Koh Tao Diving

Turtle Island's Dive Sites

This famous travellers island has long been known as a great place to learn how to scuba dive. This has always partly been due to the very competitive prices for diving in Koh Tao, but also due to the numerous sheltered and shallow bays that make excellent training reefs for students divers.

Ao Leuk is one such bay with easy, relaxing scuba diving on Koh Tao. It's highly recommend for beginners or for people who haven't dived for a while and need a refresher. The bay is located on the south side of the island.

The name is something of a misnomer since it means 'Deep Bay' - something this bay certainly is not, being one of the shallowest of the island's dive sites with a sandy bottom and maximum depth of only 12-14 metres. There are a surprising amount of reef fish such as angelfish and butterflyfish, schools of yellowtail barracuda and turtles.

White Rock is located midway between Koh Tao's Mae Haad Pier and Koh Nang Yuan. The site is very similar to Twins, being comprised of 2 big boulders which are only a few metres apart. These big stone tablets are surrounded by smaller rocks and coral formations. The site is relatively easy with the maximum depth around 20 metres. The main attraction of this Koh Tao diving site is Trevor the Triggerfish who is known as the most aggressive triggerfish around.

Shark Island is a small rock islet on the south east side of Koh Tao. The east side is the most interesting with big boulder formations. Many types of reef fish are spotted around here. On the south side at 14 metres is a soft coral garden on a bed of rocks. Occasionally you can find leopard sharks and turtles. Occasionally there can be strong current at Shark Island from either the south east or north west.

Green Rock is characterised by an impressive maze of swim-throughs, small caves, pinnacles and crevices formed by the huge granite boulders that are typically found in Koh Tao scuba scuba diving. The site is located between Koh Tao and its neighbouring island Koh Nang Yuan and ranges in depth from 5 to around 32 metres. Masses of marine life can be found here sheltering in the crevices and under rocks including moray eels, grouper, pufferfish, batfish, blue-ring angelfish, blue damselfish and sea snakes.

There is often a strong current here which makes it a great site for drift diving but is therefore not suitable for the novice diver. The site is also a breeding ground for both yellow margin and titan triggerfish so you are practically guaranteed an encounter, but approach cautiously if you venture near their nests in the sand to the north of the site.

Hin Wong Pinnacle is perhaps the best and certainly the most different dive on Koh Tao Island. The large granite boulder is located on the north point of Hin Wong Bay. The north side is very beautiful with purple soft corals and different kinds of sea fans, whip corals and black corals. Black and blue damsel fish will give you a warm welcome as you enter the water. Down on the bottom you might see small groups of razor fish drifting by.

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

• Samui tourist information

• Map of Koh Samui

Koh Tao Reef Basics: Beginners and easy diving. Also good for snorkelling.
Depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 5 - 20m
Currents: Usually none but occasional drift
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 Sairee Beach, Koh Tao; 85 km north of Samui (2 hours)
Access: Koh Tao dive day trips from Samui by speedboat

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