Diving Koh Tao

Turtle Island

Koh Tao has long been a magnet for backpackers and traveller types who want learn about scuba diving. The many shallow bays are used to certify more PADI student divers than anywhere else in the world outside of Australia.

One such bay is Ao Leuk. Its easy, relaxing diving is strongly recommend for beginners or for divers that haven't got wet for a while. The Thai name means 'Deep Bay' which is something of a misnomer since it is one of the shallowest of the Koh Tao diving sites with its sandy bottom allowing a maximum depth of only 12-14 metres. There are a surprising amount of reef fish such as butterflyfish and angelfish, schools of juvenile yellowtail barracuda and turtles.

Shark Island is a small rocky islet off the southeast coast of Koh Tao. The eastern side is the more interesting with its boulder formations. Many types of tropical fish are found around here. On the south side at 14 metres is a soft coral garden on a rocky bed. Sometimes you'll find leopard sharks and turtles here. Occasionally there can be strong currents at Shark Island from either the southeast or northwest.

Hin Wong Pinnacle is perhaps the best and certainly a unique dive site on Koh Tao Island. The large granite pinnacle is at the northern end of Hin Wong Bay. The north side is beautiful with purple soft corals and many different kinds of sea fans, whip corals and black corals. Blue and black damsels swarm around you as if in greeting as you enter the water. Down on the bottom you might see small groups of shrimpfish driftby.

As you spiral up the rocks to the shallower section you'll find groves of Christmas tree worms embedded in the hard coral reef. There are white-eyed moray eels hiding in the crannies and some big groupers here too. Look up and you might see schools of fusiliers or turtles swimming past.

White Rock is located mid distance between Koh Tao's Mae Haad Pier and Koh Nang Yuan. The site is very similar to Twins at Nang Yuan, consisting of 2 large boulders which are only a few metres apart. These big stones are surrounded by smaller boulders and patches of coral. The site is a relatively easy one with the maximum depth around 20 metres. The star of the show at this dive site is Trevor the Triggerfish who is known as the most aggressive triggerfish at Koh Tao.

Koh Tao Reef Basics: Beginners and snorkelling.
Depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 5 - 20m
Currents: Usually gentle but can run at a couple of the sites
Surface conditions: Normally calm
Water temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience level: Beginner - intermediate
Number of dive sites: ~15
Diving season: All year round
Distance: 1-5 km from Mae Haad Pier, Koh Tao; 90 km from Samui (2 hours by speedboat)
Access: Scuba diving day trips

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