Explore Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe, nestled at the edge of Thailand's Tarutao National Marine Park, offers divers an exceptional underwater experience. With its idyllic beaches and clear turquoise waters, this hidden gem is far less crowded than other popular Thai islands. The diving scene in Koh Lipe is spectacular, catering to both beginners and seasoned divers. The area boasts crystal-clear visibility and is home to a myriad of dive sites, featuring pristine coral reefs, dramatic pinnacles, and vibrant rock formations.

One of the most intriguing aspects of diving in Koh Lipe is the abundant marine life. With around 25% of the world's tropical fish species residing here, divers can witness a stunning array of creatures, from colorful reef fish to majestic whale sharks and graceful manta rays. The waters are also frequented by playful dolphins and elusive dugongs. Dive sites like Stone Henge and 8 Mile Rock are must-sees, each offering unique topographies and thrilling encounters. Whether diving from shore, boat, or liveaboard, Koh Lipe promises an unforgettable adventure beneath the waves.

Courses and Events

Try Scuba

The SSI Try Scuba program is the best way to try scuba diving for the first time. You will be in confined water and well looked after by your instructor, so you can enjoy those first unforgettable breaths underwater and experience the magic of scuba diving. At the end of this short course, you will have earned your SSI Try Scuba recognition card and undoubtedly want to go diving again. Endless scuba diving adventures are waiting for you and this course is where it all begins. Start today!

11 February +347 More
EUR 121.42
THB 4,500.00

Stress & Rescue

The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue specialty program teaches you the skills you need to protect yourself and other divers. You will learn how to identify stress, how to prevent accidents and be taught practical techniques to conduct rescues and provide emergency care. With a combination of pool and open water practice sessions, you will become well prepared and confident at handling emergency and rescue situations. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty certification.

12 February +102 More
EUR 391.23
THB 14,500.00

Advanced Open Water Diver

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! With this program, you can try a variety of specialties before committing to full specialty programs. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. With this trial program in specialty diving, you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full specialty programs any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

13 February +57 More
EUR 337.26
THB 12,500.00

Open Water Diver

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

14 February +68 More
EUR 391.23
THB 14,500.00

Divemaster

The Divemaster program is the first step on an exciting journey. Earn the respect of your dive buddies and become an ambassador for diving by taking the Divemaster program. All you need to get started are 40 verified/logged dives and certifications in Deep Diving, Navigation, Night & Limited Visibility or at least 5 logged/verified dives experience in each area plus Diver Stress & Rescue. You will be certified as a Dive Guide after successfully completing the Divemaster program. When your interest is to turn your passion into a profession by guiding certified divers, teaching Ecology programs, assisting instructors or even becoming an instructor yourself, your next step is the Divemaster Upgrade with a minimum of 60 logged/verified. Upgrade to Divemaster right away or any time after by self-studying the Science of Diving materials, passing the Digital Final Exam which makes you an SSI Professional.

01 March +11 More
EUR 1,214.15
THB 45,000.00

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to: • Conduct academic sessions • Lead confined water training • Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more • Develop student management and communication skills Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more. Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.

01 May +3 More
EUR 67,248.00
USD 80,000.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Koh Lipe

Diving is mainly by boat, but there are a few shore diving possibilities, particularly when night diving. What’s more, reef diving on Koh Lipe is mesmerizing, thanks to the sites being well-protected and very uncrowded in comparison to many of Thailand’s premier diving destinations.

Koh Lipe also offers some exciting drift diving opportunities, such as at Koh Pung, Big Rocks or Express Way. Wreck enthusiasts will love the Yong Hua Wreck, which was 75 meter-long fish processing boat that caught fire and sank, and now serves as an artificial reef and fish magnet.

Pelagic diving is also a common favourite for visitors, especially at sites like 8 Mile Rock, which is somewhat better suited to more experienced divers, while Koh Sarang boasts fantastic topography, with pinnacles and walls where critters and corals coat the vast rocky formations.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Koh Lipe

The best of Indo-Pacific species can be found at Koh Lipe’s numerous dive sites, from the tiniest macro critters like nudibranch, pipefish, seahorses, shrimp and porcelain crabs, to the big boys like manta rays and whale sharks that make appearances for lucky divers at sites like 8 Mile Rock and some of the deeper sites in the area.

Of course, other highlights here include dolphins, sperm and minke whales, eagle rays, leopard sharks, devil rays and stingrays. Schools of barracuda and trevally form silver walls, while clouds of snapper block out the sun. Other reef favourites like anemonefish, batfish, lionfish, parrotfish, and triggerfish all thrive among the numerous species of colorful hard and soft corals.

Camouflage kings like scorpionfish, stonefish, octopus and cuttlefish can be spotted by observant eyes.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
2.2k Sightings
J
235
F
223
M
255
A
238
M
107
J
47
J
92
A
153
S
92
O
146
N
242
D
359

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
458 Sightings
J
84
F
75
M
50
A
52
M
12
J
13
J
16
A
13
S
0
O
11
N
57
D
75

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
2.6k Sightings
J
334
F
245
M
261
A
235
M
99
J
57
J
181
A
221
S
95
O
168
N
287
D
383

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
2.1k Sightings
J
275
F
202
M
232
A
192
M
82
J
33
J
109
A
147
S
58
O
157
N
225
D
349

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
2k Sightings
J
253
F
197
M
226
A
197
M
82
J
39
J
130
A
134
S
68
O
123
N
230
D
288

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
1.6k Sightings
J
222
F
160
M
181
A
155
M
68
J
19
J
94
A
144
S
66
O
111
N
166
D
258

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
1.5k Sightings
J
181
F
164
M
174
A
169
M
69
J
8
J
102
A
113
S
38
O
93
N
167
D
211

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
1.5k Sightings
J
153
F
123
M
144
A
144
M
45
J
31
J
90
A
144
S
65
O
110
N
177
D
250

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
1.4k Sightings
J
218
F
128
M
156
A
144
M
74
J
19
J
78
A
95
S
40
O
87
N
147
D
180

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
1.1k Sightings
J
134
F
113
M
160
A
133
M
42
J
12
J
34
A
96
S
34
O
107
N
91
D
164
Show More
Alamy-WaterFrame

Common Seahorse
1.1k Sightings
J
182
F
132
M
133
A
110
M
53
J
24
J
55
A
102
S
39
O
76
N
76
D
133

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
1k Sightings
J
143
F
134
M
134
A
117
M
43
J
18
J
58
A
74
S
36
O
63
N
64
D
143

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.

Scorpionfish
868 Sightings
J
123
F
109
M
87
A
100
M
26
J
12
J
32
A
53
S
15
O
71
N
89
D
151

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
863 Sightings
J
125
F
88
M
120
A
92
M
30
J
13
J
46
A
49
S
19
O
50
N
69
D
162

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Nudibranch
649 Sightings
J
107
F
55
M
60
A
38
M
22
J
8
J
6
A
97
S
30
O
67
N
55
D
104

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
613 Sightings
J
93
F
61
M
80
A
76
M
18
J
5
J
35
A
38
S
3
O
30
N
71
D
103

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
576 Sightings
J
84
F
55
M
51
A
47
M
26
J
1
J
23
A
50
S
25
O
59
N
48
D
107

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
521 Sightings
J
96
F
63
M
81
A
60
M
18
J
1
J
21
A
15
S
0
O
36
N
41
D
89

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
403 Sightings
J
64
F
42
M
49
A
55
M
32
J
19
J
29
A
12
S
9
O
10
N
27
D
55

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs

Porcupinefish
401 Sightings
J
77
F
52
M
71
A
23
M
15
J
3
J
12
A
0
S
5
O
7
N
46
D
90

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
383 Sightings
J
51
F
46
M
40
A
47
M
16
J
0
J
3
A
31
S
0
O
57
N
23
D
69
Alamy-WaterFrame

Spiny Seahorse
335 Sightings
J
61
F
62
M
54
A
47
M
10
J
7
J
11
A
0
S
7
O
27
N
18
D
31

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
314 Sightings
J
89
F
28
M
64
A
38
M
18
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
7
N
31
D
39

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross

Shrimp
297 Sightings
J
42
F
28
M
60
A
42
M
2
J
5
J
0
A
5
S
5
O
7
N
32
D
69

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
281 Sightings
J
65
F
23
M
61
A
19
M
16
J
2
J
0
A
5
S
0
O
4
N
17
D
69

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
200 Sightings
J
40
F
14
M
41
A
26
M
15
J
5
J
9
A
1
S
3
O
0
N
14
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 30

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Stonefish
173 Sightings
J
18
F
35
M
28
A
15
M
17
J
4
J
0
A
12
S
1
O
4
N
13
D
26

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 50

istock-atese

Frogfish
164 Sightings
J
12
F
11
M
19
A
22
M
12
J
8
J
2
A
20
S
4
O
25
N
0
D
29

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

Crab
147 Sightings
J
0
F
17
M
20
A
31
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
6
S
3
O
4
N
26
D
39

The best Months to dive in Koh Lipe

In terms of diving, there really isn’t a bad time to dive in Koh Lipe. The diving scene is year-round, thanks to the welcoming tropical climate providing warm waters ranging from approximately 28°C-30°C throughout the seasons.

The high (and dry) season is from November to April, when the weather and diving conditions are usually excellent and divers are more likely to spot manta rays, devil rays and whale sharks. Also, popular dive sites like Pattaya Beach, Adang Beach and Koh Yang are all visited regularly due to their protection from winds during this season.

The monsoon season uusually runs from May to October, although that doesn’t mean inferior diving. Koh Lipe tends to enjoy a drier rainy season, with downpours predominantly occurring at night, leaving the daytime mostly dry with a few clouds here and there, meaning diving isn’t too affected. Plus, some of the most notable sites such as Talang, Stonehenge, 7 rocks and Koh Taru, are all great options in this season as they’re protected from the winds.

During the full moon or dark moon period, currents can be stronger, so make sure to be aware of this if current isn’t your thing. However, dive centers have the option of diving at sites that are protected from these currents, such as at Koh Talang or Koh Yang. In any given month, for the mildest currents and best visibility, the half moon period is the best time to dive.

Dive Centers

Adang Sea Divers

Sunrise Beach, Koh Lipe, 91110 Koh Lipe, THA

Pura Vida Diving Koh Lipe

69 Moo 7, Ko Sarai, 91000 Koh Lipe, THA

Lipe Dive Station @ Z-Touch

199 Moo 7, Koh Sarai, 91000 Satun, THA

Dive Sites

Adang Sea Divers, 91110 Koh Lipe

Stonehenge (★4.6)

One of the most beautiful dives in Thailand. A dome shaped pinnacle covered in a carpet of soft corals of the most vivid oranges, yellows, blues and purples. From 6m depth at the top of the pinnacle reaching a sandy area from 12-18m. Amazing outcrops of rock on the South Eastern resembling the famous Stonehenge.
Adang Sea Divers, 91110 Koh Lipe

Koh Talang Steps (★4.4)

Talang Steps, located near Koh Lipe, offers divers a picturesque underwater landscape characterized by a series of cascading granite boulders and coral formations descending to depths ranging from 5 to 25 meters (15-80 feet).
Bunyarit T. (#3035720)

Koh Talang South (★4.5)

Depths can reach 25-30m, suitable for all dive levels. It features granite rock formations with well-preserved hard corals, and currents can vary. It’s also an excellent spot for macro photography.
nattarat s. (#2613558)

Koh Lipe (★4.1)

Koh Lipe offers diverse dive sites, abundant marine life, clear waters, and professional operators, making it an exceptional destination for scuba diving enthusiasts.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Pattaya Corner (★4.4)

Located at the southwestern tip of Koh Lipe, Pattaya Corner invites divers to explore its vibrant coral gardens, walls, and impressive rock formations at depths ranging from 12 to 25 meters (40-80 feet).
Aqualung

Lipe Corner (★4.4)

Located at the north west tip of Koh Lipe, Lipe Corner invites divers to explore its vibrant coral gardens, walls, and impressive rock formations at depths ranging from 12 to 30 meters (40-100 feet).
Mares

Yong Hua Wreck (★4.6)

The Yong Hua Wreck near Koh Lipe offers a thrilling deep diving experience reserved for advanced divers specializing in deep dives, decompression dives, or technical diving. Resting at depths of 30 to 40 meters (100-130 feet).
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Koh Usen (★4.2)

Koh Usen, situated near Koh Lipe, offers divers a diverse and scenic underwater experience. With depths ranging from 10 to 25 meters (30-80 feet)
Scubapro

House reef (★4.4)

The house reef is a perfect place for you to begin your diving adventure. Calm clear waters with corals and marine life to view. Beach entry to a maximium of 5m this is the perfect place for you to start learning to dive.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

7 Rocks (★4.5)

Seven Rocks, located near Koh Lipe, is a captivating dive site known for its unique underwater topography and rich marine biodiversity. With depths ranging from 5 to 20 meters (15-65 feet).
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Koh Talang Wall (★4.4)

Talang Wall, situated near Koh Lipe, offers divers an exhilarating underwater experience characterized by stunning coral formations and diverse marine life. Descending to depths ranging from 10 to 30 meters (30-100 feet).
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Koh Talang North (★4.5)

Koh Talang, near Koh Lipe, is a versatile dive site, often explored as “Talang Steps“ and “Talang Wall.“ Depths can reach 25-30m, suitable for all dive levels. It features granite rock formations with well-preserved hard corals, and currents can vary. It’s also an excellent spot for macro photography.
Aqualung

Plamong, Ko Adang (★4.0)

Pra Mong Beach on Ko Lipe offers a serene and captivating underwater experience, perfect for both beginners and experienced divers alike. Situated on the island’s north tip, near sunset
Aqualung

Koh Krah (★4.3)

Koh Kra, situated near Koh Lipe, offers divers a diverse and captivating underwater experience. With depths ranging from 10 to 30 meters (30-100 feet),
Mares

White Rock, Ko Tarutao (★4.5)

White Rock, located near Koh Lipe, is a captivating dive site renowned for its diverse marine life and underwater scenery. With depths ranging from 5 to 25 meters (15-80 feet)