Explore Hin Raab South – Koh Chang's Stunning Reef Dive

Explore Hin Raab South – Koh Chang's Stunning Reef Dive

Picture swimming along a colorful reef wall where green sea turtles glide past, blue-spotted stingrays rest on the sand, and moray eels peer from crevices filled with barrel sponges and anemones. Welcome to Hin Raab South – one of Koh Chang's most iconic reef dive sites, located southwest of Bang Bao. This site features a large flat rock formation with two buoy lines that lead directly to the reef – no long surface swims required. The first buoy reaches 6–7 meters, the second a sandy area at 4–5 meters.

What makes Hin Raab South special is its versatility. At 18 meters maximum depth and shallow areas of 4–7 meters, it's perfect for Open Water divers, try dives, and snorkelers. The reef features gentle sloping walls covered with hard corals, yellow soft corals, whip corals, and purple stag-horn corals. The site is connected to Secret Reef, forming one large ecosystem – together they offer about 2 hours of bottom time for full exploration. Hin Raab South is known for excellent marine life diversity and is one of the better sites for green sea turtle encounters, especially during high season (November–May).

As you explore the reef wall, keep your eyes open for scorpionfish camouflaged among the corals, triggerfish and barracudas patrolling the edges, trumpetfish hovering vertically, and fusiliers in schools. The combination of structure, depth variation, and abundant marine life makes Hin Raab South perfect for photographers and divers of all experience levels. Whether you're on your first dive or your hundredth, this reef delivers a memorable underwater adventure.

Why Dive at Hin Raab South?

• Vibrant Coral Reef: Discover a colorful reef filled with hard corals, yellow soft corals, whip corals, and purple stag-horn corals.
• Exciting Marine Life: Spot moray eels, blue-spotted rays, triggerfish, barracudas, trumpetfish, and even the occasional turtle.
• Beautiful Reef Wall: Swim along the reef wall and explore hidden crevices filled with scorpionfish, anemones, barrel sponges, and more.

Dive Site Overview

Max Depth	18 meters
Shallow Depth	4–7 meters
Marine Life	Green sea turtles, blue-spotted rays, moray eels, triggerfish, fusiliers, barracudas, trumpetfish, scorpionfish

Don't miss your chance to dive at Hin Raab South! Book a 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: Yes

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Dive Briefing Example for Dive Professionals – Hin Raab South

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 Raab South! Hin Raab South is one of Koh Chang's most iconic reef dive sites – a colorful reef with walls at 18 meters maximum depth, located southwest of Bang Bao. It's perfect for Open Water divers, try dives, and snorkelers. The site has two buoy lines leading directly to the reef – no long surface swims. The reef features gentle sloping walls, coral gardens, and is connected to Secret Reef. It's one of the better sites for green sea turtle encounters.

My name is [Your Name] and I will be your dive guide today. Hin Raab South is often combined with Secret Reef for a two-dive day – together they offer about 2 hours of bottom time.

2. Site Description & Dive Route

We have good conditions today at Hin Raab South. The site has two buoy lines – the first leads to 6–7 meters, the second to a sandy area at 4–5 meters.

• Maximum Depth: 18 meters (reef wall)
• Shallow Depth: 4–7 meters (sandy area and plateau)
• Dive Route: We'll descend along the buoy line to the reef. From there, we'll follow the reef wall, exploring the coral gardens and crevices. The reef has gentle slopes – we can drift with minimal current or explore at our pace. Return to the buoy line for our safety stop.
• Site Features: Large flat rock formation, two buoy lines, reef walls with hard corals, whip corals, purple stag-horn, connected to Secret Reef.
• Weather Conditions: [Current conditions - e.g. "Clear water, good visibility, minimal current"]

What You Can See at Hin Raab South

Hin Raab South is known for excellent marine life. During your dive, look for:

• Green sea turtles – especially during high season (November–May)
• Blue-spotted stingrays – often resting on the sandy bottom
• Moray eels – peering from crevices and barrel sponges
• Triggerfish, barracudas, trumpetfish, fusiliers – patrolling the reef
• Scorpionfish – camouflaged among the corals

For a complete guide to marine life in Koh Chang, check 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 - 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 buoy 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 buoy line 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 3-minute safety stop at the buoy line before surfacing.
• No-Decompression Limits: At 18 meters depth, we'll keep the dive well within safe limits.

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

Hin Raab South 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:
  • Blue-spotted stingrays: Venomous spine on the tail – maintain respectful distance, never touch or step on
  • Moray eels: Can bite if provoked – observe from a distance, never put hands in crevices
  • Scorpionfish: Venomous spines – maintain distance, avoid touching
  • Green sea turtles: Protected species – observe from a distance, never touch or chase
  • Triggerfish: Can be territorial during nesting season – maintain respectful distance
  • Fire coral: Can cause skin irritation – avoid contact
• Buoyancy Control: Maintain excellent buoyancy to avoid damaging corals or stirring up sediment
• Conservation: Take only photos, leave only bubbles. Never remove anything from the reef

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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What other divers discovered

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