK"
• Problem: [Description/visual] - Hand waved side to side to indicate a problem
• Up: [Description/visual] - Thumbs up means "I want to go up"
• Down: [Description/visual] - Thumbs down means "I want to go down"
• Air Pressure: [Description/visual] - Show numbers with fingers (e.g. "I have 120 bar")
• Low on Air: [Description/visual] - Hand across throat
• Out of Air: [Description/visual] - Hand across throat, then point to regulator
• Safety Stop: [Description/visual] - Hand horizontal, palm down, at 5 meters
• Stop/Hold: [Description/visual] - Hand up, palm forward
• Look/Point: [Description/visual] - Point at something interesting

Practice Question: Can you show me how you would communicate that you still have 120 bar of air pressure?

📋 Download Complete Hand Signal Guide (PDF)

8. Roster & Buddy Check (Pairing)

Let's make sure everyone is here and properly paired:

• Roster Check: [Go through names] - Is everyone here?
• Buddy Pairs:
  • [Name] and [Name] - you'll be buddies
  • [Name] and [Name] - you'll be buddies
  • [Name] - you'll be my buddy today (for less experienced divers)
• Buddy Check: Before entering the water, do a final check with your buddy – make sure all equipment is secure and functioning

Note: Buddy pairs are typically matched by experience level and certification. If you'd like to dive with a specific person, let me know now.

9. Environmental Awareness & Marine Hazards

Blueberry Hill is a protected dive site, and we must respect the marine environment:

• General Rule: Look but don't touch. Avoid contact with all marine life, including corals and fish
• Marine Life to Be Aware Of:
  • Staghorn Corals: Extremely delicate and brittle – maintain excellent buoyancy to avoid touching or breaking these beautiful corals. The entire site is covered with them!
  • Green Turtles: Maintain respectful distance (2-3 meters) and avoid touching. Never block their path to the surface – they need to breathe
  • Soldierfish: Large schools shelter in canyon areas – observe quietly without disturbing them
  • Lionfish: Beautiful but venomous spines – never touch, maintain safe distance
  • Moray Eels: Usually shy and hiding in crevices – don't put your hands in holes
  • Fire Coral: Can cause skin irritation – avoid contact
  • Sea Urchins: Sharp spines – watch your hands and knees
• Buoyancy Control: Maintain excellent buoyancy to avoid damaging the staghorn corals or stirring up sediment. This site requires especially good buoyancy control due to the extensive coral coverage
• Photography: If taking photos, be especially careful around the coral formations. Use a camera housing or handle, and maintain good buoyancy
• Conservation: Take only photos, leave only bubbles. Never remove anything from the site, especially corals or marine life

Remember: We are guests in their home. Let's be respectful visitors and leave the place exactly as we found it. The staghorn coral gardens are particularly beautiful and fragile – let's preserve them for future divers.

10. Pre-Dive Safety Check

Before every dive, we use the acronym "BIG WHALES REALLY ARE FUN" to make sure nothing is forgotten. For a detailed guide on why safety checks are important and how to do them correctly, check out our Safety Check Guide:

• B - BCD: Check that your BCD inflates and deflates correctly. Test the power inflator and dump valves.
• I - Inflation: Make sure your BCD fits properly and all straps are secure.
• G - Gauges: Check your SPG (submersible pressure gauge), depth gauge, and computer. Make sure they're working and readable.
• W - Weights: Check that your weight belt or integrated weights are secure and properly positioned.
• H - Hose: Check all hoses for kinks or damage. Make sure your regulator hoses are routed correctly.
• A - Air: Turn on your air, check your tank pressure, and take 2-3 breaths from your regulator.
• L - Releases: Test all quick releases on your BCD, weight system, and any other equipment.
• E - Everything: Check once more that everything is in place and working.
• S - Snaps: Make sure all buckles and fasteners are secure.
• R - Releases: (Second check) Verify that all releases are functioning.
• E - Everything: Final check – is everything ready?
• A - Air: Final air check – regulator working, tank pressure good.
• L - Look: Look around – is your buddy ready? Is the entry area clear?
• L - Listen: Listen for final instructions from your guide.
• Y - You: Are YOU ready? Take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the dive!
• A - Again: One more quick check – everything safe?
• R - Ready: Are you ready to dive?
• E - Everything: Final everything check.
• F - Fun: Remember – diving is FUN! Relax and enjoy!
• U - Underwater: Ready to go underwater?
• N - Now: Let's dive NOW!

Pro Tip: Do this check with your buddy. It's a great way to catch problems before entering the water and helps build confidence.

Questions? If you have any questions or concerns, please ask now - I'm here to help! Remember, there are no stupid questions when it comes to dive safety. Let's have a safe and amazing dive! 🌊🤿

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