One of Thailand's best loved islands, Koh Samui's charms are evident as soon as you arrive at its award-winning thatch-roofed airport. When you stay on the island of Samui you will not only enjoy the excellent beaches and wonderful nightlife, but you will also have access to the best diving in this part of Thailand. Most of these sites are found around Koh Tao and can be dived via daytrips from Samui.
Dive sites that can be visited from Samui, including the famous Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock, are characterised by submerged pinnacles, large rocky seamounts, colourful corals and reefs with plenty of marine life for you to enjoy, including good chances to see whale sharks. Because the Gulf of Thailand is a large sheltered bay, the seas tend to be calm and provide excellent conditions for Koh Samui diving throughout the year.
Highlights
Chumphon Pinnacle -- If you have come to "find Nemo" you won't be disappointed since there are numerous anemones dotted around, each with their resident anemonefish. While sightings of plenty of batfish, jacks and barracudas are likely, whale sharks are the number 1 attraction here, particularly between February and April. You won't forget an encounter with this gentle giant, the biggest fish in the world. Generally considered the best dive site in this part of Thailand.
Sail Rock -- This is another pinnacle and a real highlight of Samui scuba diving because whale sharks are commonly sighted here. Whether you are on the surface or below you will be amazed at how long these sharks stay around seemingly enjoying the presence of divers. Catfish, trevallies and reef sharks also call Sail Rock home. In terms of topography, 'The Chimney' will probably stay long in your memory. You can enter the rock through a hole at around 20 metres and exit either at 15 metres or 10 metres having checked out the masses of glass fish, boxer shrimps, moray eels and other inhabitants of the chimney, which is a nice pool.
As Samui Dive
The dive sites can be visited by day boats from Koh Samui. Big powerful speedboats leave every morning, usually in small groups. They are usually back at 5:00 clock back in time for your location and relax for the evening. One can only day trips, or combine diving with accommodation at one of our recommended Samui Resorts.
Diving Season
The dive sites in the Gulf of Thailandaround Koh Samui and Koh Tao can be dived throughout the year. However the peak season, which sees the optimum conditions, runs from March to August.
There may be a reduction in visibility during the September to November period when monsoon winds and swells can be present. However these are rarely sufficient to interfere with diving trips, except maybe for making the speedboat journey a little bumpier. If you are planning a dive trip between November and February, Samui is not the best bet since rain and wind can visit the Gulf at this time of the year.
Reef Summary
Good for: Small animals, beginner divers, dive value-for-money, snorkelling and non-diving activities
Not so good for: Wrecks and drift dives
Depth: 5 -- 40m
Visibility: 5 -- 25m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface conditions: Calm to choppy
Water temperature: 27 -- 29°C
Experience level: Beginner -- advanced
Number of dive sites: about 10
Access: Samui speedboat day trips
The length of stay: 5 days
With some superb hotels and resorts, beautiful beaches, spectacular Ang Thong National Marine Park, and a mix of nightlife and peaceful retreat, Samui has all kinds of tourists and young independent travelers, families and couples, a romantic beach break. Phuket and on the west coast of the season when the bottom, many believe that Koh Samui Diving is the ideal destination for sun, sand anddiving.
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