Thailand Dive Sites

The Northern Gulf, East Coast of Thailand

The Hardeep Wreck

Off the tiny coastal village of Samaesan, some 30 minutes East of Pattaya, near Sattahip Naval Base is the wreck of The Hardeep. The Hardeep is a Indonesian freighter commandeered by the Japanese forces during the second world war and sunk at anchor by allied forces. The wreck lies at 16-27 meters on its side and can be penetrated with proper care and precautions. The coral encrusted hull of the vessel has become home to a wealth of marine life including Moorish idols, fusiliers and large schools of snapper.
Suitability Rating: A great wreck dive for more experienced divers.

The Petchaburi Bremen

August 1914: At the beginning of World War I the PETCHABURI was interned in Bangkok. On 27/07/1917: she was confiscated by the Thai Government and given the new name KAEO SAMUD. During December 1920, on a voyage from Bangkok to Swatow with rice on board, she ran ashore near Koh Sichang in the Gulf of Siam and sank. Her current Position is in Chong Khram Channel at (approx) N11'40", E100'49". This wreck is very broken up, in an area of very strong currents, and subject to plenty of Thai Naval activity.
Suitability Rating: This is a dive for the die hard wreck enthusiast

HMS Khram

The Thai navy has sunk a decommissioned warship near Koh Phi and Koh Larn islands off Pattaya to turn it into a breeding ground for marine life.

Vice-Admiral Somjai Wattanayothin, chief-of-staff of the Royal Fleet at the Sattahip naval base, said the decommissioning of HMS Khram was a navy project to mark His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's 50th birthday.

The United States gave this ship (Former USS LSM-469) renamed HMS Khram to the Thai Navy on the 25 May 1962. The ship, now dilapidated beyond repair, has been in use for more than 60 years. It now lies about 300 meters from Koh Phi in 30m of water.

The Far Islands

Situated off the coastal resort town of Pattaya approx. 1 1/2 hours from Bangkok are the islands of Koh Rin, Koh Man Wichai, Koh Phai & Hin Ton Mai, collectively known as "The Far Islands". The sandy bottom, strewn with unusual rock formations and large hard corals is home to a variety of marine life and an abundance of anemones, sponges & soft corals. In addition snappers, pelagics, young leopard sharks and blue spotted rays can also be seen.
Suitability Rating: Good sites for every level of diver.

The Southern Gulf, East Coast of Thailand

Sail Rock

Situated 30 Km off Koh Samui in the Southern part of the Gulf of Thailand, Sail Rock and the adjacent Samran Pinnacles are truly world class. Constantly visited by large pelagic species, Sail Rock provides a 34-metre wall dive, the only one in the Gulf. Another unique feature is the chimney that has been formed in the pinnacle, it is possible for buddy teams to enter the chimney at 18 m and ascend up through it, side by side, exiting at 6 metres the ideal way to end your dive. This site also sees a large number of the Whale Shark sightings that are made in the Gulf of Thailand as it's surrounded by deep water.
Suitability Rating: Great diving for every level of diver as the site is truly multi-level.

Angthong National Marine Park

Ang Thong National Marine Park covers over 100 square kilometers, comprising of forested islands and coral reefs with some interesting dive sites mostly in its Northern reaches, with Hin Nippon and Koh Wao the best.
Suitability Rating: Good sites for every level of diver.

Koh Wao

The average depth in this sheltered bay is only 8 - 14 meters so it's a nice easy dive for the less experienced divers and a great way to dive yourself in if you have been out of the water for a while. The site has a fantastic selection of hard and soft corals with star corals and table staghorn corals being the most prominent. Here you will find a vast selection of colourful reef fish darting in and out of their coral homes, including fusiliers, yellow tails, banded angelfish and shoaling snappers. This sites is also an ideal spot for snorkeling and swimming.

Hin Yippon

Located at the Northern most point of the Marine Park this Dive is not to be missed. Circumnavigating this small rock you'll find huge boulders forming fascinating swim thru's and alleyways that make perfect hiding places for large red snappers and groupers. Around the site you'll find large barrel sponges, numerous bushy corals and colourful sea fans, which make perfect shots for underwater photographers. The maximum depth here is 25 meters with a good average dive depth of 18 meters, which makes it an ideal site for novice and experienced divers alike.

Koh Tao

Koh Tao is a small island 40 km from the southern coastal town of Chumporn and the island of Koh Samui respectively. Many years ago the island was a penal colony for political prisoners, it is now a Mecca for the dive traveler and backpacker alike.

Around Koh Tao there are more than 12 dive sites all within a 25 minute boat ride from port. Including:
Chumporn Pinnacles offers memorable dives on sunken pinnacles, giant grouper, sharks and schooling pelagics and Barracuda are frequent visitors.
South West Pinnacles is a similar site known for the regular sighting of leopard sharks and more giant groupers.
Red Rock has spectacular corals and sea fans and a host of smaller marine life
Suitability Rating: Great diving for every level of diver.

Koh Nang Yuan

Located just off Koh Tao this small island consists of three rocky outlets, connected by three white sandy beaches. Here you will find three bays with sloping reefs going down to a maximum depth of 14 meters, which are ideal for snorkelling and diving. You will find all kinds of coral including, lettuce coral as well as staghorn, tabletop and cauliflower corals. Among the many varieties of reef fish living here are parrotfish, bird wrasse, butterfly fish, small yellow tail barracuda and honeycombed grouper.

Shark Island

Located just of the South coast of Koh Tao this twin rock outcrop consists of a steeply sloping reef going from 4 meters down to 20 meters. One of the biggest attractions of this dive is the variety of corals and fish life to be found. On the East side of the rock you will find a slopping reef covered in brain corals, vivid pink anemones and large barrel sponges, among the corals you will see snappers, banded angel fish and blue spotted stingrays. Whale Sharks are frequently sighted in season along with the odd Turtle and there is also the chance of seeing a few Black tip reef sharks. This site is also ideal for novice and experienced divers and offers great snorkelling.

Green Rock

Lying to the North of Koh Nang Yuan this site is famous for its numerous swim-throughs, caverns and overhangs. Descending down the Northern most buoy line to 18 meters you will find the nesting ground of the infamous Triggerfish, in season sometimes there will be up to 20-30 of them. Triggerfish are beautiful creatures however in season some species are extremely territorial, so divers beware.

Samran Pinnacles

This submerged set of three rocky pinnacles is located just off Sail Rock between Koh Tao & Koh Phangan and can only be dived at certain times of the year, generally between May and September. The formation rises from the ocean floor at 30 meters up to a minimum depth of 13 meters. The rocks are covered in soft corals, sponges and a wealth of colourful anemones. Just off the rocks hanging in the mild to strong currents you will find large groupers, great barracuda and shoals of big eye jacks.

Chumporn Pinnacles

Located North West of Koh Tao, this group of completely submerged pinnacles is probably one of the best dives in the Gulf Of Thailand and is not to be missed. The giant rock pinnacles rise up from 35 meters to 14 meters and are covered in a carpet of pink anemones. The main attraction for many divers is the massive groupers that can be seen on most dives hanging in the current just off the pinnacles. Here you will also have an excellent opportunity to see the illusive Whale Shark, which often cruises by followed by, great barracuda, jacks, tuna and shoals of Bat fish.

South West Pinnacles

These three rock pinnacles are located about 30 minutes of the South West Coast of Koh Tao. The impressive rock formations rise from a depth of 28 meters up to within 10 meters of the surface. Here you will find a vast array of soft coral bushes, sea whips and barrel sponges and the walls and ledges are covered in brightly coloured anemones. The fish life is varied and prolific at this site, and includes red snapper, honeycomb grouper, banded angelfish, great barracuda, with leopard sharks frequently sighted resting on the sandy gorges between the pinnacles.

The Andaman Sea, West Coast of Thailand

All the sites below are visited by liveaboard dive boats.

The Similan Islands

The Similan Islands are a group of nine granitic outcrops that lie in deep clear water 90 kilometers Northwest of Phuket Island. They are easily accessible and visited by a number of boats through the season, however the variety and quality of the diving makes sure very few divers are ever disappointed. There are nineteen sites ranging from shallow bays and coral gardens located in the sheltered bays that form in the protected lees of the islands. To the tunnels, caverns and swim-throughs that are formed by the sometimes-strong currents on the unprotected western faces. The deepest sites go below 50 meters, whilst the average depth of most sites runs between 10 and 30 meters. Visibility is usually best during the first half of the season and can be as good as 30-40 meters (although 15m to 25m is more likely). Whilst the second half of the season is better known for large pelagic visitors. The higher temperatures cause plankton blooms, which can reduce visibility but attract Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, White Tip and other sharks to the area in abundance.
Suitability Rating: great diving for every level of diver.

Click here for a map of the Similan Islands (opens in a new window).

Koh Surin, Koh Bon, and Richelieu Rock

North of the Similans and West of Ranong lie the five granite islands that form Mu Surin Marine Park. These provide some of the most outstanding sites anywhere in the world for sighting Whale sharks, the harmless giants that feed on the rich plankton and are abundant in this area. Slightly outside the boundaries of the park are the other popular sites of Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock. These outcrops reach 40 meters and although strong currents can be encountered, they are fantastic places for Whale shark and Manta action. Other highlights in this area include the spectacular three-tiered reef at Koh Tachai.
Suitability Rating: A breathtaking journey for more experienced divers.

Click here for a map of the Koh Surin area (opens in a new window).

Hin Daeng, Hin Muang & Koh Phi Phi

Off the coast of the Southern province of Krabi are multitudes of islands running from Ao Nang, south of Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta and beyond. They offer some of the best diving in the country and due to their distance from Phuket some of the least crowded. The farthest sites of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are world class, with Hin Daeng home to a spectacular wall dive, which drops off to 70 meters. Hin Muang is named after the colorful purple anemones, which cover the top of its pinnacle. Whale sharks, Manta rays, a host of oceanic sharks and other large pelagics almost constantly visit the area. On route our cruises pass close to the beautiful island of Phi Phi, where there are a collection of shallower sites more suited to less experienced divers and night dives. Here shoals of colorful reef fish swarm through the clear tropical waters and leopard sharks make their homes on the sandy bottom.
Suitability Rating: A breathtaking journey for more experienced divers and less experienced divers can also enjoy shallower divers.

Click here for a map of the Hin Daeng dive sites (opens in a new window).

Burma

The Mergui Archipelago

This is a new frontier for diving in South East Asia, with 10,000 square miles of virgin waters containing over 800 islands now open for marine exploration. Most cruises to this area are complete adventures, combining island discovery treks as well as incredible diving. Underwater highlights are found off Clara Island at North Sentinel, which is awash with sharks. Black Rock, a pinnacle dropping to over 250 feet and Western Rocky Island where Whale Sharks, Reef Sharks, Manta, Eagle and even Devil Rays can be seen around four submerged pinnacles. Shark and Manta action is outstanding in Burmese waters and over 100 mantas in a single dive have been recorded. Another byword on Mergui cruises is exploration and a part of every trip is the discovery and search for new and exciting reefs, you can be almost sure you will get the chance to dive sites that nobody has ever dived before. You also get to step into a land that has been lost in time for over 50 years, islands covered by thick rainforest, bird life and fauna in abundance, as well as clear blue waters that are home to a seemingly limitless treasure.
Suitability Rating: A wonderful experience for every level of diver with the opportunity to dive in virgin waters.

Burma Banks

Lying 180 kilometers Northwest of the Similan Islands are a series of large underwater seamounts that sit in depths of up to 300 meters. They lie in Burmese waters and visiting boats must have permission from the Burmese authorities. The tops of the banks rise to within 15-25 meters of the surface and have a fairly high proportion of coral cover. However this is not what people go to the Burma Banks for. The reason for visiting is sharks, sharks and more sharks. Resident reef sharks include Silvertips, Whitetips, Grey and Nurse Sharks, while oceanic visitors include Tiger Sharks, Hammerheads and Whale Sharks. There are four banks currently being dived between the months of November and May. Visibility can range anywhere up to 30 meters and there are sometimes strong currents, but for shark spotting it can't be beaten.
Suitability Rating: Fantastic for experienced advanced open water divers and shark lovers.