| Choosing the best Koh Tao Diving sites | | | | to a depth of 25 – 30M where they meet a |
| But as an experienced diver it can be difficult | | | | sloping bottom composed of sand and silt. The |
| getting honest advice to determine the most | | | | most remarkable feature of the dive site is a |
| gratifying dive sites for you to visit. | | | | narrow ledge which snakes across the undersea |
| Like any commercial entity, dive schools are | | | | wall at a depth of around 6M. Some years ago, |
| bound by a number of factors which will influence | | | | the Thai Military used Sail Rock as a target for |
| their preference of dive site each day. This | | | | Naval Munitions exercises, and on striking this |
| includes having to choose suitable dive sites to | | | | ledge created an undersea chimney which |
| accommodate student divers, [often more | | | | descends vertically down through the ledge from |
| lucrative and numerous for the dive school than | | | | six till eighteen meters depth. Nautical charts still |
| certified divers], or logistical constraints such as | | | | show Sail Rock [or Hin Bae in Thai] marked as a |
| scheduling or fuel saving. And that’s without | | | | dangerous area, but the Thai Navy has long since |
| introducing weather and diving conditions such as | | | | ceased any exercises. |
| current or visibility into the mix. | | | | 4. Green Rock |
| So to help make sure you don’t get sold a | | | | Taking a quick look at the island of Koh Nang |
| ‘red herring’ diving Koh Tao, Thailand, | | | | Yuan just a few minutes ride from Koh Tao, |
| here’s an honest run down of the top five | | | | above the waterline you see giant scattered |
| must-see Koh Tao dive sites, compiled by Simple | | | | boulders, randomly cascading down the contour of |
| Life Divers: | | | | the island to the ocean’s edge. So it’s not |
| 1. Chumphon Pinnacles | | | | too difficult to imagine the same topography |
| A patent choice for the best Koh Tao diving site, | | | | existing below the surface. Koh Tao’s Green |
| the Chumphon Pinnacles is located 45 minutes | | | | Rock dive site is a maze of giant scattered |
| north-west of Koh Tao [traveling by hard dive | | | | boulders, creating a fascinating mix of overhangs |
| boat]. In past Koh Tao diving seasons the big | | | | and small caverns which are intriguing to explore. |
| draw of the Chumphon Pinnacles were resident | | | | North of this Koh Tao dive site lies a flat sandy |
| juvenile bull sharks, recurrently spotted by | | | | plateau, which serves as a nesting ground for |
| divers. We’ve not been so opportune during | | | | Yellow Margin and Titan Triggerfish. Be sure to |
| 2009, but blessed with excellent visibility have | | | | avoid this vicinity at certain times of year, else |
| enjoyed many whale shark sightings to add to | | | | you’ll be in for a ‘breathtaking’ |
| the chevron barracuda, giant groupers and batfish | | | | surprise. |
| around the dive site. | | | | 5. Twins |
| 2. Southwest Pinnacle | | | | We can’t compile a top five Koh Tao diving |
| Another exciting prospect for deep diving, the | | | | sites listing without mentioning Twins. For a |
| Southwest Pinnacle lies approximately 7 nautical | | | | shallow coral dive site we couldn’t have |
| miles off Koh Tao, so again has better than | | | | formulated a better design. The name derives |
| average visibility for Koh Tao diving. One central | | | | from two areas of rocks, one at 6M separated |
| pinnacle is encircled by smaller, deeper, rocky | | | | from the second at 12 to 18M by a narrow sandy |
| outcroppings, with the summit of the core pillar | | | | belt. Finally there’s a deeper third rock down |
| completely carpeted by magnificent anemones | | | | at 18-20M, which means divers can pick their |
| and pink anemone fish. The dive site is swarming | | | | depth depending on their dive objectives. Best of |
| with large populations of pelagic species. | | | | all, within a small area you can see all our common |
| 3. Sail Rock | | | | tropical reef varieties including porcupine fish, blue |
| Equidistant between the diving Mecca of Koh Tao | | | | spotted sting-rays, moray eels and trigger-fish. On |
| and neighboring Full Moon Party island Koh | | | | the sandy plain adjacent to Twins, you can even |
| Phangan, Sail Rock is a small rocky isle, less than | | | | spy tiny seahorses, making a great opportunity |
| 70M in diameter. From above the surface Sail | | | | for digital underwater photography diving Koh Tao. |
| Rock’s sheer faces descend vertically down | | | | |