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 Koh
Phangan Dive Sites Information
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 Koh
Phangan stretches 19 kilometres from north to south and 12 kilometres
from west to east. Phangan is situated south of Koh
Tao and North of Samui making it an ideal central location with
easy access to all the prime dive sites such as Sail Rock and Anthong
national Marine Park.
The island is mainly mountainous jungle surrounded by beautiful,
white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, with several beautiful
coral reefs.
Unlike neighbouring Koh
Tao and Koh
Samui, Koh Phangan has avoided
the higher volumes of tourists and the development they bring. As
a result most of the island is reserved as National Parkland.
 Although
Phangan now has a network of developed roads and more upmarket resorts,
the island has managed to retain it's natural beauty.
In addition to diving and snorkelling, there are many activities
to be found; kayaking, jungle trekking, horse riding, kite surfing
and of course for the revellers on the south of the island, the
"full moon, blackmoon, half moon and any kind of moon"
parties.
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Chumphon
Pinnacle
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Chumphon
Pinnacle is located 11km to the north west of Koh
Tao and is considered by many, as the best dive site in the
region. Made up from one huge granite pinnacle and a series of smaller
ones, Chumphon's main difference to Sail Rock is that the pinnacle
starts 14m underwater and drops off to over 36m.
Chumphon, like Sail Rock, is covered with sea anemones and pink
anemone fish. You'll find shoals of barracuda and schools of Jacks
and Bat Fish.
Some of the most impressive groupers in the Gulf can be found at
this site as well as seasonal visits from large pelagic's such as
Whale Sharks and Mantas.
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Green
Rock
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Between 1 and 28m deep, this site consists of boulder formations
that offer an array of safe short tunnels and swim-throughs. These
features make this dive site one of the most fascinating sites around
Koh Tao.
Ideal for the adventurous or novice diver (novices should keep
to the shallows) Green Rock gives you the chance to see beautiful
parrot fish feeding on the main pinnacle close to the surface as
well as White Eyed Moray's and Blue Spotted Rays deeper amongst
the rocks.
Hawksbill Turtles can also be seen and as always, keep a wary eye
on the Triggerfish that nest in the sand. It is often possible to
spot the less common Pink (or Yellow Margin) Triggerfish here as
well.
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Koh
Ma
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Koh Ma is between 1 and 20 m deep mking it a fantastic site for
all levels of diver. Many types of coral can be found; boulder,
table, staghorn, fan, all in immaculate condition. One of the main
attractions of Koh Ma is a huge anenome garden stretching for 30
metres by around 10 metres and offering homes to the beautiful anemone
fish. The calm & sheltered conditions at Koh Ma make it a very
easy dive site, with much of the reef fairly shallow. This makes
it perfect for extended dives and superb for snorkellers. The reef
here also offers virtually all year round diving opportunities when
the more exposed sites cannot be dived due to weather conditions.
Fish life is in abundance with many Blue Spotted Sting Rays, Great
Barracuda, Butterflyfish, Giant Grouper and the occasional reef
shark.
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Koh
Yippon
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Koh Yippon is located at the northern extremes of the Angthong
National Marine Park. This beautiful archipelago due west of Koh
Samui consists of over 50 Islands and is world renowned for the
area where the movie 'The Beach' was set. The visibility here is
often lower than at other dive sites but the snorkelling & diving
combined with the stunningly picturesque topside scenery make an
enjoyable day-trip.
Koh Yippon along with Koh Wao is the most popular area for diving
and is noted for its shallow caves and swim-throughs, schools of
fusiliers and its magnificent array of colorful soft corals and
stingrays.
If you're a novice diver then this destination with its mild currents
and shallow depths will provide a great days diving.
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Nangyuan
Pinnacle
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Koh Nangyuan or Nangyuan Island is located approximately 250 meters
off the north west coast of Koh Tao. With its crystal clear waters
and white sandy beaches (landbridges at low tide) it is the jewel
in the Koh Tao crown. The pinnacle, located on the east coast of
Koh Nangyuan, extends to within one metre of the surface and although
quite small it is only a short swim across to the main island of
Nangyuan. If you enter the water above the pinnacle you can continue
your dive up and down the impressive boulder formations.
The granite boulder formations offer a variety of interesting swim-throughs
and numerous tropical reef fish.
You'll also find an assortment of soft and hard corals, Groupers,
Longfin Bannerfish as well as Blue Spotted Stingrays.
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Sail
Rock
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Sail Rock is undoubtedly the most famous dive site in the Koh
Samui archipelago. This rock pinnacle, shaped like an iceberg, emerges
from a sandy bottom at 40m to tower 15m above the oceans surface.
Located 45 kilometres north of Koh Samui, it is mid way between
Koh Phangan and Koh Tao and provides large schools of pelagic's,
steep walls, rugged rock formations and an awesome 'vertical chimney'
swim through.
The swim through, located on the northwest side starts from 18m
down and exits at 6m where the natural light penetrating the top
makes it fantastically picturesque.
At 18m, two divers can enter the cavern abreast where it bends
vertically upwards. At 12m you'll spot a hole that opens up and
it is possible to swim back into open water from here. At the exit,
just 6m from the surface, you'll find yourself surrounded by a magnificent
carpet of pink anemones full of vibrant anemone fish.
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Shark
Island
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Shark Island Located just off the Southeast coast of Koh Tao,
Shark Island is one of the most popular dive sites in the area.
Depths range from 28m and above at the southern tip to the surface,
and at the deeper depths you may find Leopard and Reef Sharks.
At the shallow end you'll find beautiful gardens of vividly colourful
corals and anemones and at high tide it is even possible to cross
from one side of the southern island to the other.
This site offers a great range of fish including the Blue Ringed
Angel, Long Fin Banner, and if you are lucky the odd resident Hawksbill
Turtle.
Huge boulders and rock formations give this site a great topography
that is ideal for divers of all levels.
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Southwest
Pinnacle
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South West Pinnacle. This dive site ranges from 30 to 5m deep.
Southwest is dived less then some of the other sites around Koh
Tao and Koh Samui and so it is quite possible you will be on the
only dive boat at the site. The dive site itself consists of a series
of steep pinnacles rising from the sandy seabed & offers an
ample variety of marine life. Around the outside of South West Leopard
Sharks can be seen asleep on the sand as well as Blue Spotted Rays.
The site also hosts the usual range of colorful tropical marine
life such as Butterflyfish and Blueringed Angelfish. Pelagic's such
as Jacks, Barracuda & the occasional Whaleshark can often be
seen as well as it is one of the deeper water sites laying in similar
depths to both Sail Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle. This makes it popular
with the bigger pelagics also.
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Twins
Dive
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Just off the west side of Koh Nangyuan, Twins consists of two
groups of rocks with depths ranging from 18 to 6m. At the deeper
end of the site expect to find Big Grouper, White Eyed Moray Eels
and Blue Spotted Rays amongst the hard corals and granite rocks.
On the shallower side of the deeper rock you'll find an entertaining
family of Clark's Anemone Fish (Clown Fish) nestling on the sand.
This is a great photo opportunity if you have a camera!
As always, Pink Anemone Fish adorn the shallower rocks, as well
as teems of the black & white Sergeant Major fish and the colorful
inquisitive Wrasse.
Twins is a dive site for all levels of diver and one of the more
interesting dive sites around Koh Tao.
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White
Rock
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With depths from 22 to 1m, White Rock is situated close to Twins
and is one of the most popular dive sites around Koh Tao. It offers
a good depth for beginners and intermediate divers and enough marine
life for all. It is also popular for night dives, as is Twins, it's
neighbour.
Butterfly Fish, Parrot Fish, and the Red Breasted Wrasse are colorful
companions as well as the beautiful Angel Fish. Titan trigger fish
are notorious for tenaciously defending their nest from all who
pass too closely here so be sure to keep an eye out for them.
If you're night diving it is common to see large barracuda joining
you on the dive using your torch beam to help them feed.
As always when night diving watch out for the colorful crustaceans.
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Granite
Pinnacles and Boulder Formations
Boulder Formations & Swimthroughs
Small Resort Island
Fringing
Island Shallow Reef
Granite
Pinnacle & Boulder Swimthroughs
Granite pinnacle
Granite
Island
2
Rock Formations, 1 Smaller, Soft White Sand
Granite
Pinnacle, Boulders, Sand & Shale
