Koh Adang North Point
The northern tip of Koh Adang island drops into a channel with strong tidal flow. The current brings nutrients. The nutrients bring fish, big fish. Schools of barracuda and trevally work the channel, tuna pass through, reef sharks cruise the edge. The point features a series of underwater ridges covered in soft corals and sea fans. Maximum depth around 25 metres. Current can be strong, so it's a spot for advanced divers only. A safety buoy is mandatory. Best dived on a slack tide. Your guide will time it carefully. When the current runs, you drift. When it stops, you explore the ridges.
Eight Miles Rock
This submerged pinnacle takes its name from its position, being just 8 miles south of Koh Lipeh Island. Its offshore location makes it a prime spot for pelagic fish as it is exposed to strong currents. These bring nutrients, and nutrients bring bigger animals. The pinnacle drops away to over 50 metres in depth with the shallowest part about 12-14 metres from the Andaman Sea surface. Soft corals grow in the sheltered areas such as the deep southern channel, where large potato groupers may come up to inspect you, and passing pelagics as big as mantas and whale sharks can be spotted on good days.
The offshore location of Eight Miles Rock makes it exposed to very strong currents. Diving here is really suitable only for advanced divers with safety balloons (SMBs). You need to be comfortable deploying your buoy from depth. You need to be confident in drift conditions. This is not a site for beginners. But for those with the right skills, it delivers some of the most exciting diving in the marine park.
Hin Takarm
A submerged reef southeast of Koh Lipeh. The reef rises from 30 metres to within 5 metres of the surface. The top of the reef is covered in staghorn and table corals. Schools of bannerfish and fusilier crowd the shallows. Deeper, the reef slopes away with large porites corals and sea fans. This is a good site for turtles. Green and hawksbill turtles feed on the reef. Current can be moderate to strong. Best dived as a drift. Suitable for advanced beginners and above.
Koh Lipeh
There are plenty of dive sites in the small archipelago of Koh Lipeh that forms the southern Thai border with Malaysia. The area offers a good mix of dive profiles. Shallow channel dives feature small boulder formations and gentle slopes, perfect for relaxed exploration. More challenging and deeper formations, such as Lighthouse South Tip, reward advanced divers with bigger fish and cleaner reefs.
Koh Lipeh's reefs remain in good condition. During each dive you can enjoy beautiful hard coral formations and the many reef fish species that call them home. Kuhl's blue-spotted stingrays are plentiful in the area, often half-buried in the sandy patches between coral heads. Look closely. Their bright blue spots give them away. Diving at the tips of the islands, where currents run stronger, it is possible to encounter pelagics. Barracuda, trevally, and the occasional tuna pass through. Due to the sandy bottom composition, it is better to avoid full and new moon when diving in Koh Lipeh. The currents can build significantly, stirring up sediment and reducing visibility.
Rawi Islands
The Rawi group sits west of Koh Lipeh. These islands are less visited so the reefs are correspondingly healthier. Hard coral cover is exceptional. Schools of snapper and trevally are common, blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallows. Dugongs have been sighted in the seagrass beds between the islands. This is a quiet area with few boats and fewer divers. A good choice for those seeking solitude and pristine conditions. The diving is easy. Sloping reefs and good visibility. Calm conditions in season.
The Steps
A series of natural rock ledges descending like a staircase into the deep. Located off the eastern coast of Koh Tarutao island. The ledges are covered in hard corals, sea whips, and barrel sponges. Each step holds different marine life. In the shallows, butterflyfish and angelfish pick at the coral. Deeper, groupers and snapper hover near the drop-off. Blue-spotted stingrays rest on the sand between steps. The site is sheltered from the prevailing current, making it suitable for intermediate divers. Good visibility, easy navigation. A reliable site for a relaxed dive.
Stonehenge
Named for the eerie, upright rock formations that rise from the seabed like ancient standing stones. Located west of Koh Lipeh. The site features several tall granite pinnacles covered in sea fans, whip corals, and colourful anemones. Maximum depth around 25 metres. Current can be unpredictable, running in different directions between the pinnacles. Schools of snapper and fusilier swirl around the rocks. Leopard sharks rest on the sandy patches, moray eels peer from crevices. This is a photographer's site. The light plays off the vertical formations. Go slow and look up - the silhouettes are dramatic.
West Wall
The western coastline of Koh Tarutao drops steeply into deep water. The wall is covered in large gorgonian sea fans, black coral trees, and massive barrel sponges. Schools of barracuda hang in the current, turtles glide past, reef sharks patrol the edge. The wall starts at around 10 metres and drops beyond 40 metres. Advanced divers can push deeper with appropriate training and gas. Nitrox is recommended. The current can run north or south depending on the tide. A drift dive along the wall works best, as your boat follows your bubbles.
Yong Hua Wreck
A small fishing vessel sunk off the coast of Koh Tarutao. Depth ranges from 18 to 28 metres. The wreck is intact and sits upright on a sandy bottom. The structure is covered in hard and soft corals. Batfish school around the wheelhouse, groupers and snapper hover near the hull. Moray eels hide in the engine room. Penetration is possible for trained divers. The wreck is accessible to advanced beginners if they stay outside. It is a good alternative dive when offshore sites are rough. It is sheltered, reliable, and growing more colourful each year.
