Phi Phi & the King Cruiser · Thailand · Pinnacle · Reef
Shark Point
Leopard sharks on the sand under three pinnacles
Area photo: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0
Shark Point, or Hin Musang, is a marine sanctuary built on three pinnacles, the largest of which breaks the surface as a barren rock outcropping. Dives run 10 to 25 m around the bases, where leopard sharks lie on the sandy bottom, and the rock is covered in pink and purple soft coral.
Also known as Hin Musang.
Where it is and how deep
7.7836° N, 98.6212° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The site is three pinnacles standing off the sand, the largest of them breaking the surface as a barren rock outcropping. Most dives start near the first pinnacle, descending on a line or free-descending to a maximum of about 24 m, with normal diving depth 10 to 25 m. Currents run north to south here and decide the plan: with the current heading north the drop is made on pinnacle 2 instead, which starts 6 to 7 m below the surface.
The sand at the base is what divers come for. Leopard sharks rest on the bottom, sometimes swimming slowly along it, and bamboo sharks, whitetip sharks and turtles are all on the list of regular sightings. Banded sea snakes hunt through the cracks, boxfish drift over the coral, and manta rays are seen on the site as well.
The rock itself is covered in pink and purple soft coral, and that is where the small stuff sits — a pair of tigertail seahorses has made a home on the main pinnacle. Visibility is generally good, 10 m to over 20 m, and it is worth being on the first boat out: this is a well-known spot and it can be crowded during the high season.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
- Sea turtles
- Manta rays
- Sea snakes
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Phi Phi & the King Cruiser: Nov–Apr is the dry season with the calmest, clearest water; the south-west monsoon from May to October brings swell and rain.
Know before you go
- Currents run north to south across the site, so the descent is planned around them: with the current heading north, divers start on the second pinnacle instead of the first.
- The site can be crowded during the high season, with several groups working the same pinnacle; stay close to your guide.
Dive videos
Scuba Diving In Phuket Shark Point · LocalDiveThailand on YouTube
Questions divers ask
What sharks can you see at Shark Point?+
Leopard sharks resting on the sandy bottom are the draw, along with bamboo sharks and whitetip sharks around the pinnacles. Manta rays are also on the list of sightings here.
How deep is Shark Point?+
Normal diving depth is 10 to 25 m; the bottom around the pinnacles reaches a maximum of about 24 m.
Sources
- Shark Point Phuket — Divezone
- Shark Point — PADI
- Ko Phi Phi — Wikivoyage
- Diving in Thailand — Wikivoyage
More dive sites in Phi Phi & the King Cruiser
Pinnacle
The pinnacle the King Cruiser struck, carpeted in anemones
Reef
An easy reef slope and mini wall, also dived from Krabi
Pinnacle
A coral-covered pinnacle east of the Bidas, rarely on the schedule
An 85 m ferry upright on the sand, captain's cabin at 12 m
Swim-throughs behind walls of glassfish, and no current
A wall to 30 m and the soft-coral spur called Finger Reef
Wall
A limestone wall running from the surface to 33 m
Pinnacle
A multi-headed pinnacle off an uninhabited islet, around 15 m
Similar dives elsewhere
A current-swept pinnacle from 30 m to within 5 m of the surface
Untouched hard and soft coral on a rock topping out at 8 m
Rock islet dived top to bottom, surface down to 25 m
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Boulder field from 24 to 36 m with near-constant current