Koh Tao means ‘Turtle Island’ and is the most popular place to scuba dive in Thailand. The striking coral reefs have plenty of wildlife to meet and greet. The most famous of the dive sites in Koh Tao, of course, being the turtles but you will also find schools of fish and different breeds of shark.
All of the diving shops will have everything you need and tours set up for popular diving locations such as the wreck of HTMS Sattakut, Japanese Gardens, Ocean Utopia, Lighthouse Bay, and so many others.
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TOP DIVE SITES IN KOH TAO
Twin Pinnacles
This dive site is a fabulous marine playground for new divers as most of the action is at 5m – 20m. Twin Pinnacles is located beach on the west of Koh Nang Yuan. Nemos and Turtles are regularly spotted at Twin Pinnacles but you will also be rewarded with Butterfly Fish, Blue-ringed, and Six-banded Angelfish.
Japanese Garden
Japanese Garden is located on the east side of Koh Nang Yuan, directly opposite Twin Pinnacles. This dive site in Koh Tao is popular with snorkelers, Open Water, and Advanced divers as the jaw-dropping marine life lives at a maximum depth of 15m and there is limited current. The vast array of soft and hard corals creates the impression of an oriental garden and when you throw the beautiful Fusiliers, Rabbit Fish, Catfish, Red-breasted Wrasse, and Giant Pufferfish, this site is not to be missed.
Chumphon Pinnacles
Chumphon Pinnacle is a popular advanced dive site in Koh Tao and is perfectly located only 12km from the island. The site consists of one huge granite pinnacle and a series of smaller pinnacles rising from the bottom at 36 metres to within 14 metres of the surface. Feast your eyes on Pink Anemones, Crabs, Scorpion Fish, Bat Fish, Giant Baraccuda, and, between August and October, Whalesharks!
Sail Rock
This dive site is located 1.5 hours by boat off Koh Tao and is considered one of Thailand’s best dive sites. Sail Rock juts out by 8m but drops 40m below sea level. Check out “The chimney” where you can enter at 5m and descend down to 18m where you exit. Most dive tours will only go once a week as it is a full day trip so plan ahead!
Hin Pee Wee
This dive site is located on the North West side of Koh Tao Island. It consists of 3 main pinnacles and has an amazing selection of marine life with white-eyed moray eels, Stingrays, Jenkins Whiprays, Puffer, and Porcupine fish. this site is one less visited and is perfect for more advanced divers. Nearby, you can find the HTMS Sattakut, a former US Navy ship was sunk in 2011 and sits from 18-30 metres down.
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HOW TO PLAN THE BEST KOH TAO TRIP
Plan ahead for your Koh Tao trip
- Find the best hotel deals on Koh Tao island on Booking.com
- Get your ferry transfer from southern Thailand or Bangkok to Koh Samui
- Organise travel insurance to suit your needs with World Nomads
Book a tour of Koh Tao
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