Absolutely no wonder why Koh Tao stands out as the ultimate scuba diving destination in all of Southeast Asia! Boasting over 25 captivating dive sites, just a few minutes away from the island, and depths ranging from 5m to 40m, suitable for both beginner and experienced divers, it's always Dive'oClock here!
Explore our top 10 dive sites – our absolute favorites! If you've dived these gems, you'll know exactly why. If not, what's holding you back? Time to dive in!
Chumphon Pinnacle
Depth: Max 40m, Min 14m – Average 23m
Classification: Large Pinnacle
Level of Diving: Suitable for Open Water Divers in favorable sea conditions, providing the best experience for Advanced Open Water divers.
Conditions: Can get wavy with some current due to its offshore location.
Average Visibility: 05-40 meters
Koh Tao's crown jewel for divers, the one that gets everyone buzzing, is none other than Chumphon Pinnacle. Chumphon Pinnacle is an impressive underwater granite structure. The tops of the rock pinnacle are completely covered in thick carpets of colorful anemones full of Pink Anemone fish playing hide and seek with potential predators. You will be diving amongst swirling schools of Rabbitfish, Snapper, Juvenile Yellow-Tailed Barracuda, impressive schools of Chevron barracuda, trevallies, Fusiliers and come face-to-face with some massive Marbled Groupers. And if you've got a keen eye for the small stuff, peek into the snug crevices where you'll find banded boxing shrimps, Janns pipefish, and nudibranchs. Chumphon Pinnacle is renowned for its frequent whalesharks sightings, and if luck is on your side, you might even be treated to the sight of multiple whalesharks on a single dive! This site offers depths starting from 14-18m for the PADI Open Water Course, and with some spots as deep as 40m, it is also an ideal site for the PADI Deep Diver Specialty Course.
Southwest Pinnacle
Depth: Max 30m, Min 6m – Average 20m
Type of site: Granite Rock Pinnacles
Level: Advanced Open Water diver
Conditions: Can get wavy with some current due to its offshore location.
Average Visibility: 2-40 meters
The debate over whether Southwest Pinnacle or Chumphon Pinnacle is the better dive spot is a common one. But hey, why not just come check them out and decide for yourself? This spot is awesome for Advanced divers or Advanced specialty divers! Southwest Pinnacle is a colossal pinnacle with other smaller peaks around it to explore. Here we see lots of big fish - Barracuda, Snapper, Fusiliers, and more. The dive site boast an opulent display of Sea Whips, Gorgonian Sea Fans, and Black Coral. Amidst this backdrop, you'll discover the Red Harp Coral in the sand with large Barrel Sponges in the deeper areas.
Sail Rock
Depth: Max 40m, Min 1m – Average 16-21m
Classification: Large Granite main pinnacle
Level of Diving: Suitable for all level Divers in favorable sea conditions
Conditions: Can get wavy with some current due to its offshore location.
Average Visibility: 05-40 meters
Sail Rock, aka Hin Bai, is one of our favorite dive sites, a vast underwater pinnacle with its tip sticking out of the water. From 5m to 40m deep, this site offers a spectacular wall dive for all levels of divers. You can expect an explosion of marine life! Sail Rock's exposed position makes it a focal point for all the marine life around – stopping to take a break or to visit a cleaning station! You will see big, schooling fish and some of the most spectacular underwater scenery. We are also lucky enough to have the occasional Whale Shark visitation, but they are not guaranteed! Sail rock is home to the famous "chimney," a vertical swim-through where you can enter at 18m and exit at 12m or 6m into the sunlight and beautiful pink anemones.
Laem Thian
Depth: Max 35 m, Min 3m – Average 16m
Type of site: Big boulders, swim-through.
Level: All diver levels
Conditions: Generally good
Average Visibility: 5 -30m
Laem Thian is a dive site that truly has something special for everyone, making it one of our favorites! The underwater topography there is nothing short of awesome! What makes Laem Thian dive site truly exceptional is its dual personality, offering two distinct areas, Laem Thian Bay, perfect for Discover Scuba Diving and for new divers with shallow depths (3-15m), and Laem Thian Caves, offering depths of 18-20m for experienced divers. Explore a maze of cave-like swim-throughs and encounter marine life like Orange-Spine Unicornfish, Bumphead Parrotfish, Groupers, Jacks, Stingrays, moray eels, Harlequin Sweetlips, Batfish, Cobia, Banded Sea Krait, Scribbled fish. Every now and then, you might even catch a glimpse of a passing Black Tip Reef Shark. Keep your eyes peeled for the local Green Turtle gliding by. It's a bustling underwater world with a high density of macro life! If you'd like to work on your buoyancy before trying, then the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course is right for you! Once you have completed this course in one day, you can practice your skills at Laem Thian on your next dive. It is truly a great site!
Shark Island
Depth: Max 26m, Min 0m – Average 13m
Type of site: Granite islet
Level: Suitable for all level Divers in favorable sea conditions
Conditions: Can have a strong current due its location
Average Visibility: 5-30 meters
This uninhabitable granite islet, formed from massive boulders totally looks like a shark's dorsal fin when viewed from above! The dive ranges from 15 to 28 meters, featuring breathtaking array of colors. The presence of vibrant purple Soft tree Corals, Gorgonian fans, Hard corals, Whip corals, Barrel Sponges, Sea Anemones, Table corals and intricate Brain Corals thoughtfully interspersed across the dominant boulders transforms it into a visual masterpiece! Periodic currents enhance the marine ecosystem, showcasing groupers, sleek batfish seeking refuge from Trevally, schools of butterflyfish, chevron barracudas as well as sightings like Scribbled Filefish, pufferfish, and Crocodile Needlefish. And you may have the chance to encounter Hawksbill and Green turtles!
Htms Sattakut Wreck
Depth: 18-30 meters
Type of site: Shipwreck
Level: Advanced Open Water diver
Conditions: Visibility might be low
Average Visibility: 3-30 meters
The HTMS Sattakut has quite a fascinating history dating back to World War II, where it served as a Navy troop carrier, notably during the battle of Iwo Jima. In 1947, it was gifted to the Royal Thai Navy, and in 2011, it found a new home in Koh Tao after being donated by the Royal Thai Navy, in partnership with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. After thorough cleaning, it was intentionally sunk the same year. Located 30 meters deep off the south of Hin Pee Wee dive site, the HTMS Sattakut wreck spans 49m long and 7m wide and has transformed into an artificial reef teeming with life. Dive down to discover two impressive anti-aircraft Bofar 40mm canons sit at the bow and the stern, stairs, a front cabin, long corridor with different rooms. Swimming alongside the hull, you can peer through the portholes into each room, and inside the wheelhouse, you might spot marine life like Giant grouper, Snappers, Sweetlips, Butterfly fish, Jenkins Whip ray, spotted trout, Sea snake and yellowtail barracudas. For those those of you craving to learn how to safely penetrate and explore the HTMS Sattakut wreck using the right equipment and techniques, Then the PADI Wreck Diver Specialty Course is for you!
White Rock
Depth: Max 21m, Min 2m – Average 12-14 meters
Classification: Granite rock pinnacles and boulders with coral garden
Level of Diving: Open Water Divers
Conditions: Calm waters. Mild to no current
Average Visibility: 05-30 meters
White Rock ranks high among the island's favorite dive spots. It boasts two large rock formations located on a North to South axis with a stunning coral garden in between, and a sandy patch at a depth of 9 meters. Home to turtles, Titan Triggerfish, blue-spotted stingrays, and more, it offers a lively underwater spectacle. White Rock's closeness to Koh Tao makes it a favored spot for night diving. When conditions are optimal, a night dive here is truly awesome! Once the sun sets, the barracudas come out to hunt for their dinner, and you'll also encounter shrimps, squids, octopus, and a variety of other fascinating nocturnal marine life.
Green Rock
Depth: Max 5m, Min 5m - Average 20m
Type of site: large boulders, large rock formations and cave-like swim-throughs
Level: Better suited for Advanced divers
Conditions: Mid to Strong Current and ranging visibility due to its exposed location
Average Visibility: 05-30 meters
On its best days, Green Rock stands out as one of Koh Tao's top dive sites! The top of Green Rock is a mere 2 meters deep, and it's a common sight to witness large schools of Yellowtail Barracuda. You will see lots of large rock formations and boulders covered in a variety of marine life. But the real thrill begins when you explore the intricate network of cave-like swim-throughs that make this dive site truly captivating! Head north of the main rock formation, and you'll encounter the renowned 'trigger pits,' nesting grounds for Titan and Yellow Margin Triggerfish. But beware, especially during the breeding season (April-June), as they can be quite territorial! Green Rock is also a favorite haunt for regular visitors, including Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles, and the occasional appearance of Banded Sea Kraits. Here, you'll see Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Longfin banner fish, and the Harlequin Sweetlips, White eyed moray eels, and more! If you'd like to work on your buoyancy before trying, then the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course is right for you! Once you have completed this course in one day, you can practice your skills at Green Rock on your next dive
Twin Peaks
Depth: Max 20m, Min 5m – Average 10m
Type of site: Granite rock and boulders
Level: All diver levels
Conditions: Flat almost all year
Average Visibility: 5-30 meters
Twins is hands down one of the most popular dive sites on Koh Tao, ideal for both recreational divers and those looking for the perfect PADI training site! The shallower pinnacle boasts Christmas tree worms, adding their colorful touch. You'll see Longface Emperor fish, Pipefish, and Yellow Boxfish tucked into the rocky crevices. Look under the ledges, and you'll spot the Blue Spotted rays, while in the shadows, curious Snappers make their appearance.Now, the middle pinnacle is where the action's at, including an archway ! It's like a bustling neighborhood here with various reef fish and a bunch of different Wrasse, Groupers, Parrotfish, Bannerfish, Trevally swimming in small groups, Pufferfish and porcupine fishes ! Keep venturing , and you'll hit the final pinnacle. This spot is a haven for all you macro lovers out there! And if you're lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of a Hawksbill or Green turtle gliding by.
HTMS Suphairin 313 and HTMS Hanhak Sattru Wrecks
HTMS Suphairin: Positioned near No Name Pinnacle, this wreck lies around 28 meters with the top of the wreck at 15 meters.
HTMS Hanhak Sattru: Located in Aow Mao, this wreck lies around 23 meters with the top of the wreck at 13 meters.
Level of Diving: Experienced Divers
On the 7th and 8th of September 2023, an exciting addition was made to the Koh Tao Dive Sites list! These two vessels, equipped with modern weaponry, played crucial roles in Thailand's maritime defense and collaborated on joint operations with the Naval Special Warfare Division. After 42 years of service, these ships were decommissioned in 2018 and repurposed for the Underwater Learning Park and Marine Ecosystem Rehabilitation Project in Surat Thani Province. Sinking as part of marine conservation, the HTMS Suphairin and HTMS Hanhak Sattru provide divers with a unique exploration of Thailand’s naval heritage. Commissioned in the early 20th century, these vessels played vital roles in maritime defense, armed with modern weaponry, including Gabriel surface-to-surface missile launchers. The wrecks have become new dive sites, one on the east side and one on the west of the island, strategically placed to divert attention from fragile coral reefs, aiming to minimize impact and restore Koh Tao's underwater ecosystems. For those eager to learn the proper equipment and techniques for safely penetrating and exploring these wrecks, the PADI Wreck Diver Specialty Course is designed just for you!
After diving into our top 10 dive sites, there's only one thing left to say – Time to get wet and experience the divetastic Koh Tao, from novice to experienced divers, there's a treat for everyone! Get in Touch !
