Twins

Twins is a short boat ride from Mae Haad, making it one of the more accessible sites on the west coast. The two pinnacles rise from around 18 metres and top out at about 6 metres below the surface. The gap between them is where most of the interesting diving happens — fish use that channel for shelter, and the combination of the rock faces and sandy bottom on either side means you’re looking at several different habitats within a small area.

Lionfish are common at Twins, usually perched on the reef or hovering near the bottom with the stillness they use to ambush prey. They’re worth looking at closely — they’re genuinely striking animals — but keep your distance. Moray eels occupy most of the larger crevices in the rock faces. Nudibranchs are a consistent find here if you slow down and pay attention to the coral growth, which is dense enough on the older sections to support a good variety.

Turtles pass through regularly, and the site occasionally produces whale shark sightings during the right season. Current is generally mild, though it can pick up at certain times of day — when it does, the fish life responds noticeably and the soft corals open fully.

It’s one of those sites that rewards patience. Moving through quickly means missing most of what makes it interesting.