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Koh Samui, Thailand’s second-largest island, is a tropical paradise that offers more than just pristine beaches and lush landscapes. With over 20 dive sites scattered around the island and its neighbouring areas, scuba diving in Koh Samui has become a top choice among tourists. From colourful coral reefs teeming with marine life to fascinating shipwrecks, the diving opportunities are diverse and thrilling. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, Koh Samui’s warm waters, which are 28°C year-round, provide ideal conditions for unforgettable underwater adventures.
Factors That Affect Scuba Diving
Photo: Primo Passo / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Scuba diving in Koh Samui is influenced by several factors that can affect the overall experience:
- Weather and Season
- Water Temperature
- Dive Sites
- Experience Level
- Regulations and Environmental Concerns
Popular Scuba Diving Destinations In Koh Samui
1. Hin Bai (Sail Rock)
Photo: Thomas Oxford / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Hin Bai is also known as Sail Rock which refers to granite between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan and rises 15 m out of water and is situated in the Gulf of Thailand. This is a world-class diving site that is also known for its awesome underwater explorations and is extremely popular throughout the world. The sail rock is a wall dive covered with several soft anemones and corals that offer a huge variety of marine life including barracuda, trevally and more. Explorers can spot fascinating creatures around the famous rock, making it the best time for scuba diving in Koh Samui and the ultimate destination for scuba diving Koh Samui enthusiasts.
Minimum Depth Level: 5 metres
Maximum Depth Level: 40 metres
2. Green Rock
Photo: Waranont (Joe) / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Green Rock is a hidden gem among dive sites around Koh Tao, offering an optimum selection of swimming opportunities. It consists of several interesting rock formations that create small caves and swim-throughs worth exploring. Here, you can see harlequin sweetlips, moray eels, Blue-ringed angelfish and many other marine creatures. This spot is also great for night diving, where you can experience some common marine life, including whitetip reef sharks, yellowtail, silverfish, fusilier and many others. Here, the maximum depth of scuba diving in Koh Samui is around 30 metres deep, making it an exceptional destination for adventure sports.
Minimum Depth Level: 5 metres
Maximum Depth Level: 28 metres
3. Samran Pinnacles
Photo: Larisa Kisakova / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
If you are an advanced diver, this site is ideally your destination to indulge in. It is a series of underwater granite rock pinnacles completely submerged in the middle of the ocean between Sail Rock and Koh Tao. Samran Pinnacles is open, so the currents are sometimes a little stronger than you get at other dive sites, and as it is deeper than average, therefore the dive tends to attract several advanced divers for its depth and strong floating currents. With a visibility of 5-20 metres, the diving site is visited by both learners and experienced divers each year.
Minimum Depth Level: 14 metres
Maximum Depth Level: 24 metres
4. White Rock
Photo: Valeria Hutter / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Koh Samui is indeed a tropical land offering some rocks and marine life and is 2 km off the west coast of Koh Tao. The White Rock is one such diving site that is quite popular among divers, and it is the perfect location for scuba divers who want to explore the diversity of local marine life. This place is popular for night divers. It features two sizable rock formations that are orientated from north to south, a gorgeous coral garden in between, and a sandy area that is nine metres below the surface. Experiencing the residents of White Rock and Titan triggerfish amidst Koh Samui waters must be one of the main highlights.
Minimum Depth Level: 5 metres
Maximum Depth Level: 22 metres
5. Koh Yippon & Koh Wao
Photo: Sittipong Haus / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Koh Yippon is at the northern end of Angthong National Marine Park. This beautiful archipelago situated on the western side of Koh Samui consists of 50 islands. The visibility is less here than in other diving spots; however, the snorkelling and diving, coupled with the scenic beauty, make it a perfect destination for watersport lovers. It is known for its swim-through and shallow caves, as well as bright stingrays. This is a great spot to beach dive if you are a beginner; it features mild currents and the depth of any site rarely drops below 40 feet. Dive sites remain submerged all year around, with Koh Wao and Koh Yippon providing a relaxing and rewarding day out.
Minimum Depth Level: 5 metres
Maximum Depth Level: 20 metres
Price For Scuba Diving In Koh Samui
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The price for scuba diving in Koh Samui could be estimated with a minimum budget of 1,800 to 2,600 THB / ₹4,500-6,500 per person and the maximum budget for scuba diving could be estimated at 19,000 to 35,500 THB / ₹45,000-80,000 per person.
The Koh Samui scuba diving scene is a treasure trove of marine wonders. The underwater biodiversity is truly remarkable, with 250 hard corals and over 1,000 tropical fish. Whether you’re seeking encounters with whale sharks at Chumphon Pinnacle or exploring the HTMS Sattakut wreck off Koh Tao, Koh Samui’s diving spots cater to all interests and skill levels. Book your diving expedition with TripXL today!
Cover Photo: Richard Segal / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
