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Shark Point
GPS Location: 07-43-53N 98-37-34E
Max Depth: 25M
Currents: Mild to moderate South - North or vice verca
Visibility: 5M-20M
Diver Level: Beginner to intermediate
Shark Point, or Hin Mu Sang as it is known by the locals lies about 27Km East of Chalong Bay, close to the King Cruiser wreck and Anemone Reef and consists of three pinnacles running in a North to South fashion. The northernmost of these, Shark Point One is the only one to break the surface and has a small lighthouse perched on top of it. It sits in the sand at around 14M which slopes off gradually further away from the site to depths of 22M. Shark Point Two lies about 20M away from the foot of the first pinnacle and rises up to 5M below the surface at low tide. Maximum depth is attained here at around 18M on the southern end. Although there is a third pinnacle further south, it is rarely visited as average depth here is quite deep, starting around 15M. Usually dives incorporate the first two pinnacles starting at either one depending on the current which runs South to North or vice verca. Visibility varies greatly from day to day so it is advised to stay close to the rocks upon descent to avoid disorientation. A few scattered boulders and coral patches surround the two pinnacles and allow for exploration away from the main reef. On its day this as been hailed as the most beautiful site in the area and is a common favourite with local divers as well as annual visitors.
Marine Life is more diverse than at either King Cruiser or Anemone reef. The pinnacles are covered in pastel coloured Hemprich’s soft coral, anemones and giant sea fans swaying in the current. Huge shoals of fish congregate close to the peaks making the shallow portions of the dive very vivid. As the name suggests this site is famous for its resident leopard sharks. Bamboo sharks are found hiding in cracks in the rocks and tawny nurse sharks have been spotted though infrequently. Shark Point is unpredictable in that some rare species have been sighted here on and off, amongst them, eagle rays and giant guitar sharks. Macro life here is good too with tigertail sea horses and ornate ghost pipefish often making appearances among the sea fans and soft corals. To the North of the first pinnacle scattered coral patches and rocks allow divers to explore quite some distance from the reef when the current is slack into water about 22M deep. In this area one has a good chance of finding some of the bigger, rarer species as it less visited by divers than the main pinnacles. To the West a few large rocks contain crevices in which Durban dancing shrimps and moray eels take refuge. Lionfish are common here as are scorpion fish. It is wise to head to the second pinnacle of the dive before you reach half a tank so as not to have to make the crossing in mid water where one may get lost. Shark Point Two contains more sea fans and purple soft corals than the first pinnacle and is arguably more beautiful. As one approaches the end of the dive you come up a chimney like formation forming a wall to the peak at 5M. This is covered in lilac soft corals, always surrounded by swarms of fish and is the perfect place to conduct the safety stop. |
