Dive Sites in Koh Tao, Thailand

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.