Directory of 7 Dive Sites or Spots for Scuba Diving in Ko Samui, Thailand

With such a variety of dive sites available in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Samui is perfectly positioned to reach the majority of the most famous sites on day trips by speedboat. Dives here range from gentle, beginner dives, often from the beach or by boat to the shallower reefs, to deep wreck dives and interesting rock formations in the open waters.

The most famous of all dive sites in this part of the Gulf is the dramatic face of Sail Rock, rising 15m above sea level and forming a solid barrier beneath the waves. This remarkable structure descends to the sea floor 40m below and attracts a variety of marine life, from barracuda and whale sharks, to tuna and yellow margin moray eels. And beginning at 6m below the surface, a vertical chimney descends into the depths, taking divers on an underwater exploration as unique as this remote outcrop.

The Chumphon Pinnacles near Ko Tao offer a similar diving experience, with a range of peaks rising and falling at various heights, but always below the water’s surface. This undulating ridge is home to all manner of marine creatures, including some dramatic corals and wandering seahorses, larger shoal of tuna, mackerel and trevally. This dive site is not often used by beginners, unless conditions are exceptionally good, but it remains a firm favorite with advanced divers, and can easily be reached by speedboat for a two or three dive trip.

For advanced divers only, the submerged Samran Pinnacles can be spotted by their cresting tops that reach two meters above sea level to the north of Ko Samui. The formation is actually three pinnacles lying in deep waters, and they offer superlative wall dives for confident scuba divers. The currents here are strong but they bring with them some of the Gulf’s largest predatory fish, including jacks and the ever-present barracuda.

A final favorite is the little known Green Rock, just north of Ko Tao. This more recently discovered dive site in Thailand offers an outstanding selection of shallow and deep dives, with swim throughs, caves, and archways to explore. It’s colorful and busy, with plenty of exotic reef fish to admire. Divers with a keen eye might manage to spot the resident group of blue-ringed angel fish.