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Koh Tao is a popular island destination for all levels and disciplines of scuba diving and also snorkelling. Koh Tao's stunning coral reefs with an abundance of marine life start just a few metres offshore. The island is among the most popular spots in the whole world for snorkelling and diving. Although the island is about 21 km long, there are more than 60 PADI Diving Schools here.
Koh Tao is located on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand, not far away from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan islands. The island is famous among young people, backpackers and those who are seeking to get a PADI license for Divers. The island is popular for diving, amazing beaches and incredible sunsets.
If you are heading to the small island and you're planning to dive, here are the best dive sites around the island:
White Rock Koh Tao
Diving Level: Open Water Diver
Depth: 0 – 24 meters
Current: Weak
Location: On the West side of the island, 10 minutes by boat from Sairee Beach
Marine Life: sea turtles, nudibranchs, blue spotted stingrays, barracuda, angelfish, moray eels, triggerfish, soft and hard corals, butterflyfish, herbivores, etc.
Sail Rock Koh Tao
Diving Level: All levels
Depth : 0 – 40 meters
Current: Weak to Medium
Location: Between Koh Tao and Ko Phangan, 1,5 hours by boat from Ko Tao
Marine Life: large pelagic, large tuna, giant groupers, king mackerel, chevron barracudas, whale shark, manta rays, trevally, fusiliers, etc.
Shark Island Koh Tao
Diving Level: Open Water and Advanced Divers
Depth: 15 – 24 meters
Current: Weak to Strong
Location: Southeast of the island
Marine Life: NO sharks – the island got its name from its appearance at the surface, looking like a shark fin. Here you can find soft corals, turtles, sea snakes, triggerfish, clownfish, yellowtail barracuda, etc.
South West Pinnacle Koh Tao
Diving Level: Open Water and Advanced Divers
Depth: 0 – 33 meters
Current: Weak to Average
Location: South-West of the island
Marine Life: scorpionfishes, yellow tail barracudas, leopard sharks, groupers, etc.
Twins
Diving Level: Open Water Divers
Depth: 0 – 22 meters
Current: Weak
Location: On the west side of Koh Nang Yuan
Marine Life: Moray eels, clown fishes, angelfish, trevallies, yellow tail barracudas, blue spotted stingrays, pink anemones, shipwreck, octopus, butterfly fish, bannerfish, rabbitfish, groupers, etc.
Green Rock Koh Tao
Diving Level: Open Water Diver
Depth: 5 – 28 meters
Current: Weak
Location: On the northwest tip of Koh Nang Yuan, you will dive in small cavities and underwater tunnels
Marine Life: titan triggerfish, sea snakes, hawksbill, green turtles, moray eels, clownfish, some spectacular soft corals, etc.
Laem Tian Koh Tao
Diving Level: All levels
Depth: 0 – 17 meters
Current: Weak
Location: On the east side of Koh Tao
Marine Life: Turtles, stingrays, jacks, triggerfish, corals, etc.
Diving Level: Open Water Diver
Depth: 5 – 18 meters
Current: weak
Location: Koh Nangyuan
Marine Life: nudibranchs, soft and hard corals, lionfishes, nudibranchs, many small fish corals, etc.
Chumphon Pinnacle
Diving Level: Advanced
Depth: 0 – 45 meters
Current: Weak to Medium
Location: North-west of Koh Tao, 45 minutes away from Sairee Beach
Marine Life: giant groupers, barracuda, batfish, trevally, queenfish, big eye jack, whale shark, remoras, cobias, etc.
HTMS Sattakut
Diving Level: Advanced Divers
Depth: 22 – 28 meters
Current: Weak
Location: 50 meters south of the Hin Pee Wee dive site and very close to Sairee Beach
Marine Life: Fusiliers, barracudas, groupers, trevally, jacks, snappers, wrasses, moray eels, grey reef sharks, putter fish, etc.
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