Dive Sites

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As one of the most famous dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand, this location features a prominent pinnacle and the iconic Chimney swim-through, making it a prime spot for scuba diving and underwater exploration. Depths range from 5 to 40 meters, with generally mild to moderate currents. Divers can expect to see impressive schools of barracuda, trevally, batfish, and even the occasional whale shark. This site is recommended for Open Water Divers and above.

A granite pinnacle northwest of Koh Tao, rising from about 35 m to 14 m below the surface. Currents can range from calm to strong. It is famous for huge schools of fusiliers, trevally and barracuda, big groupers and seasonal whale sharks. Best suited to Advanced Open Water Divers.

A group of submerged pinnacles southwest of Koh Tao, rising from around 30 m to 5 m. Currents can be moderate and visibility is often excellent. Expect schools of barracuda, snapper, trevally and batfish, with a chance of whale sharks. Recommended for Advanced Open Water Divers.

A dramatic rocky island off Koh Tao's southeast coast, with boulders, walls and soft corals from 5 to 35 m and occasional moderate currents. Look for butterflyfish, angelfish, stingrays and sometimes turtles. Suitable for Open Water Divers with good buoyancy control.

A sheltered bay on Koh Tao's northern coast with calm water and shallow coral reefs from 2 to 18 m, ideal for training and relaxed fun dives. Common sightings include butterflyfish, parrotfish, rabbitfish, blue-spotted stingrays and the occasional turtle. Suitable for beginners, Open Water students, certified divers and snorkelers.

A sheltered bay on Koh Tao's east coast with sandy patches, coral and artificial structures from 3 to 18 m and minimal current. You'll see butterflyfish, parrotfish, groupers, stingrays, big schools of fusiliers and sometimes turtles. Ideal for beginners and Open Water Divers.

A shallow bay in the south of Koh Tao, known for blacktip reef sharks. Depths of 2 to 12 m and usually calm conditions make it easy for divers and snorkelers to spot juvenile and adult blacktips, turtles and colourful reef fish. Ideal for beginners, Open Water Divers and snorkelers.

One of Koh Tao’s most popular dive sites for scuba diving and underwater exploration, this location features depths ranging from 5–18m with typically calm conditions and minimal current. Here, you can expect to see a variety of marine life, including butterflyfish, triggerfish, moray eels, blue-spotted stingrays, and nudibranchs. It's an ideal spot for Open Water students and certified divers of all levels.

A large reef system off Koh Tao's west coast, with depths from 6 to 22 m and usually calm conditions. Home to pufferfish, moray eels, triggerfish, barracuda, turtles and the occasional blacktip reef shark. Suitable for Open Water Divers and above.

Koh Tao has three shipwrecks that now serve as artificial reefs, at depths of about 13 to 30 m with mild to moderate currents. They attract lionfish, groupers, barracuda, batfish and many other reef species. Recommended for Advanced Open Water Divers; going inside a wreck requires Wreck Diver training.

Tucked beside the white sandbar of Koh Nang Yuan, Japanese Gardens is one of the most colourful shallow reefs around Koh Tao. Hard and soft corals cover the slope from about 3 to 12 m, with almost no current. Look for blue-spotted stingrays, parrotfish, Christmas tree worms and, if you are lucky, the rare ocellated eagle ray. Perfect for beginners, Discover Scuba divers and snorkelers.

Along the western shore of Koh Nang Yuan, large granite boulders form small caves, overhangs and swim-throughs between roughly 5 and 18 m. This is the only area near Koh Tao where pink-tailed triggerfish are regularly seen, alongside groupers, angelfish and nudibranchs. Conditions are usually calm, and divers with good buoyancy will enjoy exploring the swim-throughs. Suitable for Open Water Divers and above.

Just north of Koh Nang Yuan, Green Rock is a playground of stacked granite boulders, narrow channels and swim-throughs from about 5 to 25 m. It is known for its many triggerfish (keep your distance from titan triggerfish guarding their nests), plus groupers, batfish and schooling snapper. Currents are mild to moderate. Best for Advanced Open Water Divers or confident Open Water Divers with good buoyancy.

A small group of granite pinnacles northwest of Koh Nang Yuan, rising from around 24 m to about 15 m. The rocks are covered in soft corals and anemones, schools of fusiliers and trevally often circle the tops, and whale sharks occasionally pass by in season. Visibility is often good, but currents can pick up. Recommended for Advanced Open Water Divers or Open Water Divers with good air consumption.

A deep-blue bay on the southeast coast of Koh Tao, Aow Leuk offers easy, sheltered diving over hard coral gardens and artificial reef structures between about 2 and 12 m. Parrotfish, bannerfish and rabbitfish are common, and turtles and juvenile blacktip reef sharks are sometimes seen in the shallows. With little current and clear water, it is ideal for beginners, training dives and snorkelers.

Meaning "beautiful rocks" in Thai, Hin Ngam is a cluster of coral-covered granite boulders near Aow Leuk, with depths from about 5 to 18 m. Artificial reef blocks placed nearby attract cuttlefish, scorpionfish, groupers and plenty of juvenile reef fish. Conditions are generally calm with good visibility, making it a relaxed site for Open Water Divers and underwater photographers.

On the rugged east coast just north of Tanote Bay, Laem Thian features a maze of boulders, overhangs and swim-throughs between roughly 5 and 18 m. The shallows are one of the few places around Koh Tao where bumphead parrotfish are spotted, along with groupers, moray eels and schooling fish. Usually calm, it rewards divers with good buoyancy control. Suitable for Open Water Divers and above.

On the southern tip of Koh Tao, Tao Tong is a favourite with macro lovers and photographers. Sandy patches and scattered coral between about 5 and 16 m hide frogfish, pipefish, nudibranchs, cuttlefish and occasionally the tiny blue-ringed octopus (look, but never touch). Little current and slow, careful diving make it suitable for Open Water Divers who enjoy searching for small creatures.

An artificial reef off Koh Tao's west coast, built from metal frames, cages and recycled structures to give coral and fish a new home. At 8 to 12 m with little current, it is easy to navigate and full of life: batfish, groupers, juvenile fish and growing coral colonies. A great site for conservation-minded divers, training dives and night dives. Suitable for all levels.