The big name dives sites in Koh Tao are great and worthy of their status as the best dive sites in Koh Tao but that doesn’t mean to say some of Koh Tao’s other dive sites are pretty freaking good too! The 3 that spring to mind immediately are…
Laem Thien Caves
Originally called Laem Thien Cape, it is no surprise to see why its name has changed over the years to now be known as Laem Thien Caves. Laem Thien Caves is a captivating and adventurous dive site located on the east side of the island. Known for its visually stunning underwater landscape, Laem Thien Caves offers a unique and unforgettable diving experience for both novice and experienced divers alike.
The dive site itself is situated on a small cape, with some beautiful rock formations and some great cliffs and boulders, providing a picturesque backdrop for any dive expedition.
What sets Laem Thien Caves apart from other dive sites in the region are the underwater swim throughs that divers can explore. The cave walls are adorned with large and small overhangs & arches, and a trench like canyon, providing a visually stunning underwater landscape. The water visibility in the area is typically excellent, ranging from 15-20 meters, allowing divers to fully appreciate the beauty of their surroundings. Laem Thien Caves dive site in Koh Tao stands out as an extraordinary destination for divers seeking a thrilling and immersive experience in an underwater world like no other on Koh Tao.
Hin Wong Pinnacle
Just outside Hin Wong Bay on the east side of Koh Tao is a large boulder outcropping which has been called Hin Wong Pinnacle. A varied site ranging from depths of 10 meters to 32 meters. Currents here can be a little stronger than many other dive sites around Koh Tao which is what makes this a very different place for marine life you don’t see too much of anywhere else.
Hin Wong Pinnacle is covered in lacy sea fans and curly wire corals and is also home to a school of filefish, a few snapper, coral groupers, and other reef fish as well as a great spot to come across various types of stingrays including your common blue spotted ray, the larger pink whipray and if you are really lucky we have seen a few eagle rays at this dive site too. A turtle here is only shy if you get too close. Observe her from a distance and she’ll continue along her day while you watch. For those that like the small things look for filefish and razorbacks– Hin Wong Pinnacle has some beautiful small invertebrates. Keep your eyes out for some extremely brightly colored nudibranchs.
Red Rock
Red Rock Drop off is one of Koh Tao’s most underrated dive sites. It is a large granite pinnacle that rises right up to about 2 meters below the surface of the water from about 18-20 meters depth. This dive site is suitable for all levels, though during the full moon there can be currents to deal with. Whip coral, soft corals, and huge table corals are common. Blue-spotted stingrays are abundant and a huge number of groupers can be seen hiding in nooks and crevices. Turtles are sometimes seen foraging among the coral or resting on top of the pinnacle. Make sure to check out Nang Yuan Cave, a long swim-through along the coast of Nang Yuan Island due west of Red Rock Pinnacle. This dive site is often used as a drop off dive where divers enter the water at Red Rock Pinnacle and dive along the coast into Japanese Gardens where upon surfacing will find our dive boat waiting for them. One of the most diverse dive sites on Koh Tao, with a pinnacle a cave and a sloping reef. An excellent dive.
Be sure to put it all 3 on your Koh Tao bucket list.
