ABC DIVERS, SANTIBURI RESORT,  KOH SAMUI THAILAND

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DIVE SITE INFO

Koh Tao, Marine Park, Sail Rock

Koh Tao Island

Blue spotted ray 

Christmas tree worms

Anemone Garden

The underwater garden of South West Pinnacle

Koh Nang Yuan Island

Koh Tao

The island of Koh Tao also known as Turtle Island is located to the north of Koh Samui and is well known in the dive circle due to its variety of sites that cater for the novice to experience diver. The waters are crystal clear for most part of the year and diving is relatively relaxing without strong currents. Fish life is abundant in these waters  giving one the feeling of diving in an aquarium. There are a total of 25 dive sites around Koh Tao. Among these the following are our favorites:

Red Rock   

Located on the southern part of the island, Red Rock is a small granite peak that rises out of the water from depths of about 20-24m. She is a dive site for all levels though strong currents are likely to be met during full moon. She is one of our favorites as one can encounter a great variety of marine life among the multiple pinnacles, whip coral, soft coral and sea fans that inhabit this dive site. Blue spotted rays are abundant and a huge number of groupers can be seen hiding in nooks and crevices. Turtles are sometimes seen foraging among the coral.      

Ao Leuk

Ao Leuk located 300m northeast of Red Rock is a pleasant dive site with depth up to 14m. Great dive for training and observing the marine life as the dive site has numerous sandy patches among the coral growth. For all its gentleness of this dive site is full of  surprises such as leopard sharks, turtles, flounders and black cowry shells crawling on the sandy bottom.       

Chumpon Pinnacle

This pinnacle located about 11 km northwest of Koh Tao is regarded as one of the best dive sites in the area. It consists of a submerged main pinnacle starting at 15m surrounded by smaller ones having a maximum depth of  36-40m. A beautiful anemone garden with their loyal followers the pink anemone fish covers the top of most of the  pinnacles. Larger pelagic fish such as the great and chevron barracuda, trevally and batfish are often seen in large numbers here. The whale shark and manta rays are the magical visitors of this dive site during the seasons.     

South West Pinnacle 

South West pinnacle to us is a colorful  underwater garden situated among numerous pinnacles forming an underwater mountain range with depths ranging from 5m to 30m. Massive groupers inhabit this area as well as schools of black spotted snappers and the occasional leopard shark. Hiding in the numerous cracks in the rock are cleaner shrimps that will entertain you with their antics.    

Koh Nang Yuan Island

Located on the northwest corner of the Koh Tao are three islands that are linked by a beach during low tide that make up Koh Nang Yuan. Around these islands are located 5 dive sites; Twins, Nang Yuan cave, Green Rock, White Rock and Japanese Garden. Among these, we enjoy White Rock which is a very popular dive site where white eyed morays are abundant and  Green Rock with many swim thru areas which are enjoyable for  the advanced diver.

There are numerous other dive sites that we can guide you to on a fun and relaxing day diving Koh Tao.

Hin Yippon Yai

Banded Sea Snake

White eye moray

Anthong National Marine Park

This is our favorite dive site as there are many unusual and rare sea animals that call this group of islands home. Though she can only be dived from April -October at which visibility is at its best but can differ greatly. The lime chalked walls of the islands can be admired during lunch before the second dive. 

All the dive sites in the area consists of lime stone islands rising from an average depth of 16-22m. It has the largest variety of corals among the dive sites and the lime stone walls with its natural overhangs gives a mystic appearance underwater.

Hin Yippon Yai and Lek

These two dive sites located at the most northern tip of the national park are the most popular dive sites. Hin Yippon Lek is the deeper of the two with a  max depth of 24m. The rock is small enough to go around during a dive taking about 45 minutes. there is also a small cave here. Residents include the banded sea snake, the ring and blue pipefish, numerous shrimps from the coral banded shrimp to the cleaner shrimp and many nudibranches (sea slugs) are found crawling on coral and over sandy bottoms.

Hin Yippon Yai  having a maximum depth of 18m is home to numerous scorpion fish and share many residents as Hin Yippon Lek due to their close proximity. Big surprises such as whale sharks are seen here as well. Huge barrel sponges and gardens of whip coral add to the already colorful scenery underwater.   

Sail Rock

Diver in a swarm of fusilier fish

Sail Rock

Sail Rock is a natural lime stone formation located in between the islands of Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. It is popular among divers and depths of 45 m can be found around the main pinnacle.

As the structure is limestone, there exists many natural holes that are homes to a number of interesting animals such as puffer fish, the white eye moray and banded coral shrimps. Large animals such as mantas and whale sharks are seen here during the season. The main highlight of these dive site is the chimney, a natural vertical hole that divers can access beginning at 5-6m and ending at 18m with a window to the blue. Due to its location, Sail Rock attracts many pelagic animals such as Jacks, Tuna Trevally and barracudas.

There is enough action and underwater animals to hold your attention for 2 dives and even more!