Diving Koh Tao

Koh Nang Yuan Dive Sites

The small islet of Koh Nang Yuan connected to Koh Tao by a thin strip of white sand is surrounded by several interesting dive sites and is also a very popular place for snorkeling. It’s a very relaxed area to dive and chill out on the boat between dives. Visibility can drop at times and big fish visits are rare but there are plenty of reef fish to charm divers.

Nang Yuan Pinnacle, between Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao is like a mini version of Sail Rock. It starts at just 2 metres below the surface and is only a few fin kicks away from the eastern Koh Tao coast with many interesting boulders and nooks and crannies to explore and the occasional swim through.

Moorish Idols, angelfish and oriental sweetlips are some of the common inhabitants here. Also keep an eye out for octopus hiding in the rocks and, if you see a cuttlefish, look around for the mate who is probably nearby as they often travel in pairs.

'Japanese Garden ' is situated on the east side of Koh Nang Yuan, north west of Koh Tao; it is named after the pretty coral formations that can be seen here. There is a myriad of staghorn and plate coral as well as interesting boulders. The sheltered bay ranges from a depth of 2 to 18 metres with an average of 10m and frequently boasts good visibility. This is a great site for beginners or is often the final destination of a dive from Koh Nang Yuan through a series of swim-throughs.

You can expect to see bannerfish, butterflyfish, triggerfish and schools of jacks. Juvenile eagle rays often make an appearance too. There is now a small wooden wreck here too at about 17m depth and just off of the corals. The wreck attracts barracuda, trumpetfish and small schools of reef fish.

'Twins', a similar site to White Rock on Koh Tao, is just south of Koh Nang Yuan and is actually 2 rocks starting at 6 metres and going down to 18 metres. There are lots of anemones here with their resident families of clownfish.

• Samui tourist information

• Map of Koh Samui

Koh Nang Yuan Reef Basics: Beginners and relaxed diving. Also good for snorkelling.
Depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 5 - 15m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Normally calm
Water Temperature: 27 - 29°C
Experience Level: Beginner - intermediate
Number of dive sites: 5
Diving Season: All year round
Distance: 1 km from Sairee Beach, Koh Tao; 85 km north of Samui (2 hours)
Access: Day trips from Koh Samui by speedboat

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