Hon Nhan, also called Crazy Pineapple, is a pinnacle at the Cu Lao Cham islands off Hoi An that drops past 40 m. Large schools of fish gather around it and nudibranchs are plentiful on it, and it runs well below the 18 m where most dives at the islands level off.
Also known as Crazy Pineapple.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Cham Islands & Hoi An and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The dive starts with the boat ride from the Cua Dai pier in Hoi An out to the Cu Lao Cham islands, 18 km offshore and about 30 minutes by speedboat. The dive centres choose each day's sites to suit the conditions, so the pinnacle goes on the plan only when the sea allows it, and at more than 40 m it sits at the deep end of the islands' range.
Most dives at the islands level off around 18 m and advanced dives go to 30 m, but the pinnacle carries on past 40 m, so the depth of the dive is set by the divers' training rather than by the bottom. Large schools of fish hang around the rock, and nudibranchs are common on its sides, which rewards a slow look at the walls of the pinnacle on the way back up.
Marine life and season
- Reef fish swarms
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Cham Islands & Hoi An: Boats run February to mid-October; June to August is the steadiest window, with 10–25 m visibility from mid-May to early September. Typhoons peak in September and October.
Know before you go
- The pinnacle continues past 40 m; divers agree a maximum depth before descending and hold to it.
- Squalls can blow up even in the calm season and keep speedboats in; trips run only from February to mid-October.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Hon Nhan in the Cham Islands?+
Hon Nhan is a pinnacle that drops past 40 m.
When can Hon Nhan be dived?+
Dive boats to the Cham Islands run from February to mid-October, and the sites are chosen on the day to suit conditions. Typhoons and heavy storms mostly come in September and October.
Sources
- Hoi An Scuba Dive Sites — Hoi An Diving Center
- Fun Dive (Certified Divers) — Cham Island Diving Center
- Our Diving Sites — Cham Island Diving Center
- Questions & Answers — Cham Island Diving Center
- Chàm Islands — Wikivoyage
More dive sites in Cham Islands & Hoi An
Reef
A rocky outcrop from 18 to 35 m with lionfish and batfish
Similar dives elsewhere
One pinnacle, 10 m at the top and 40 m at the base
Boulder field from 24 to 36 m with near-constant current
Large schools of barracuda on an exposed pinnacle in strong current
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Granite arches at the exposed north end of the chain