Scuba Diving Koh Tao

Scuba Diving Koh Tao

Scuba Diving Koh Tao offers over 20 prime scuba diving sites and coral reefs around the warm tropical paradise waters of Koh Tao. Most of the scuba diving sites are easier accessible via a Dive Boat. For scuba diving trips and IDC Scuba Diving Courses, email quotes@ksmart.co.za, WhatsApp 079 895 5048, or Tel (+66) 84 047 2331.

Scuba Diving Trips in Koh Tao are inclusive of Scuba Gear, Beach Landing Fees, Boat Rides, Refreshments, Bottled Water, and Lunch. Private Scuba Tours also include a Private Boat and a qualified PADI Divemaster.

PADI IDC Courses Koh Tao

The PADI IDC Courses in Koh Tao provides you with the opportunity for a complete change of lifestyle and a new career in Scuba Diving at Dive Resorts, Cruise Ships, and Liveaboard Jobs across the world. Koh Tao offers the highest level of training for a PADI Dive Instructor, at the most affordable rate in the world. The PADI Instructor Development Course (PADI IDC) is made up of two parts. The Assistant Instructor course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor program. Most dive professionals complete the entire IDC and go on to attend an Instructor Examination, which is the final step to earn a PADI Instructor certification.

Quick Scuba Diving Courses Koh Tao

Do a PADI Resort Course the previous day (±4 hours) which allows you to snorkel and scuba dive the following day with a qualified PADI Divemaster. You can condense or expand your Private Scuba Trip with one, or many Scuba Diving Sites in Koh Tao.

Diving Trips Koh Tao at Sail Rock (‘Hin Bai’ in Thai) ☆☆☆☆☆ 

Sail Rock is the premier scuba diving site near Koh Tao, in the Gulf of Thailand, situated an hour and a half boat ride from Koh Tao.

Sail Rock rises up 8m out of the water and the dive site has a maximum depth of over 40m. The actual rock wall drop down to below 20 metres, 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 metres. Several smaller scattered rocks surround the main rock.

Sail Rock is a haven for marine life. Huge schools of Chevron Barracuda, Travelly, Queenfish, Great Barracudas, Fin Batfish, Giant Grouper, and of course during season Whale Sharks often feed here. Sail Rock also offers plenty for macro enthusiasts including shrimps, crabs and Nudibranch.

Our Sail Rock day trips are extremely popular with certified divers.

Location; WXWR+86 Ko Pha-ngan Sub-district, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Chumphon Pinnacle ☆☆☆☆☆

Chumphon Pinnacle is the best scuba dive site near Koh Tao after Sail Rock, probably the most famous dive site of Koh Tao. The pinnacle starts at 12 meters and Maximum depth is 35 meters deep. This superb dive site is more suitable for advanced divers. Chumphon Pinnacle is located 11km North West of Ko Tao.

Chumphon pinnacle composed of four pinnacles covered with anemones. 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.

Chumphon Pinnacle features several pinnacles and underwater boulders with great marine life such as batfishes, barracudas, potato groupers, Leopard Sharks, and all the usual reef fishes of the gulf of Thailand. You may also spot a juvenile Bull Sharks. Manta Rays are also occasional visitors to Chumphon Pinnacle.

 You may also spot a Whale Shark from February to May, as well as September.

Location; 5QFH+3V Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at White Rock ☆☆☆☆☆ 

White Rock is one of the most visited dive site of Koh Tao, because of it is only 10 minutes by boat Sairee Beach and the Mae Haad Pier. It is also one of the largest diving sites of Koh Tao. White Rock dive site provides a variety of habitats for different marine life as it ranges from 1 meter to twenty meters deep.

White Rock offers a wide range of marine life such as sea turtles, nudibranchs, blue spotted stingrays, barracuda, angel fish, moray eels, triggerfish and for the luckiest, Wrasses. White Rock also displays a wide variety of soft and hard coral.

White Rock is particularly popular for night dives, and for the 4th PADI Open Water dive.

There are over 70 Scuba Diving Companies in Koh Tao

There are over 70 scuba diving companies which operate Scuba Diving 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 spots are not the best, but rather the most convenient for an “Scuba Diving Trip Around the Island”.

These daily Scuba Diving Trips all depart from Mae Haad Pier (the Ferry Harbour and Pier).

Daily Scuba Diving Trips, Meet us at the Mae Haad Pier

For Scuba Diving Trips in Koh Tao, meet us at the Mae Haad Pier for an unforgettable Scuba Diving Experience with Sea Turtles, Abundant Marine Life, Colourful Corals, and Turquoise Waters.

Our Scuba Diving 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 Scuba Diving 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 government offices are, the police station, post office, health centre, banks, school, hospital and temple. Mae Haad Bay is the hub for Thai Shopping and Souvenirs.

At Mae Haad Bay you will find many dive shops, where you can buy and hire everything from masks and fins for snorkelling, to the latest scuba diving gear. Also find local fresh market shops where you can find tropical fruit and local ingredients.

A small brick beach road, no cars, just a few bikes, will take you to Sairee Beach, while a walkway along the southwestern coast will lead to Jansom Bay and Sai Nuan Beach.

Location; 3RMF+WP Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Shark Bay (Thian Og Bay) ☆☆☆☆☆

Where there are friendly sharks, you will find turtles. Shark Bay is the only place where you can find turtles every day. Shark Bay is a shark nursery where young sharks can be seen at certain times of the year. There are larger sharks, and to see them you need to swim out a few hundred metres where it drops down deeper to three to four metres. Shark Bay is also habitat for Black Tip Reef Sharks, they are harmless.

Shark Bay is also a popular scuba diving site to spot Sea Turtles. Also find Green Turtles as well, a few of them are huge and are more than a metre long. These Sea Turtles are friendly and not afraid of humans and can sometimes swim very close to you. Please be sure to not touch them as bacteria on our skin can greatly affect their health and can cause them harm.

Shark Bay is a private bay with a beautiful beach, tall coconut trees, and fine white sand - an entrance fee is charged. Alternative you can access the bay with boat or kayak. Shark Bay it is a popular scuba diving site at 6 to 12 feet from the sea bed.

Location; 3R6J+F3 Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Aow Leuk Bay

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Aow Leuk Bay in crystal clear water with soft and hard corals, sea turtles, hundreds of tropical fish, all different colours, shapes and sizes. Some even taking the appearance of an underwater rainbow as they swam by. Aow Leuk Bay is situated at the south-east slope of Koh Tao.

“Aow Leuk” means ‘Deep Bay’ and is named for its deep water, which makes it good for scuba diving - 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 amongst the most beautiful places on Koh Tao.

Scuba Diving at 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.

Twice a year at Aow Leuk, baby blacktip reef sharks can be seen in the shallows here, a perfect nursery environment for Blacktip Sharks. The adult Blacktip Sharks are found a further 500 metres from the beach, off the north shore. Hin Ngam is about 600 metres down the beach. Hin Ngam is a beautiful spot for snorkelling and scuba diving with easy, calm conditions for most of the year.

Location; 3RCQ+WM Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Hin Wong Bay ☆☆☆☆☆

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Hin Wong Bay 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 Bay has well-preserved coral, crystal clear waters.

Hin Wong Bay has an abundant marine life and is known for its plentiful and colourful schools of hundreds, if not thousands, tropical fish, including shoals of sardines.

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 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 (the main beach next to the ferry pier).

You can easily spend an entire day at Hin Wong Bay snorkelling and scuba diving in the bay.

Location; 4R2X+RQ Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Mango Bay (Aow Muang)

Scuba Diving Koh Tao on the north coast at Mango Bay. Mango Bay is one of the top diving sites on Koh Tao with stunning visibility. 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 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 is a popular diving and snorkelling site for day trip visitors from Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Mango Bay offers spectacular viewpoints on top of mountains and rocky outcrops.

Location; 4RFP+5G Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Nang Yuan Island ☆☆☆☆☆

Scuba Diving Koh Tao just off the west coast at the picture perfect Nang Yuan Island. Nang Yuan Island is one of the most well-known 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, the extra entrance fee of 100 Baht is collected here and every plastic water bottle is removed and discarded. Koh Nang is said to be one of the most beautiful snorkelling and scuba diving islands in the world.

Koh Nang Yuan has some great snorkelling and diving sites and it’s popular scuba diving site. Koh Nang Yuan has five snorkelling 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 popular for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Scuba Dive the spectacular “Japanese Garden” reef. Relax on the white sandy beach, or hike to the top for an iconic and panoramic view. Take a 30 minute hike to the hilltop for a breath-taking panoramic view of Koh Tao. Japanese Gardens also a small wreck of an old dive boat, interesting to explore and a mere nearly meter deep.

There is a daily boat service from Koh Tao to Koh Nang Yuan which departs from the Lomprayah Pier at Mae Haad Bay. You can also hire a longtail boat from any beach on Koh Tao. “All Around Island” boat trips will also visit Koh Nang Yuan.

Location: Nang Yuan Island, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Tanote Bay ☆☆☆☆☆

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Tanote Bay is the most accessible, effortless, and stunning snorkelling and scuba diving site in Koh Tao. 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.

Scuba Diving at Tanote Bay compares to diving in 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 Scuba Diving 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 Massage Spa. Tanote Bay is easy accessible by shooter on a tarred road winding over the mountainous area, surrounded by verdant high hills, large boulders, and offers stunning panoramic viewpoints. Kayaks and Longtail Boats are for rent, and from here you can go to the pristine bay of Laem Thian - which is inaccessible by car.

Location; 3RMX+JH Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Sairee Beach

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Sairee Beach with long white beach on the west coast of Koh Tao. Sairee Beach has a coral reef in shallow waters just 30 metres from the shore that is ideal for snorkelling 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 snorkelling 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.

Location; 4R3G+PR Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Chalok Baan Kao Bay

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Chalok Baan Kao Bay 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 snorkelling 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 snorkelling 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 Scuba Diving Instructor’s School, and with many snorkelling and dive shops, family resorts, restaurants, bars, travel agencies, pharmacies, and a 7-Eleven. On a clear day in Koh Tao, Chalok Baan Kao Bay looks out to Koh Phangan – home to the best Full Moon Parties in Thailand.

Location; 3R8G+R2 Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Laem Thian

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Laem Thian at the most eastern point of Koh Tao. Laem Thian is a great all day trip for hiking, snorkelling, and scuba diving. The area offers excellent snorkelling and scuba diving, and you will see a few fish that aren’t commonly seen around Koh Tao such as parrotfish and unicornfish.

Schools of butterflyfish and a few batfish 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 mown refreshments and water.

Location; 3VQ2+R3 Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Lang Khai Bay

Scuba Diving Koh Tao on the south-east coast at Lang Khai Bay. Lang Khai Bay itself is the smaller bay and one of the best hidden and less known snorkelling 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 snorkelling 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.

Location; 3RHW+PP Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Shark Island

Scuba Diving Koh Tao about 800 metres south at Shark Island. 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.

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.

Location; 3R6V+PV Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Sai Daeng 

Scuba Diving Koh on the south coast at Sai Daeng beach with crystal clear waters, and a sublime view of Shark Island. Sai Daeng Beach is also the closest bay to Shark Island, taking just 10 minutes to get there. Sai Daeng is popular site to see the ‘Golden Shark Island’ – a phenomenon which occasionally happens just before sunset depending on weather.

Scuba Divers at Sai Daeng you may find Blacktip Reef Sharks or Sea Turtles that live nearby around Thian Og Bay, Taa Som Bay and Sai Daeng Beach. Scuba diving sites are on ether end of the peninsular (sea point) where there are various kinds of coral combined with rocks.

The nearby area has round shaped rocks underwater with many corals that make it a popular snorkelling and scuba diving spot - though be careful of the current around the cape peninsular. The roads to this beach have been blocked, so visitors must pass through either one of the two resorts. Visitors are welcome and there is no charge.

Location; 3R8Q+7R Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Freedom Beach

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Freedom Beach with water crystal clear water. Freedom Beach is a small, very quiet and private beach on the south coast of Koh Tao with no obvious buildings apart from one wooden restaurant to the side. The beach itself has fine white sand and is fairly shaded with trees.

There is a shallow coral reef not too far out. If you swim around the cape, schools of fish can often be found due to the constant water movement here. Walking to the cape and Buddha Rock, you will pass Taa Toh Lek Beach - a tiny, isolated beach surrounded by jungle.

Also visit the amazing mountaintop viewpoint nearby - it takes about 15 minutes to climb the hill. You can also visit a nearby beach called Taa Toh Yai by using the concrete walkway along the coast. On a low tide, you can even continue walking to Chalok Baan Kao Bay.

Location; 3R6H+F7 Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at June Juea Bay

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at June Juea Bay at a small remote bay on the north side of Koh Tao and is the ideal beach to view the sunset. There are a few resorts at June Juea Bay, two small bungalows, and a newly opened luxury hotel.

June Juea Bay can be accessed via a very steep concrete road, or you can reach it walking twenty minutes along the shore from Chalok Baan Kao and Saan Jao Beach. There is not much space on the small sandy areas between the rocks and trees, but the crystal clear water, white sand and the idyllic atmosphere a great haven for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Location; 3R89+WW Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Sai Nuan Beach

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Sai Nuan Beach on the south-west of Koh Tah. Sai Nuan Beach has an unspoilt beach of fine white sand, palm trees, and shallow turquoise water. Snorkelling is also good here and the small bays are quite protected.

Swim out to groups of boulders which enclose Sai Nuan Beach. Sai Nuan Beach is home to orange spine unicornfish, batfish, harlequin sweetlips, giant grouper, schools of yellowtail barracuda, threadfin butterflyfish and trevally.

Green turtles have also been spotted at Sai Nuan Beach.

Location; 3RF8+MH Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Jansom Bay

Scuba Diving Koh Tao at Jansom Bay just down from Mae Haad Pier on the West Coast of Koh Tao. Jansom Bay is a small bay with a small sandy beach and sea floor.

At Jansom Bay, you may find a few different kinds of marine life than usual, such as the yellow boxfish, sweetlips, titan triggerfish, blue spotted stingray, porcupine pufferfish and even octopus.

Jansom Bay is private beach and visitors will be charged 200 Baht per person entrance fee. To access the beach, you will have to walk through Charm Churee Villa.

Location; 3RH8+XW Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand

Koh Tao is the number one scuba diving site in the world to get from your PADI Open Water to your PADI IDC Qualification

Koh Tao is the number one scuba diving site in the world to get your PADI. Scuba Diving training standards are extremely high on Koh Tao with some of the world's most experienced PADI Course Directors, Divemasters and Instructors.

Koh Tao has over 70 Diving Shops and Schools, here are just a few Buddha View Dive Resort, Roctopus, Sairee Cottage Diving Resort, DJL, Ocean Republic, Crystal Dive Koh Tao, Big Blue Diving Koh Tao, Ban's Diving, Coral Grand, Coral Junction, Asia Divers, Siam Scuba PADI 5 Star Dive Center, Phoenix Divers, Mojo Divers, New Heaven, Coral Grand Divers PADI 5 Star Resort, Koh Tao Divers, Alvaro Diving Courses Koh Tao, Simple Life Divers, Scuba Junction, Seashell Divers, and many more.

Diving with Turtles in Koh Tao - “Turtle Island”

Diving with Turtles in Koh Tao in its natural turtle habitat. Koh Tao, or “Turtle Island”, is only accessable via daily ferries from Koh Phangan and Koh Samui - there are a couple of ferry trips every day.  Koh Tao is also shaped like a turtle when viewed from Koh Phangan. Scuba Diving in Koh Tao usually start at the Mae Haad Pier (Ferry Harbour) at around 09h30. Sea Turtles have have mostly been seen nearby Shark Bay, Taa Som Bay and Sai Daeng Beach.

Please Help to Preserve the stunning Coral Reefs in Koh Tao

Please do not touch, step, or break the corals reefs. The corals reefs take 100's of year to grow. Koh Tao also have a anti-plastic policy, and divers volunteer frequently to collect and dispose any plastic that they have found.

Koh Tao’s natural beauty both above and below the water, with its stunning coral reefs and abundant marine life in clear, warm water, bring thousands of visitors here each year making it an unforgettable site for Scuba Diving, Scuba Divers, and holiday travellers alike.

Koh Tao has developed in many ways, and with its thriving Snorkel and Scuba Diving industry, is now one of the leading places in the world to obtain your PADI Scuba Diving Certifications.