Mui Loa is a rocky outcrop at the Cu Lao Cham islands off Hoi An that runs from 18 m down to 35 m. Lionfish, batfish and nudibranchs live on the rock, and it is one of the deeper dives on the islands, taken from Hoi An by day boat.
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
Boats run out from the Cua Dai pier in Hoi An to the Cu Lao Cham islands, 18 km offshore and about 30 minutes by speedboat, and the day's sites are chosen to suit the conditions. Mui Loa begins at 18 m, the depth where most dives around the islands level off, and the outcrop then falls away to 35 m, so the dive can be run at whatever depth the group is trained for.
The rock holds lionfish and batfish, and nudibranchs turn up on its surfaces, so the outcrop rewards a slow pace and a close look. Advanced dives at the islands go to 30 m, and the lower part of the outcrop sits below that, which leaves the deepest section for divers with the training to match. Around the islands, visibility runs from 10 to 25 m in the peak months of mid-May to early September.
Marine life and season
- 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 outcrop runs to 35 m; divers agree a maximum depth before descending and watch their gauges on the way down.
- 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 Mui Loa in the Cham Islands?+
Mui Loa is a rocky outcrop that runs from 18 m down to 35 m.
What marine life lives at Mui Loa?+
Lionfish, batfish and nudibranchs live on the rocky outcrop of Mui Loa.
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
Pinnacle
A pinnacle dropping past 40 m with large schooling fish
Similar dives elsewhere
Up to 20 sites around 13 coral-ringed islands
Soft-coral ridge where mantas pass overhead
A wreck at 8 m and a drift south down a slope that reaches 40 m
.jpg){kind=link}
A free descent in open water to a reef top at 24 m, sloping on to 35 m