Koh Lanta & Koh Haa · Thailand · Cave & cavern · Reef
Ko Haa Yai 5 (The Cathedral)
Surfacing inside a limestone cavern under hanging stalactites
The Cathedral is a series of large interconnected caverns and swim-throughs in Ko Haa Yai, the largest of the Koh Haa islands. Natural light filters into the main chamber through its entrances, and divers can surface inside it beneath limestone stalactites hanging from the high ceiling.
Also known as The Cathedral, Ko Haa Cathedral, Koh Haa Yai 5 Cathedral, Ko Haa Yai 5.
Where it is and how deep
7.4293° N, 98.8957° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The cave entrances open between about 12 m and 20 m, and from there the route leads into large chambers joined by swim-throughs. The largest cavern has three chambers and is the one called the Cathedral; its first two chambers connect through a shallow swim-through at about 9 m, and inside it divers can rise to the surface and look up at the stalactites. Turtles and whitetip reef sharks patrol the reef outside.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Reef sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Koh Lanta & Koh Haa: November to April is the dry season and the best diving; most dive shops close from the end of April to the end of October.
Know before you go
- Enter the cave system only with the experience and training to do so.
- The current is usually light but can turn strong, so plan the dive with it in mind.
Dive videos
The Cathedral of Koh Haa Yai | Diving in the South of the Andaman Sea · Pattaya Divers on YouTube
Sources
- Ko Haa Yai 5 - The Cathedral dive site — DiveZone
- Diving in Thailand — Wikivoyage
- Koh Haa Lagoon — ScubaGo
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