What is special about Hin Pray Nam?

Hin Pray Nam offers beautiful coral formations and diverse marine life in relatively shallow waters (up to 16m), making it perfect for relaxed drift dives and macro photography.

Is Hin Pray Nam good for beginners?

Yes, Hin Pray Nam is excellent for beginner divers with its moderate depth of 16 meters and generally calm conditions. It's ideal for building dive experience.

What marine life can I see at Hin Pray Nam?

Expect to see tropical reef fish, nudibranchs, octopus, cuttlefish, moray eels, and beautiful hard and soft corals. The site is known for excellent macro life.

How far is Hin Pray Nam from Koh Chang?

Hin Pray Nam is located southeast of Koh Chang and typically requires a 30-45 minute boat ride depending on departure point and sea conditions.

Can I dive Hin Pray Nam year-round?

The best diving season at Hin Pray Nam is November to May when visibility is best (15-25m). During monsoon season (June-October), conditions can be challenging.

Hin Pray Nam – Hidden Coral Reef Dive near Koh Chang

Discover Hin Pray Nam – Koh Chang's Hidden Coral Reef Adventure

Imagine descending along a single mooring line into the clear waters southeast of Koh Chang, where a hidden coral reef wall awaits at around 9–10 meters. Welcome to Hin Pray Nam – one of Koh Chang's lesser-visited but most beautiful dive sites, where soft and hard corals create a vibrant underwater garden ideal for both beginners and experienced divers.

What makes Hin Pray Nam special is its peaceful, accessible character. Located southeast of Bang Bao Pier, the site takes about 1 hour by boat to reach and lies close to the small island of Koh Wai, where divers have reported sightings of blacktip reef sharks. The reef wall is filled with soft and hard corals, Christmas tree worms, anemones, barrel sponges, and whip corals – a macro photographer's paradise.

Follow the buoy line to the reef at 9–10 meters and you'll discover why Hin Pray Nam is a hidden gem. At this depth, you're in the realm of blue-spotted stingrays gliding over the sand, scorpionfish camouflaged among the corals, and wrasses and pipefish hiding in the crevices. The reef structure offers both shallow areas (3–5 meters) for relaxed exploration and deeper sections (15–16 meters) for those wanting more bottom time.

As you explore the reef wall, keep your eyes open for nudibranchs displaying incredible colors and patterns, moray eels peeking from holes, and the occasional reef shark passing in the blue. The combination of moderate depth, excellent visibility, and abundant marine life makes Hin Pray Nam perfect for building dive experience and enjoying relaxed drift dives.

Here's what makes Hin Pray Nam special: accessibility meets abundance. The site suits Junior Open Water Divers and above – no try dives or snorkeling, but ideal for newly certified divers. The maximum depth of 16 meters keeps dives within comfortable limits, while the shallow coral areas at 3–5 meters offer extended bottom time for safety stops. Ready to discover one of Koh Chang's hidden treasures? Hin Pray Nam is waiting! 🌊🪸

Coral reef wall at Hin Pray Nam dive site near Koh Chang

Diver exploring Hin Pray Nam reef – soft corals and marine life

Blue-spotted stingray and reef fish at Hin Pray Nam, Koh Chang

Macro life and corals at Hin Pray Nam – hidden reef near Koh Chang

Dive Site Overview

Max Depth	16 meters
Shallow Depth	3–5 meters (coral plateau)
Marine Life	Reef sharks, stingrays, scorpionfish, wrasses, pipefish, nudibranchs, soft and hard corals

Ready to discover one of Koh Chang's hidden treasures? Book a fun dive or scuba diving course with Chang Diving Center today!

Diver Level for this dive site.

Min. certification level: Junior, Open Water Diver (or equalled) Try Diving possibility: No Snorkelling possibility: No

Dive Briefing Example for Dive Professionals – Hin Pray Nam

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 Hin Pray Nam! Hin Pray Nam is one of Koh Chang's hidden gems – a beautiful coral reef wall southeast of Bang Bao. This site is famous for its peaceful reef diving with soft and hard corals, blue-spotted stingrays, scorpionfish, and excellent macro life. The maximum depth is 16 meters, ideal for Junior Open Water Divers and above.

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 this hidden reef with you!

2. Site Description & Dive Route

We have good diving conditions today at Hin Pray Nam. Visibility is typically good, and conditions are generally calm – ideal for beginners and relaxed drift dives.

Maximum Depth: 16 meters
Average Depth: 9–10 meters (reef wall), 3–5 meters (shallow coral plateau)
Dive Route: We'll descend along the single buoy line to the reef at 9–10 meters. From there, we'll explore the reef wall – you can choose the shallow coral areas (3–5 meters) or the deeper sections (up to 16 meters). We'll stay within no-decompression limits and begin our ascent for a safety stop at 5 meters.
Site Features: Coral reef wall southeast of Bang Bao, close to Koh Wai. Single mooring line to reef at 9–10m. Soft and hard corals, Christmas tree worms, anemones, barrel sponges, whip corals. Marine life: reef sharks, stingrays, scorpionfish, wrasses, pipefish, nudibranchs.
Weather Conditions: [Current conditions – e.g. "Good visibility, calm conditions"]

This site is perfect for building dive experience. No try dives or snorkeling – you need at least Junior Open Water certification.

What You Can See at Hin Pray Nam

Hin Pray Nam is famous for its macro life and peaceful reef diving. During your dive, you can expect to see:

Blue-Spotted Stingrays: Gliding over the sand
Scorpionfish: Camouflaged among the corals – look carefully!
Pipefish & Nudibranchs: Excellent macro opportunities
Reef Sharks: Occasional sightings, especially near Koh Wai
Soft & Hard Corals: Christmas tree worms, anemones, barrel sponges, whip corals

For a complete guide to the marine life you might encounter while diving in Koh Chang, check out our Marine Life Guide.

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].

[If applicable] Our Divemaster [Name] will be positioned at the back of the group. [Name] will be wearing [Color] fins and will use [signal device] to get your attention if needed.

Important: Stay close to the group and maintain visual contact with your buddy and guide at all times.

4. Entry & Exit Techniques

Boat Entry (Giant Stride)

We'll enter the water from the side of the dive boat with a Giant Stride. Complete your pre-dive safety check before entering. Fully inflate your BCD, keep your regulator in your mouth, and step forward with one leg then the other. Clear the area and swim to the buoy line.

Boat Exit (Ladder)

After your safety stop, swim back to the ladder. Stand on the ladder, remove your fins (hand to crew), and climb up with your regulator in your mouth. Never stay under another diver climbing the ladder.

Dinghy Entry (Backroll)

If using a dinghy, we'll enter with a backroll entry. Sit on the edge with your back to the water, complete your safety check, and on three, lean back and roll in.

5. Dive Procedures & Turn-Around Points

Turn-Around Point: We'll turn when you reach 130 bar (or 1900 PSI)
Air Monitoring: Check your gauge frequently. Communicate early if you're low on air
Safety Stop: 3 minutes at 5 meters – swimming or holding the line
No-Decompression Limits: At 16 meters we have plenty of bottom time. We'll stay within safe limits

6. Emergency Procedures

Buddy Separation: Search for 1 minute at same depth. If not found, controlled safety ascent to surface. Wait there – we'll reunite. DO NOT continue diving alone.

Out of Air / Low on Air: Signal immediately. We'll end the dive and ascend together.

Emergency Contacts: Police 191 | Tourist Police 1155 | EMS 1669 | DAN +1-919-684-9111 | Recompression Chamber: Koh Chang Hospital 039 521-657 or 039 586-131

Suspected DCS: DCS Field Evaluation Slate (PDF)

Emergency Action Plan: Emergency Plan Guide

7. Hand Signal Review

Essential signals: OK, Problem, Up, Down, Air Pressure, Low on Air, Safety Stop. Review with your buddy before the dive.

📋 Download Hand Signal Guide (PDF)

8. Roster & Buddy Check (Pairing)

Roster check – is everyone here? Buddy pairs: [assign pairs]. Do a final buddy check before entering the water.

9. Environmental Awareness & Marine Hazards

Look but don't touch. Hin Pray Nam has delicate corals, scorpionfish (venomous spines), stingrays, and fire coral. Maintain excellent buoyancy to avoid damaging the reef. Take only photos, leave only bubbles.

10. Pre-Dive Safety Check

Complete your BIG WHALES REALLY ARE FUN check with your buddy before every dive. See our Safety Check Guide for details.

📋 Quick Briefing Checklist

✅ Site name and conditions understood
✅ Dive route and depths clear
✅ Guide identification confirmed
✅ Entry/exit procedures reviewed
✅ Turn-around points and air reserves understood
✅ Emergency procedures clear
✅ Hand signals reviewed
✅ Buddy paired and checked
✅ Environmental awareness discussed
✅ Pre-dive safety check completed

Questions? If you have any questions or concerns, please ask now – I'm here to help! Let's have a safe and amazing dive! 🌊🤿

📝 After Your Dive: Log Your Experience

Don't forget to log your dive! Your dive logbook is an important record of your diving experience and is required for many advanced courses. Whether you use a digital app or a traditional logbook, make sure to record:

Date and location
Dive site name (Hin Pray Nam)
Maximum depth and dive duration
Air consumption (start and end pressure)
Your buddy and guide
Highlights (stingrays, nudibranchs, corals, etc.)

For more information on why dive logbooks are important and what to include, check out our Dive Logbook Guide. You can find the dive site stamp and get your logbook signed by your guide at the coffee station on the boat.