One of Koh Lipe’s must-see dive sites, Stonehenge is a stunning technicolor array of soft corals in shallow waters.
Stonehenge, Koh Lipe © chris@divehappy.com
As part of a week-long Thailand liveaboard on the Smiling Seahorse in April 2022, we visited Koh Lipe for a day, diving its two most famous dive sites, 8 Mile and Stonehenge.
Soft corals covering one of Stonehenge’s rocks © chris@divehappy.com
Stonehenge is a shallow sandy plateau about 5 to 7 metres deep which is littered with big rocks. Those rocks are covered in explosively coloured soft coral. The site’s name comes from the upright rocks that look a little like the ancient standing stones site in England.
Dive guide Corinne over the corals, Stonehenge, Koh Lipe © chris@divehappy.com
It is hard to make photos do justice to the sheer abundance of pink and red soft corals on Stonehenge – the sheer density of the corals rivals Thailand’s other top dive sites, Richelieu Rock and Hin Daeng.
Overhead view of the plateau, Stonehenge, Koh Lipe © chris@divehappy.com
Stonehenge feels more like the sort of coral-rich site you’d see in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat. The colours of the coral are simply spectacular.
Pook with the rocks, Stonehenge, Koh Lipe © chris@divehappy.com
As it’s so shallow, there’s plenty of time to explore around the plateau, but bear in mind being there at slack tide – or near it – is important. When the current gets up it rips through Stonehenge and it’s easy to get blown off the site.
Fan corals and soft corals, Stonehenge, Koh Lipe © chris@divehappy.com
While we saw Stonehenge from the Smiling Seahorse liveaboard, the usual way to dive Koh Lipe is staying on the island and doing day trips out to the sites. There are many more sites than just Stonehenge and 8 Mile around Koh Lipe. Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of dive schools on Koh Lipe to ready to take you exploring.
Overhead view, Stonehenge, Koh Lipe © chris@divehappy.com
Getting to Koh Lipe involves a flight to Hat Yai in the far south of Thailand, a bus to the ferry pier, and then the ferry crossing to Koh Lipe itself. A liveaboard is definitely the easier option for accessing the island’s dive sites, but it gives you far less time and chance to explore.
Big clump of soft coral, Stonehenge, Koh Lipe © chris@divehappy.com
The Koh Lipe dive season runs from November to May. There is diving available during May to October, but as it’s monsoon season the accessibility of sites is dependent on the weather.
Koh Lipe Resorts
Check for availability of Koh Lipe accommodation on Booking.com
Hat Yai to Koh Lipe Bus and Ferry Tickets
You can check for bus and ferry combination tickets from Hat Yai to Koh Lipe on 12go to compare prices, timing and availability.
Bangkok to Hat Yai
You can get a flight from Bangkok to Hat Yai, or catch an overnight train or bus. Check 12go to compare prices and timings of different Bangkok to Hat Yai transport options.