The dive sites in Koh Tao
Discover the reefs and dive sites of Koh Tao
With more than 25 dive sites around the island, Koh Tao offers you a wide choice of different dive sites to choose from: pinnacles, coral reefs, wrecks, and for all levels of divers.
With 2 diving trips each day, our divers can explore the unique local aquatic environment guided by our knowledgeable staff.
Most Popular Dive Sites
Chumphon Pinnacle (Kong Chumphon)
Widely regarded as the finest diving Koh Tao has to offer, Chumphon Pinnacle has it all, from the very big to the very small. Dropping down to 30m+, Chumphon is nothing short of a world-class dive site. One question you’ll regularly hear from customers is “When is the next trip to Chumphon?!”
15 to 40 m deep. For Advanced open water and above level.
Southwest Pinnacle (Kong Tong Ku)
A favorite with many of our customers (and staff!), Southwest Pinnacle is a 50 minute boat ride out to sea, and as such, attracts pelagics and schooling fish in abundance. One minute you can be swimming alongside the giant groupers that patrol the deeper parts of the dive site, the next you may find yourself in the company of hundreds of barracuda or even, if you’re lucky a whale shark
From 6 to 30 m deep. For all levels.
Sail Rock (Hin Bai)
Usually done as a day trip from Koh Tao, Sail Rock is well worth a visit. A huge pinnacle that goes from the seabed up to and above the surface, famous for its large Chimney that goes from 5m to around 20m with 2 exit points, covered in soft corals. Being in the middle of the ocean it can attract a lot of pelagics, big schools of travelly, barracudas, fusiliers, and also home to some large groupers.
Exploring around the rocks, you can find scorpion fish, a variety of moray eels, puffer fish, shrimps, and nudibranchs. This is also a stop-off feeding point for the majestic whale sharks as they make their way around the area.
From 10 to 35 m deep. For all levels but better if you are Advanced.
Shark Island (Koh Chalam)
An uninhabited yet impressive island in the South-Eastern corner of Koh Tao, Shark Island has more soft corals than any other dive site in the area. Large shoals of barracuda, filefish, schools of butterfly fish, and batfish can all be found here as well as a variety of nudibranchs that can be seen feeding from the blue sponges. If you’re lucky you can spot the resident albino moray eel. Sometimes dived as a drift dive due to occasional current, it is often cited as one of the top dive sites in Koh Tao
From 10 to 20 m deep. For all levels.
White Rock (Hin Kaow)
Two large groups of rocks make up the famous “White Rock”. Just 10 minutes from Sairee Beach, there is a huge variety of life to see – batfish, groupers, sea snakes, moray eels, and the occasional hawksbill turtle… the list goes on! A firm favorite for night dives (when it is often possible to see great barracuda hunting), White Rock is a must-see, before you leave Koh Tao
From 10 to 25 m deep. For all levels.
Green Rock
Green Rock is situated North West of Koh Nang Yuan island. The dive site is known for its many swim-throughts, making it a really fun place to dive. Depending on the conditions, Green Rock can have some mild current and might be more adequate for Advanced Open Water diver or more.
The main rock formation is composed of granite boulders forming theses famous swim-throughts. On the north west, a series of rock extends the dive sites up to a depth of 28 meters. And on the other side, you can enjoy colorful corals along the shallow coast of Koh Nang Yuan.Â
Green Rock is also famous for the Trigger Pit, a large patch of sand north of the rock, where many Trigger Fish made their nest. Although, they are usually calm, the trigger fish can be quite territorial, specially during the breeding season (April-May).Â
From 10 to 28 m deep. For all levels but better if you are Advanced.
Twins (Aow Sam)
One of the most popular dive sites on Koh Tao, Twins is a beautiful dive site, suitable for all levels of certification. Two groups of boulders make up the two main pinnacles which are covered with hard corals and plenty of marine life, blue spotted stingrays, puffer fish, moray eels, angelfish, and scorpion fish can be seen on almost every dive! One of the prettiest dive sites on Koh Tao, Twins is perfect for underwater photography.
From 10 to 20 m deep. For all levels.
Red Rock (Hing Dang)
One of Koh Tao’s hidden gems, Red Rock is always a favorite with fun divers. Exploring the pinnacle first you can keep an eye out for puffer fish and box fish hiding in the cracks and crevices, then swim across to the coast to find one of Koh Tao’s best swim-through’s, huge archways between large boulders with the sunlight breaking through, look out for glass fish, blue spotted stingray, sweet lips and the occasional turtle. After that, you can make your way along the coastline enjoying the topography of boulders covered in hard and soft coral, banner fish, angelfish, and triggerfish are residents here. Don’t forget to look in the sandy areas for gobies and shrimps, and if you’ve got a keen eye maybe scorpion fish.
From 10 to 18 m deep. For all levels.
Japanese Gardens (Aow Song)
Located next to the beach of the beautiful islands of Koh Nang Yuan, a shallow and easy dive site. Gently sloping down from the beach, it is shallow, sheltered, and, as the name suggests, reminiscent of a Japanese Garden, albeit underwater! Certified divers can go along with a Divemaster away from the shallows to the south side, with its fantastic rock formations, swim-throughs, and a variety of aquatic life. Sea snakes, whip rays, boxfish, and puffer fish are regularly spotted here, as well as, a whole host of smaller, colorful reef fish. Japanese Gardens is also one of the prime snorkeling spots of Koh Tao
From 6 to 12 m deep. Perfect for DSD and beginners.
Mango Bay (Aow Moung)
At the northern point of Koh Tao, Mango Bay is one of the shallower dive sites with huge areas of hard coral home to a wide variety of marine life, juvenile fish can be spotted hiding in and amongst the staghorn coral. On the eastern side of the bay, you can swim along the coastline and enjoy the reef and maybe come across a huge school of fusiliers, yellow tail barracudas, and the occasional turtle.
It’s also possible to do a drop-off dive along the coastline and enjoy some of the swim-through’s along the way and also a chance to see large whip rays under the overhangs
From 6 to 12 m deep. Perfect for DSD and beginners.
Sairee Reef (Fang Sairee)
Our house reef, often forgotten about as a dive site as we have so many, is where we have spotted some of Koh Tao’s more unusual creatures, from sea moths, seahorses, plurabranchs, pipe fish to schools of yellow tail barracuda and large whip rays. It’s also great for hard corals, there are blennies everywhere, and in season nudibranchs, juvenile sweet lips, and bat fish. Our “local reef”.
From 6 to 12 m deep. Perfect for beginners in night diving.
There are many more dive sites to choose from. Click on the WhatsApp button to chat with us directly.
See our price range and tailor-made diving packages suitable for all divers.