Explore Western Gulf Islands

Diving in the Western Gulf Islands of Thailand offers an exceptional experience for enthusiasts eager to explore vibrant marine ecosystems and diverse underwater landscapes. From the bustling reefs of Koh Tao to the sweeping underwater vistas of Koh Phangan, each island presents a unique diving opportunity. Koh Tao, with its dramatic rock pinnacles and colorful reefs, is teeming with marine life, including the occasional visit from whale sharks. These gentle giants often grace divers with their presence, particularly between March and April. The island's reefs are a kaleidoscope of life, ensuring every dive is a feast for the eyes.

Koh Phangan, another gem of the Chumphon Archipelago, is renowned for its stunning dive site, Sail Rock. This submerged pinnacle is a playground for divers, where encounters with batfish, macro critters, and even bull sharks are not uncommon. The clear, warm waters, typically between 28 and 30°C/82-86°F, provide excellent visibility of around 20 meters/65 feet, making it ideal for capturing stunning underwater photography. Whether you choose a shore dive or a boat excursion, the Western Gulf Islands promise an unforgettable diving adventure amidst Thailand’s enchanting seascapes.

Places to Explore

Chumphon Province

23 Divesites 1 Center

Chumphon Marine Park in Thailand offers an exceptional diving experience that promises both adventure and tranquility. This marine park is renowned for its vibrant coral reefs, hosting a mesmerizing array of marine life. Divers can encounter everything from tiny, colorful nudibranchs to majestic whale sharks, making every dive a unique encounter with the underwater world. The region's clear waters and diverse ecosystems are perfectly suited for both novice and experienced divers, offering varied underwater landscapes such as towering walls and intricate coral gardens.

Surat Thani Province

49 Divesites 51 Centers

In the Gulf of Thailand just south of Cambodia is the beautiful paradise region of Surat Thani, which is one of Thailand’s best diving hotspots. Consisting of 112 islands, all with seemingly infinite reefs and dramatic underwater topography, it’s no surprise that the region is often included in the world’s premier diving destinations. 

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Diver Level Programs / Courses

Echo Divers

Basic Diver

Contact the Center for more information.

In the SSI Basic Diver program, you will learn the skills and knowledge you need to try diving up to 12 meters deep with an SSI Professional. It is a great way to explore the underwater world more fully as you try diving. The entire Basic Diver program can be credited towards the Scuba Diver or Open Water Dive programs within 6 months, so you can take the next step in your dive adventure.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Phoenix Divers

Open Water Diver

17 Nov 2025

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.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Echo Divers

Advanced Open Water Diver

Contact the Center for more information.

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. 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 experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Crystal Dive

Advanced Open Water Diver

16 Nov 2025 + 575 more

The SSI Advanced Open Water Course is the perfect next step for certified divers who want to build confidence, try specialty dives, and unlock deeper dive limits. Over two days, you’ll complete five adventure dives with one of our experienced instructors in a small group of no more than four students. You’ll choose the dives that interest you most, such as Wreck Diving, Night Diving, and more. Deep Diving and Navigation are key components of the course, with your certification allowing you to dive up to 30 metres worldwide.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Echo Divers

Open Water Diver

16 Nov 2025

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.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

New Way Diving

Advanced Open Water Diver

16 Nov 2025

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. 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 experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Blue Horizon Diving

Diver Stress & Rescue

20 Nov 2025

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.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Koh Tao Divers

Assistant Instructor

01 Dec 2025

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

PURA VIDA KOH TAO

Assistant Instructor

01 Dec 2025

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Koh Tao Divers

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

05 Dec 2025

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide. For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

The Coral Tribe

Advanced Open Water Diver

05 Dec 2025 + 1 more

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. 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 experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Thailand (East Coast Region)

教练评估 - IE

06 Dec 2025

从今天开始 - 您需要成为潜水长或同等资格人员才能参加 SSI 的三步教官培训方法。培训过程从参加助理教练/教练培训课程开始，并结合数字学习。成功完成教练培训课程（ITC）后，您将参加教练评估（IE），以获得SSI开放水域教练资格。在为期 10 天的培训课程中，您可以独立教授 SSI 的各种主要项目，如水肺潜水员、开放水域潜水员、高氧空气潜水员、潜水员压力与救援以及潜水向导。

对于那些希望花更多时间学习并在培训课程之间获得宝贵教学经验的学员，也可以按照自己的进度和灵活的时间安排，将助理教练、教练培训课程（ITC）和教练评估（IE）这三个部分作为一个单独的步骤来学习。

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Sail Rock, Thailand

Sail Rock is a pinnacle which rises to 15m above and 40m below the surface. Sail Rock lies between Koh Phangan and Koh tao. It’s famous for its natural underwater vertical swim through or chimney which divers can enter at 6 metres and exit at 18.

47,896
Logs
16,994
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
13.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Chumphon Pinnacle

The main pinnacle of Chumphon Pinnacle comes as shallow as 14 meters and the deepest point of the site goes as deep as 45 meters. Offering great opportunities for divers at Open Water level through to XR level.

106,783
Logs
51,559
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Mu Koh Angthon National Marine Park

The Mu Koh Angthong National Marine Park is an archipelago of 42 limestone islands, that hosts a thriving shallow coral reef, abundant with diverse species of coral and marine life. The most well renown dive sites are Koh Yippon, Koh Wao, and Koh Yai, with an approximate depth of 8-16 meters.

283
Logs
167
Divers
12.0 m
⌀ Depth
7.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Samran Pinnacle

Samran Pinnacle, between Sail Rock and Koh Tao, is a huge rock that starts at 9m deep and drops down to 28m. You can go slightly deeper if you follow the other rock pattern along the bottom.

1,305
Logs
800
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Jansom Bay

Jansom Bay dive site is located on the western side of Nan Yuan Island, adjacent to Koh Tao. Even on days when the ocean is rough and the waves are to the east, this dive site is in the shadow of the island, providing a calm environment for diving.

672
Logs
415
Divers
8.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Southwest Pinnacle

30 to 45 minutes southwest of Koh Tao, these large pinnacles range from 30 to 5 m. Sandy ocean floor with big rocks on the south side. many cracks on the pinnacles where small wildlife can be found. The shallower parts of the pinnacles are covered in magnificent anemones.

45,643
Logs
25,915
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Shark Island

Shark Island ranges from a depth of 0 to 25 meters, making it one of Koh Tao’s most versatile dive sites. Currents can be strong around this site, but divers can usually take refuge in the lieu of the island and enjoy a relaxed dive.

32,575
Logs
19,136
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
13.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Junkyard

Junkyard ranges from 10 to 12m in depth. It contains a lot of artificial items such as a Jeep and a toilet seat, all of which are new marine life habitats, so please don’t touch!

23,020
Logs
15,007
Divers
11.0 m
⌀ Depth
8.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ HTMS Hanhak Sattru 312, Wreck

Just on the mouth of the bay, this newly sunk wreck is 44.9M long, 7M wide, is a high speed attack ship. Belonging to the Gulf Patrol Fleet, Royal Thai Navy and built by Singapore Ship Building and Engineering Co., Ltd.

4,330
Logs
3,016
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Hin Pee Wee

Large rock formations and smaller pinnacles (shallowest point is about 7m). Lots of soft corals and whip corals. Gets to 22m+. Not a lot to see if limited to 12m. Next HTMS Sattakut wreck and can both be dived in the same dive.

37,641
Logs
26,054
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ HTMS Suphairin 313, Wreck

Lying just 15M north of No Name Pinnacle, this newly sunk wreck is 44.9M long, 7M wide, is a high speed attack ship. Belonging to the Gulf Patrol Fleet, Royal Thai Navy and built by Singapore Ship Building and Engineering Company Limited.

18,386
Logs
10,616
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Japanese Gardens Koh Tao

Japanese Gardens is located on the east side of Koh Nanguan. Its protected and a very calm and easy site. The sandy area off. Its a very calm and easy site. The sandy area off the island gradually gets deeper and deeper, and you can wall dive along the island to the north. The depth ranges from just a couple meters to about 16 meters.

157,408
Logs
70,182
Divers
10.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Green Rock

This “drift“ dive site is located on the north side of Nan Yuan Island, adjacent to Koh Tao. The name “Green Rock“ comes from the fact that the roots near the surface of the water look green. The depth ranges between 10 and 25 meters and 30 to 40 meters depth can be found with a short swim to the West.

23,423
Logs
14,639
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Haad Yao

Excellent shallow beach dives offer great conditions for diver training and snorkeling, with an abundance of colorful corals including table corals, barrel sponges, and brain corals. The shallow reef extends west to the wall drop off at 10m-16m.

801
Logs
313
Divers
9.0 m
⌀ Depth
5.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ HTMS Sattakut 742, Wreck

The HTMS Sattakut is a wreck that rests at a max depth of 35m, with the top of the tower at 18m. The wreck is 48 meters in length and lies just south of a neighboring pinnacle dive site, Hin Pee Wee, a favorite destination for safety and deco stops after exploring the wreck.

58,805
Logs
33,067
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Western Gulf Islands

The Western Gulf Islands offer a plethora of enticing dive sites, drawing enthusiasts with their mix of wreck and shore diving opportunities. Popular wreck dives include the HMCS Cape Breton, a former naval vessel now teeming with marine life, providing an immersive experience for divers. This site, along with others like the HMCS Saskatchewan, offers intriguing exploration opportunities beneath the waves. Shore dives in the region are equally captivating, with locations such as Henderson Point providing easy access to vibrant underwater ecosystems. Divers can often witness unique marine life behaviors, particularly during night dives when the underwater world transforms. The area caters to both shore diving and liveaboard options, striking a perfect balance for divers seeking varied experiences. Enthusiasts can enjoy the convenience of shore dives while still having the opportunity to explore more remote sites via liveaboard trips.

The best Months to dive in Western Gulf Islands

The Western Gulf Islands offer diverse diving conditions throughout the year, making them a popular destination for divers. Seasonal water temperatures vary from 8°C–15°C/46°F–59°F, with summer months generally providing warmer conditions. Visibility is typically moderate, ranging from 10 to 20 meters/33 to 66 feet, though it can be affected by plankton blooms in spring, reducing clarity temporarily.

Weather conditions, including wind and ocean currents, play a significant role in diving conditions. The period from late autumn to early spring can bring stronger winds and currents, making some dive sites less accessible. However, diving is possible year-round, with late summer and early autumn being the most favorable periods due to calmer seas and clearer waters. Divers should plan accordingly and be prepared for variable conditions.

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Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Koh Tao Scuba Club

8/21 Moo 2, 84360 Koh Tao, Surat Thani, THA

Helldiver

11/3 Moo 2, 84360 Surat Thani, THA

The Coral Tribe

7/1 Moo 2, Koh Tao, 84360 Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, THA

Carabao Diving Center

50/1 Moo 3 Chalok Baan Kao, 84360 Koh Tao, THA

Calypso Diving Koh Tao

Tanote Bay, 84360 Koh Tao, THA

Ihasia Diving Kohtao

50/15 moo 3, 84360 Koh Tao, THA

AquaTao

8/12 Moo2 Mae Haad, 84360 Koh Tao, THA

Hang Loose Divers

9/303 Moo 1, Koh Tao, 84360 Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, THA

Go Diving

8/14 Moo 2, Koh Tao, 84360 Surat Thani, THA

Goodtime Adventures

23/31 Moo 2, 84360 Koh Tao, THA

The Divers Boat

25/47 Moo 7, Chaloklum, 84280 Surat Thani, THA

Crystal Dive

7/1 Moo 2, Koh Tao, 84360 Koh Tao, THA

Big Blue Diving

14/148 Moo 1, Sairee Beach, 84360 Koh Tao, Surat Thani, THA

Rainbow Fish Divers

1/14 Moo 1 Sairee Beach, 84360 Koh Tao, THA

Koh Tao Swim

11/16 Moo, 84360 Koh Tao, THA

New Way Diving

24/2 Moo 1 Sairee Beach, 84360 Koh Tao, THA

Dive Wishes & More Koh Tao

2/78 M.2 T.Koh Tao A.Koh Phangan, 84360 Suratthani, THA

Member Diving

158/6 Moo 1, 84320 Bophut-Koh Samui, THA

Phoenix Divers

Phoenix Divers, 1 Moo 1, Sairee Beach,, 84360 Surat Thani,, THA

Do Waan Diving

15/7 Moo 3, Koh Tao, 84360 Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, THA