Côn Đảo · Vietnam · Reef · Coral garden
Hon Cau
Shark Fin's shallow coral gardens and nudibranch zones
Area photo: Tycho · CC BY-SA 3.0
Hon Cau is the furthest of the three main dive islands, reached in 20–30 minutes by speedboat. Extensive shallow reefs of branching coral lie between 2 m and 8 m, with nudibranch-rich zones and structured hard coral gardens at the main dive site, Shark Fin. Visibility frequently exceeds 20 m.
Also known as Hòn Cau, Cau Island, Shark Fin.
Where it is and how deep
8.6907° N, 106.7390° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The main dive site, Shark Fin, sits on extensive shallow reef with branching coral between 2 m and 8 m. Divers explore shallow coral areas, nudibranch-rich zones and structured hard coral gardens, and the whole dive stays within 8 m.
Larger animals turn up over the reef: giant barracuda, trevally, bamboo sharks and sea turtles may all be seen. Visibility here frequently exceeds 20 m.
Marine life and season
- Barracuda
- Trevally & jacks
- Sea turtles
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Côn Đảo: Northeast monsoon swell limits diving November-January; calmest seas and best visibility run June-August.
Dive videos
Cau Islet, Con Dao, Vietnam · Peter Q on YouTube
Sources
- Diving & Snorkeling - Con Dao Dive Center — Con Dao Dive Center
More dive sites in Côn Đảo
Reef
Horseshoe reef beside Con Dao's main turtle nesting island
Reef
Close-in reef of nudibranchs, batfish and giant pufferfish
Reef
Western Con Dao reef spanning 4 to 25 m
Similar dives elsewhere
Huge schools of snapper over large hard-coral tables
Blacktip reef sharks over a granite slope on the western side
A 40 m drop-off on the west side, with 20 to 30 m of visibility
Shallow coral bay used for snorkelling and night dives