One of the most beautiful reef and beach of Phangan
This beach is one of the most beautiful of Koh Phangan, it is also the most developed coral reef around around the island.
The whole bay of Mae Haad is populated by big formations of hard corals such as Staghorn and Brain Corals, big schools of parrotfish, fusiliers, and other reef-dwelling fishes. It is a good place to spot stingrays and blue-spotted ones.
Some rare marine life has been spotted in this bay such as Thorny Sea Star, Large Cobias, Great Barracuda, Banded Sea Krait, Sanctuarine Stonefish, Turtles, and even Whale Sharks.
Because of the biodiversity of this reef is also used as a sampling ground for studies on coral growth and decay and aquatic life population..
A short way to Koh Ma it can be explored on the same dive as with the northern part of Mae Haad.
A very popular site for snorkelers as well because of its access and shallow depth.
Name
Mae Haad
Depth Range
0 to 22 meters
Bottom Composition
Big rocks, big rock formations, sandy bottom
Currents
None to little
Common Marine Life
Coral Grouper (Plectropomus leopardus), Yellowtail Barracuda (Sphyraena flavicauda), Bluebarred Parrotfish (Scarus ghobban), Pink Anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion), Long-spined Sea Urchin (Diadema setosum), Moon Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare), Longfin Bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus), Blackfin or Chevron Barracuda (Sphyraena qenie), Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus), Dash-and-dot Goatfish (Parupeneus barberinus), Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus), Scissor-tailed Fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea), Flathead Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus), Sandfish Sea Cucumber (Holothuria scabra), Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas), Starry Puffer (Arothron stellatus), Yellowfin Surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus), Three-spot Damselfish (Dascyllus trimaculatus), Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris), Orange-spotted Grouper (Epinephelus coioides)
Uncommon Marine Life
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Harlequin Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides), Yellow Boxfish (Ostracion cubicus), Honeycomb Moray (Gymnothorax favagineus), Banded Sea Krait (Laticauda colubrina), Blue-spotted Ribbontail Ray (Taeniura lymma), Common Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda), Pharaoh Cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis)
Coral, Anemonnes and Sponges
Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis), Brain Coral (Platygyra lamellina), Giant Barrel Sponge (Xestospongia muta), Whip Coral (Leptogorgia virgulata), Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica), Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)
Special features
Many huge coral formations, some interesting creatures on the sandy bottom out.
Quick swim to Koh Ma, the other great site of Phangan.
