Scuba Diving Koh Tao without Certification

Scuba Diving Sail Rock (‘Hin Bai’ in Thai) Sail Rock is the premier scuba diving site near Koh Tao, is roughly half way between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, in the Gulf of Thailand, situated an hour and a half boat ride from Koh Tao. The rock at Sail Rock boulders out of the water, forming a landmark in the middle of the sea, and the dive site has a maximum depth of over 40 meters. The actual rock wall drop down to below 20 meters, where it meets sand that gradually banks away. A second large rock that doesn’t reach the surface on the south east of the dive site that drops down into the sand at more than 30 meters. Several smaller scattered rocks surround the main rock. Sail Rock is renown for regular sightings of whale sharks and giant baracuda, plus the experience of ascending inside a chimney, this dive site is a favourite for experienced and technical divers. Sail Rock is a haven for marine life. Huge schools of Chevron Barracuda, Travelly, Queenfish, Great Barracudas, Fin Ba...

Scuba Diving Chumphon Pinnacle Chumphon Pinnacle (Chumporn Pinnacle) is the best dive site near Koh Tao after Sail Rock, and probably the most famous dive site of Koh Tao - 11km northwest of Ko Tao. The pinnacle starts at 12 meters and Maximum depth is 35 meters. This superb dive site is more suitable for advanced divers. Chumphon Pinnacle is only 45 minutes away from Sairee beach in Koh Tao, the dive site is often crowded but offers a large variety and abundant marine life with very good visibility most of the time. One main huge granite pinnacle and a series of smaller ones rising from the bottom at 36 m to within 14 m of the surface, covered with anemones and their attendant Pink Clown Fishes. Large shoals of Great and Cheveron Barracuda, schools of Trevally, Batfish and large Groupers are commonly spotted. You may also spot a Whale Shark from February to May, as well as September. You may also spot a juvenile Bull Sharks. Manta Rays are also occasional visitors to Chump...

Scuba Diving White Rock White Rock is one of the most visited dive sites of Koh Tao, because it is only 10 minutes by boat from Sairee Beach and the Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao towards Nang Yuan Island. White Rock is also one of the largest diving sites of Koh Tao. With a depth range of 26 m to 5 m, it is suitable for all scuba diving levels, including Open Water One.. The White Rock dive site provides a variety of habitats for different marine life as it ranges from one meter to twenty meters deep. White Rock boasts a large coral garden situated between two distinct granite pinnacles to the north and south side and a vast array of bottom day time and nocturnal inhabitants. White Rock offers a wide range of marine life such as Sea Turtles, Nudibranchs, Blue Spotted Stingrays, White Eyed Moray, Barracudas, Angel Fish, and Moray Eels are commonly sighted, as well as the infamous Trigger Fish. White Rock also displays a wide variety of soft and hard coral. White Rock is pa...

Mae Haad Pier Dive Trips in Koh Tao meet daily at the Mae Haad Pier. Join our Dive Trips for an unforgettable Dive Sites Experience with Sea Turtles, Abundant Marine Life, Colourful Corals, and Turquoise Waters. Our Dive Trips in Koh Tao start at Mae Haad Pier where we will depart with a diving boat with a trip around the island. The Mae Haad Pier is also known as the "Ferry Pier", or the "Koh Tao Harbour". This is the pier were you first set foot on Koh Tao. Private Dive Trips have their own private boat, a qualified PADI Divemaster, and have the freedom to dive at less populated diving sites around Koh Tao. The shipwreck is an interesting dive site in Mae Haad Bay, which sank in 1962 - located at the south end of the bay. There are generally lots of fish here and you may be accompanied by a huge school of fusiliers as well as the blue spotted rays and sweetlips hiding about the place. Mae Haad Bay is the port town where all piers are located, and also where the go...

Scuba Diving Tanote Bay Tanote Bay is a Scuba Diving Site in Koh Tao that is the most accessible with a scooter, effortless with a boat trip, and is a stunning snorkeling and scuba destination. Tonate Bay has great variety of hard and soft corals, and some fairly large fish that can be seen just a few steps into the water - Angelfish, Butterfly fish, Groupers, Anemone fish, Blue Spotted Ribbontail Stingrays, and sometimes the occasional Hawksbill Turtle. Diving at Tanote Bay compares to a huge tropical aquarium with stunning visibility. The reef slopes from around 2 meters below sea level to around 18 meters. The scuba diving area has a boulder in the middle of the bay which is well known for rock jumping. Tanote Bay is also a popular scuba diving site for PADI, SSI, and NAUI Dive Sites Training and Certification. Surrounding the boulder in the bay, you will find an abundance of sea live. Tanote Bay is located on the east coast of Koh Tao with luxury hotels, restaurants, bars...

Scuba Diving Nang Yuan Island Nang Yuan Island is a Scuba Dive Site just off the west coast of Koh Tao at a picture perfect Nang Yuan Private Island. Nang Yuan Island is one of the most well-known published images of Koh Tao. Koh Nang Yuan (Nangyuan) is made up of three small islands connected by a sand bar, and is said to be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Koh Nang Yuan is a popular photographed featuring Koh Tao in books and postcards. Upon disembarking from our boat, and entrance fee of 100 Baht is collected, and every plastic water bottle is removed and discarded. Koh Nang is said to be one of the most beautiful snorkeling and scuba diving islands in the world. Koh Nang Yuan has some great snorkeling and diving sites and it’s popular scuba diving site. Koh Nang Yuan has five snorkeling and scuba diving sites around the island, namely White Rock, Nang Yuan Pinnacle (aka Red Rock), Green Rock, Japanese Gardens, and Twin Peaks. The Japanese Gardens seem...

Dive Sites Koh Tao There are over 70 scuba diving companies which operate Dive Trips in Koh Tao, they all cost more or less the same and provide the same scuba diving trips, to the same five  scuba diving sites, namely Koh Nang Yuan, Mango Bay, Hin Wong Bay, Aow Leuk, and Shark Bay. These five scuba diving sites are not the best, but rather the most convenient for an “Dive Trip Around the Island”. These daily Dive Trips all depart from Mae Haad Pier (the Ferry Harbour and Pier).

Scuba Diving Mango Bay Mango Bay (Aow Muang) is a Dive Site on the north coast of Koh Tao and is one of the top diving sites on Koh Tao with stunning visibility. Mango Bay is located with a magnificent view of what is probably Koh Tao's most beautiful bay. Mango Bay is a popular bay for beginner level scuba diver training. Mango Bay is named after the many mango trees which were once here. Mango Bay is a large bay with a small beach and a coral reef on either side. Often the water is calm and clear, the sandy seafloor giving the water a beautiful turquoise hue. The Mango Bay landscape consists of high rocky cliffs and lush green hillsides rising up from the water's edge and offering breathtaking views of the gulf to the north of Koh Tao. The easiest way to get to Mango Bay is by boat, though you can take a scooter, or take the long walk via concrete road and through the forest. Due to the good conditions and the flat sandy seafloor. Mango Bay offers spectacular viewpoi...

Snorkeling at Aow Leuk Bay Aow Leuk Bay (Ao Leuk Bay) is a Dive Site on the southeast slope of Koh Tao with crystal clear water with soft and hard corals, sea turtles, hundreds of tropical fish, all different colors, shapes and sizes. Some even taking the appearance of an underwater rainbow as they swam by. “Aow Leuk” is named for its deep water, which makes it good for scuba diving site - even at very low tide. With Shark Island in the background, Aow Leuk is one of the most popular sites for snorkelling and diving and is among the most beautiful places on Koh Tao. Aow Leuk Bay has an abundance of marine life. The large sandy sea floor makes it ideal for swimming and lounging in the water and it is used a lot for scuba diver training and certification. The reef has a good variety of corals including, Stag Horn, Brain and large formations of Star corals, amongst the corals you will find brightly colored Christmas tree worms. Twice a year at Aow Leuk, baby blacktip reef sharks can b...

Snorkeling at Hin Wong Bay Hin Wong Bay is a Dive Site in Koh Tao and is one of the best scuba diving site on the north-eastern coast of Koh Tao, and part of a large bay area. Hin Wong Pinnacle with its stunning blue soft corals and crystal clear waters at 26 meters. Hin Wong Bay has several underwater pinnacles covered in fertile coral, anemones and many kinds of fish. Due to the rocky formations of Hin Wong Bay, it is difficult to walk around, so it’s good idea to rent a kayak to get around. Hin Wong Bay has an abundant marine life and is known for its plentiful and colorful schools of hundreds, if not thousands, tropical fish, including shoals of sardines. These sites also offer the chance of encountering Banded Sea Snakes, Unicorn Surgeon fish, Parrot fish and the occasional passing Black Tip Reef Shark. Hin Wong Bay is a quiet and remote scuba diving site, the beach is surrounded by boulders, and the easiest to get there is by boat - it is about an hour’s hike from Sairee...

Snorkeling at Nang Yuan Island Nang Yuan Island is a Dive Site just off the west coast of Koh Tao at a picture perfect Nang Yuan Private Island. Nang Yuan Island is one of the most well-known published images of Koh Tao. Koh Nang Yuan (Nangyuan) is made up of three small islands connected by a sand bar, and is said to be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Koh Nang Yuan is a popular photographed featuring Koh Tao in books and postcards. Upon disembarking from our boat, and entrance fee of 100 Baht is collected, and every plastic water bottle is removed and discarded. Koh Nang is said to be one of the most beautiful snorkeling and scuba diving islands in the world. Koh Nang Yuan has some great snorkeling and diving sites and it’s popular scuba diving site. Koh Nang Yuan has five snorkeling and scuba diving sites around the island, namely White Rock, Nang Yuan Pinnacle (aka Red Rock), Green Rock, Japanese Gardens, and Twin Peaks. The Japanese Gardens seems to be the most ...

Snorkling at Tanote Bay Tanote Bay is a Dive Site in Koh Tao that is the most accessible with a scooter, effortless with a boat trip, and is a stunning snorkeling and scuba destination. Tonate Bay has great variety of hard and soft corals, and some fairly large fish that can be seen just a few steps into the water - Angelfish, Butterfly fish, Groupers, Anemone fish, Blue Spotted Ribbontail Stingrays, and sometimes the occasional Hawksbill Turtle. Diving at Tanote Bay compares to a huge tropical aquarium with stunning visibility. The reef slopes from around 2 meters below sea level to around 18 meters. The scuba diving area has a boulder in the middle of the bay which is well known for rock jumping. Tanote Bay is also a popular scuba diving site for PADI, SSI, and NAUI Dive Sites Training and Certification. Surrounding the boulder in the bay, you will find an abundance of sea live. Tanote Bay is located on the east coast of Koh Tao with luxury hotels, restaurants, bars, including a Thai...

Snorkeling at Sairee Beach Sairee Beach is Dive Sites on the west coast Koh Tao with a long white beach. Sairee Beach has a coral reef in shallow waters just 30 meters from the shore that is ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving, Sairee Beach is the most popular and busiest beach on Koh Tao on the west coast, and the surrounding area offers a wide range and variety of snorkeling and scuba diving shops, restaurants, cafes, accommodation, sunset bars, and with a variety of nightlife. Sairee Beach is adjacent to Mae Haad Bay and is the “main beach” in Koh Tai and stretches 1.8km up the west coast. Sairee Beach;  4R3G+PR Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Snorkeling at Chalok Baan Kao Bay Chalok Baan Kao Bay is a Dive Site in Koh in a peaceful tropical paradise with a long stretch of white sand and many holiday resorts, home to some of the bluest waters in the south coast, and near many snorkeling and scuba diving resorts and shops in Koh Tao – including the Buddha View PADI Dive Resort. The bay itself doesn’t offer much coral reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving, but there are some good spots within walking distance such as Freedom Beach, Cape June Juea, and Buddha Rock. You can also walk across to Shark Bay through a few resorts that connect both bays. Chalok Baan Kao Bay is very shallow with white sand and is probably the safest beach for children to snorkel. Chalok Baan Kao Bay is a very popular, and third largest beach on Koh Tao. Chalok Baan is home to the Buddha View Dive Resort, a prominent PADI IDC Dive Sites Instructor’s School, and with many snorkelling and dive shops, family resorts, restaurants, bars, travel agencies, phar...

Snorkeling at Laem Thian Laem Thian is a Dive Site in Koh Tao at the most eastern point of Koh Tao. Laem Thian is a great all day trip for hiking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The area offers excellent snorkeling and scuba diving, and you will see a few fish that aren’t commonly seen around Koh Tao such as Parrot Fish and Unicorn Fish. Schools of Butterfly Fish and a few Bat Fish are often seen, as are giant grouper, and black tip reef sharks. Interesting rock formations underwater create tunnels for tech scuba diving. Laem Thian is a rocky outcrop with a small beach on the south side, and it was here in 2009 after a ten year absence that turtles returned to Koh Tao to lay their eggs. Laem Thian is a quiet and remote bay on the east side of Koh Tao, and the only resort in Laem Thian closed in 2011 - remember to take your own refreshments and water. Laem Thian;  3VQ2+R3 Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Snorkeling at Lang Khai Bay Lang Khai Bay is a Dive Site on the south-east coast of Koh Tao. Lang Khai Bay itself is the smaller bay and one of the best hidden and less known snorkeling and scuba diving sites in Koh Tao. Lang Khai Bay has its small beach in front of a valley in between 2 high hills. There are several large boulders covered with various kinds of unspoiled new and older corals. The best snorkeling point is on the north side, and for the scuba divers the steeper sea floor at a depth of five to ten metres. Lang Khai Bay has a resort at the end of the road built on the cliff that provide an easy walkway down to King Kong Rock. Lang Khai Bay;  3RHW+PP Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Snorkeling at Shark Island Shark Island is a Dive Site about 800 meters south Koh Tao. Shark Island boast with excellent scuba diving scenery - particularly around the northwest point where shallow water can be found. Shark Island is steeper elsewhere, the water deeper, so it’s also ideal for scuba diving. Shark Island offers a huge variety of corals, sea whips and Gorgonian Sea Fans covering the multiple pinnacles. Some of the most usual marine life includes Blue Spotted Sting Rays, Scribbled Filefish, Harlequin Sweetlips, Starry Pufferfish, various Groupers and Titan Triggerfish that sometimes like nibbling the fins of divers who get too close to their nesting site. You can hire a boat to get to Shark Island, or you can rent a kayak from Aow Leuk or Sai Daeng Beach - it only takes about 15 minutes via kayak. Be aware of strong currents in the channel between the islands. Shark Island;  3R6V+PV Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand