Koh Tao Dive Guide

Green Rock

Also called: Hin Keo

Green Rock is off the northern-most tip of Koh Nang Yuan. Depending on the currents, which generally aren't strong, you can dive either side of the point. The main attraction here are the many dive-throughs, which range from the easy to the ever-so-slightly tight squeeze.

You will see much the same marine life as found around the other Koh Tao dive sites. However, this is one of the better spots to see, on occasion, both green and hawksbill turtles.

Hin Wong

Hin Wong lies in a small sheltered bay on the east side of the island. The main features are several flat-topped rocks covered by a wide variety of corals. A steep sandy bottom slopes away from the boulders.

Aside from all the different corals, you'll also find a wide variety of fish here as well. There are blue-spotted and red coral groupers, which can be quite curious. I did one of my Open Water certification dives here, and had an audience of a couple of the guys. There are also bannerfish and Moorish idols. This is also supposed to be a good place to spot green and hawksbill turtles, although I didn't see any.

Although you can visit the site at any time, it's probably best from March to October, when the bay is sheltered from the southwest monsoon winds. The rest of the year, when the monsoon shifts to the northeast, the bay can be choppy.

Japanese Garden

Set in a small sheltered bay of Nang Yuan island, just off Koh Tao, the Japanese Garden is popular with both scuba divers and snorkelers. With a maximum depth of only 14 meters, it's an easy dive location and often used for first training dives. I should know, it's where I made my first dive.

The spot gets its name from the many flower-shaped corals that live on the bottom. The shallower parts can easily be seen by snorkelers. In fact, the bay can get a little crowded with day-tripping snorkelers from Samui, but they only stay an hour or so before moving on.

If you follow the shore line north, you'll come to the Nang Yuan Pinnacle, with a few swim-throughs to make things interesting. The garden itself doesn't have much that's very interesting in the way of fish, but will find the occasional Moorish idol or other types of butterfly fish.

Koh Nang Yuan Pinnacle

Also called: Red Rock or Hin Daeng.

The pinnacle is a stone stack that starts a meter or so below the surface. The pillar itself isn't that interesting, but it's where most people start their dive. After descending, most divers head toward the shore and drift down along towards the Japanese Garden. If you head straight for Nang Yuan island from the pinnacle, you'll find a nice swim-through in the shore rocks.

I encountered a less skittish than usual Moorish idol on my last dive here. I kept my hands tucked in and swam right up to it. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me. Isn't that how it always is?

Mango Bay

Mango Bay is on the north side of Koh Tao. Among the places I've dived on around Koh Tao so far, Mango Bay is far and away my favorite. The landscape of the sea bed offers a seemingly infinite variety of large coral boulders to swim around, over and between. Passing each one reveals a new array of fish and corals.

Mango Bay is such a wide-ranging site that it would be easy to get lost. This is probably a good site to practice your navigation skills - see how close you can get to your boat after a long look around.

The fish to be found includes shimmering gold damselfish, angels and, if you settle onto the sandy bottom at just the right spot, a wrasse will come and clean your ears for you.