Koh Tao is a diver’s dream. We’ve put together this Koh Tao dive site guide so you don’t miss any of the island’s best dive sites.
This little island boasts calm conditions, vibrant reefs, and sites for every diving level. Whether you’re looking for beginner dive sites on Koh Tao or an advanced diver ready to explore some of the best deep dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Tao delivers.
SHALLOW DIVE SITES
HIN WONG BAY
Hin Wong Bay, on Koh Tao’s east coast, is a vibrant beginner dive site with stunning reef life. Expect clouds of Fusiliers, Parrotfish, Rabbitfish, and even the occasional Black Tip Reef Shark. This bay is perfect for spotting schools of fish and snapping photos of sea snakes and Unicornfish on a shallow, relaxed dive. Don’t have time for a dive trip? Hin Wong is also a great snorkeling spot.
Depth 4-14 meters.
JAPANESE GARDENS
Japanese Gardens is one of Koh Tao’s best dive sites for beginners. This shallow reef is packed with coral diversity and teeming marine life. Glide over sandy slopes and vibrant corals, with a chance to spot Eagle Rays. Marked as a must-visit in our Koh Tao dive site guide for first-timers and photographers looking for color and calm. Snorkel Japanese Gardens by day-tripping to Koh Nang Yuan.
Depth 2- 15 meters.
AOW LEUK
Located on Koh Tao’s east coast, Aow Leuk is a shallow, beginner-friendly dive site with gentle slopes and clear visibility. It’s perfect for learning to dive. Swim past coral patches with Parrotfish, juvenile Groupers, Snappers, and the occasional turtle or Yellowtail Barracuda. It’s a calm site featured in every top Koh Tao dive site guide.
Depth 4-16 meters.
MANGO BAY
Mango Bay is a classic beginner dive site in Koh Tao, with depths from 2 to 15 meters. The sandy bottom and expansive coral garden make it ideal for try dives and Open Water courses. The reef is filled with Mushroom, Table, and Staghorn corals, creating loads of hiding spots for odd-looking creatures. As one of Koh Tao’s best dive sites for new divers, it’s a favorite in our Koh Tao dive site guide.
Depth 2-15 meters
TANOTE BAY
Tanote Bay is a shallow dive site with fringing coral reefs and a unique artificial reef system. Reef cubes provide habitats for shy marine creatures and support coral regrowth. A favorite in our Koh Tao dive site guide, Tanote is great for beginners seeking variety. Lucky divers may spot a Black Tip Reef Shark silently patrolling the corals or a huge Giant Barracuda floating out in the blue.
Depth 2- 18 meters.
THREE ROCKS & POTTERY
Just minutes from Mae Haad, Three Rocks & Pottery are easy, beginner dive sites in Koh Tao. Expect boulders, swim-throughs, and diverse tropical reef species like Porcupine Pufferfish, Jenkins and Blue-Spotted Stingrays, Seahorses, and Butterflyfish. These shallow spots are perfect for new divers exploring the underwater world for the first time while experiencing Koh Tao’s best dive sites.
Depth 6-14 meters.
TWINS
Twins is one of Koh Tao’s best dive sites for both beginners and experienced divers. With twin rock formations and white sand channels, it offers relaxed navigation and abundant marine life. Spot Blue-Spotted Stingrays, Saddleback Clownfish, and Angelfish. It’s a stunner in the daytime, but it’s equally awesome for a night dive. Its diversity makes it a must-see in our Koh Tao dive site guide.
Depth 6- 18 meters.
LAEM THIAN
Laem Thian is a peaceful, shallow dive site in Koh Tao, ideal for all levels. It features caves, some complex swim-throughs, and is rich in macro life like nudibranchs and sea slugs. Expect to see Turtles, Stingrays, and Groupers here. This spot stands out in our Koh Tao dive site guide for its unique swim-throughs that make every diver on this site feel like a true underwater adventurer.
Depth 2-15 meters.
DEEP DIVE SITES
WHITE ROCK
White Rock is one of Koh Tao’s best dive sites, popular for both day and night dives. A series of rock shelves provide homes to Groupers, Sea Urchins, Anemones, and Stingrays. You’ll also spot soft corals and Christmas Tree Worms, and a mass of red fan coral in the middle of the dive site. It’s a top site in our Koh Tao dive site guide, and also the largest and most accessible site around Koh Tao.
Depth 6-22 meters.
CHUMPHON PINNACLE
Chumphon Pinnacle is a legendary deep dive site in the Gulf of Thailand. Starting at 14m and plunging to 36m, this site is well known for serious pelagic action, with divers often spotting Whale Sharks, Barracuda, Giant Groupers, and even Tuna. This standout dive site in our Koh Tao dive site guide is a magnet for advanced divers chasing big fish and technical divers chasing deeper dive profiles.
Depth 14-36 metres.
GREEN ROCK
Located near Koh Nang Yuan, Green Rock is one of Koh Tao’s most dynamic deep dive sites. Swim-throughs, caves, and bold topography make it a thrill for experienced divers. Expect sightings of Stingrays, Sea Snakes, Turtles, Triggerfish, and the most stunning Nudibranchs the Gulf of Thailand has to offer. Green Rock is a true underwater playground for advanced divers and is one of Koh Tao’s best dive sites.
Depth 4-28 meters.
HIN WONG PINNACLE
Hin Wong Pinnacle, on Koh Tao’s east side, is a deep dive site with strong currents and bold terrain. Descending to 30m, it’s suited for advanced divers and above. Marine life includes Turtles, Snappers, and Groupers amongst the boulders, which are often home to white fan corals. This site earns its place in our Koh Tao dive site guide for its dramatic topography difference from other Koh Tao dive sites.
Depth 10- 30 meters.
RED ROCK
Red Rock is a striking rock pinnacle dive off Koh Nang Yuan, starting just below the surface and dropping almost vertically. In the large, horizontal crack in the rock, look for Wart Slugs, Moray Eels, Banded Sea Snakes, Jenkins Rays, and even adult Yellow Boxfish. A favorite deep dive site in the Gulf of Thailand, Red Rock adds color, character, and adventure to any Koh Tao dive trip.
Depth 2- 21 meters.
SAIL ROCK
Sail Rock is one of the most iconic deep dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand. Located between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, its famous “chimney” vertical swim-through and big fish action make it a top choice for advanced courses and day trips. Expect Trevally, Mackerel, Barracuda, and maybe even a Whale Shark. Sail Rock is our favourite Koh Tao dive site and the top highlight in our Koh Tao dive site guide.
Depth 5-40 meters.
SHARK ISLAND
Shark Island offers a dramatic dive with steep slopes, boulders, and colorful corals. Blacktip Reef Sharks, Barracuda, and Stingrays roam the coral reef that surrounds the tiny island. With Whale Shark sightings and fun currents, it’s a favourite deep dive site in our Koh Tao dive site guide. While parts of the site are shallow, the water movement here means it’s best suited for advanced divers.
Depth 3- 24 meters.
SOUTH-WEST PINNACLE
Southwest Pinnacle is a deep offshore site made up of seven granite peaks, ranging from 8m to 28m. Known for currents and big schools of Snapper, Bannerfish, Barracuda, and Sweetlips, it’s a thrill for advanced divers. Practice your navigation by trying to locate ‘Secret Pinnacle’, a 5-minute swim from Southwest. This is one of Koh Tao’s best dive sites for action-packed marine life and deep exploration.
Depth 6-28 meters.
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