Koh Tao Diving

The furthest of the main islands in the gulf of Thailand, which include Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao, Koh Tao is a relaxed paradise renowned worldwide for the quality of its diving. Koh Tao became a haven for divers and a major training center about 12 years ago. Some of the international diving agencies that are represented on the island include PADI, SSI, IANTD, BSAC and NAUI, although 99% of the issued certifications are PADIs.

The island offers more than 20 dive sites, most of them close-by (less than 20 minutes). Visitors can enjoy crystal clear water almost all-year-round, with visibility often exceeding 30 meters. The weather is sunny most of the time except during the Monsoon month in November. The driest months are from February to May. July, August and September are windy with occasionally light rainfalls.

The reefs around the island slope from about 2 to 20 meters while offshore-pinnacles can drop to a depth of more than 30 meters. Some of the highlights you can expect underwater are sea anemones, schools of batfish, barracudas, trevallies & giant groupers. With some luck you might spot spanish mackerel, filefish, coral shrimpfish or the poisonous scorpionfish. Whale sharks and manta rays are also seen.

Koh Tao Diving Trips

Chumphorn Pinnacle: max depth 40m, av depth 24m.

An underwater mountain range encompassing an area of approximately 100m2, completely surrounded by deeper waters provides a world class dive site. Regular sightings of whale sharks and manta rays make this dive site one of the 'musts' of any trip to Koh Tao. The pinnacles themselves are completlely carpeted with anenomes, and schools of batfish, barracuddas, trevallies, and fusiliers create a spectacular scene in the surrounding waters.

Southwest Pinnacle: max depth 32m, av depth: 20m.

A group of pinnacles created by submerged giant boulder rocks makes this dive site topographically unique. The sloping bottom resembles a beautiful autumn forest, with giant fan corals in yellows, reds, oranges and greens. Resident leopard sharks and potato groupers cruise around with regular visits from whale sharks and manta rays. One of the most popular dive sites in Koh Tao.

Shark Island: depth 26m, av depth 15m.

Named because of its resemblance to a sharks dorsal fin, this is one of Koh Tao's treasures. Each side of the island is a dive site in its own respect, with one side packed with a huge variety of hard corals and sponges. The other side boasts a breathtaking soft coral garden with frequent sightings of stingrays (large and small), moray eels and titan triggerfish. This is the perfect drift dive, fly around the island in the moderate current and have the boat come pick you up.

White Rock: Max Depth 18m, Av Depth 12m.

Almost every species of coral to be found in Koh Tao can be seen displayed here. Because it's not a very deep site the colours of the coral brightly decorate the landscape, with reef fish in abundance.

Hin Pi Vie: Max Depth 26m Av Depth: 16m.

A more recent discovery in Koh Tao, so it still retains the mysterious ambience of an unexplored site. A group of 11 pinnacles ranging from large to small, covered in corals and sponges in pristine condition. The waters are teeming with fish of every description, with many crevices bearing hidden treasures. Schools of juvenile barracudas about the length of your finger, giant whiptail rays resident under the rocks.

Green Rock: Max Depth 28m Av Depth : 16m.

There are two fantastic reasons to dive this site -
1. Just 50m north of the main pinnacle is a large triggers nest. Descend into their living room, and when the house is full expect to see up to 20 Yellow Margin Triggers reaching up to 1m in length each. All guarding the crater-like nests they have created, all displaying courtship and territorial behaviour which is spectacular to watch or film.

2. This dive site is created by tumbling giant boulders which create a myriad of swim - throughs and caverns. Take a torch and see the daisy corals blooming by daytime, the stingrays munching in the corners, nudibranches patrolling the ceiling sponges, oysters proudly displaying their mantles. Outside the waters patrol with Giant trevallies, Cobias, solitary Great barracudas and reef sharks.

Red Rock (Nang Yuan Pin and Cave): Max Depth 18m Av Depth 10m.

The pinnacle has a deep crack in its mid section, that runs the entire way around. Inside this crack, a huge variety of species of fish can be found, including sleeping Trigger fish, Giant Whiptail rays, Giant Morays, and even reef sharks, resting in the crack. To the west is the Cave. Approximately 25 - 30 m in length, and high enough to be more than comfortable, this is the perfect place to sit and watch. Cleaner shrimp and larger banded shrimp exercise their curiosity. Pipe fish all over the walls, and crabs of every description scuttling around. Don't be surprised if you disturb a sleeping Whiptail Ray or two on your way in.

Twin Peaks: Max Depth: 22m Av Depth : 12m.

Located metres from the shores of the stunning Koh Nang Yuan islands, Twin Peaks is a dive site for everyone. Four series of submerged rocks separated by narrow sand patches sees the depth increase from 7m in the shallowest to 22m at the deepest point. The highlights here are definitely the clown fish nests, the lionfish burrow, Trigger fish and juvenile barracuda.

Mango Bay: Max Depth: 16m Ave Depth: 10m.

Koh Tao's most northern bay, Mango Bay is indeed paradise. Only accessible by boat it is home to a few species of fish. The sandy bottom, clear water, and abundant marine life makes this site perfect for training dives.

Hinwong Bay and Pinnacle: Max Depth: 32m Ave Depth: 14 m.

This pinnacle is unique from all the rest in the quality and variety of soft corals to be seen. Furthermore, turtles are frequently seen around the pinnacle. If the bay is your choice, the coral heads are incredibly impressive and colourful, and tucked behind in the boulder coastline are an array of caverns. All shallow and with lightholes, this is a long exploratory dive.

Aow Leuk: Max Depth: 16m Ave Depth: 10m.

'Swimming Pool' Bay as it is commonly known, the water here is crystal clear and calm. The fringing coast line hides treasures like Jenkins Whiptail rays, blue spotted fan-tail rays, porcupine fish, puffers, triggers and lots more.

Laem Thian: Max Depth: 26m Ave Depth: 12m.

'Swimthrough City' as it is known, is located on Koh Tao's east side and sports a large number of interesting tunnels, channels and overhangs. It'll be the closest you'll get to cavern diving in the Gulf of Thailand. Laem Thian is also one of the only spots on Koh Tao where you can encounter the elusive Unicorn Fish.

Sail Rock: Max Depth: 45m Ave Depth: 20m.

One of the Gulf of Thailand's top dive sites, Sail Rock is a fantastic choice. If Advanced, this is the perfect dive to practice your deep diving skills. For any diver, this site is a spectacular dive with abundant marine life and corals. Famous for it's chimney, you can descend through a tunnel about 7m long, emerging at 15m depth to thick schools of jacks, snappers, trevalies and more. A hot spot for pelagics, such as kingfish, mackarels, sharks, there always seems to be some hunting going on. Due to its location and depth, this is also a likely site for whale shark and manta sightings.

Lightthouse Bay: Max Depth: 14m , Ave Depth: 10m.

Koh Tao's only accessible wreck dive. A newly sunken fishing boat has rapidly become home to a variety of fish and other familiar creatures. Encrusted in sponges and corals, the wreck lies in shallow water and is easily penetrated and is perfect for wreck diving. The surrounding area is home to large coral heads and swim throughs making this an interesting and varied dive.

Japanese Gardens: Max Depth: 14m, Ave Depth: 10m.

As the name suggests, the coral formations in this bay are nothing short of amazing. Hundreds of different species of soft and hard corals, layers of sponges with a variety of nudibranches devouring them, and abundant fish. A protected bay with clear calm water, perfect for training dives.

Diving Centres

Crystal Dive
Dive Turtle Island
TaaToh Divers