Koh Tao island diving guide

Scuba Diving
Koh Tao.

The best dive sites around the island — Sail Rock, Chumphon Pinnacle, White Rock and more — explored from your villa by private speedboat with our own in-house dive team.

Why Koh Tao?

One of the world's best places to learn — and keep diving.

Koh Tao is a scuba diving magnet for good reason: warm water, dozens of sites, and reefs that suit every level from first-time try-scuba guests to experienced deep-dive enthusiasts. The east coast of the Gulf stays calm for most of the year, and the underwater visibility can stretch to 30 metres on the best days.

The difference at The Fisherman's Villas is that the diving is not outsourced. We have our own SSI instructors, our own speedboats, and a flexible, private approach. You are not joining a group shop; you are diving from your villa with a team that knows the sites, the tides and the crowds.

“Private boat · private guide · quiet dive sites.”

The private advantage

Why a villa dive boat changes the experience.

Most group dive boats around Koh Tao leave early, follow the same daily schedule, and visit the same famous sites at the same time. That is how queues at moorings happen.

We leave later, read the water from the deck, and change the plan in real time. If a site is busy, we go elsewhere. If the current is better on the other side of a pinnacle, we move there. The boat is yours, the guide is yours, and the schedule answers only to you.

01Private SSI instructor for every trip
02Fast twin-engine speedboat from the villa
03Flexible site selection to avoid crowds
04Free transfer and all equipment included

The Fisherman's Villas private speedboat for diving and snorkeling around Koh Tao

Top dive sites

The best of Koh Tao island diving.

From beginner-friendly bays to deep pinnacles famous for whale sharks, these are the sites we visit most often from the villa.

18 – 40 m · Open Water / Advanced

Sail Rock

The region's most famous pinnacle

•Dramatic swim-through chimney
•Schools of trevally, barracuda and batfish
•Whale shark encounters between March and May
•Located between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan

Private angle: Because we reach Sail Rock on our own private speedboat, we can time the trip to avoid the day-trip fleets and descend the chimney without a queue of fins behind you.

14 – 36 m · Open Water / Advanced

Chumphon Pinnacle

Big-fish country

•Granite pinnacles rising from the sand
•Giant groupers, batfish and chevron barracuda
•Best early-morning visibility
•Another whale shark hotspot

Private angle: A private boat means we can leave before the group boats and be on the pinnacle with the fish — not the crowd — or stay later when the water empties out.

6 – 22 m · All levels

White Rock

Colorful, easy and close to home

•Two sister rocks covered in soft coral
•Turtles, moray eels, stingrays and reef fish
•Great for snorkelers and try-scuba guests
•Just a short boat ride from Shark Bay

Private angle: White Rock is beautiful but can get busy. From our boat we can see if the mooring is stacked; if it is, we simply drift over to a quieter corner or switch to another site.

12 – 30 m · Open Water / Advanced

Green Rock

Sail Rock's quieter neighbor

•Swim-throughs, small caverns and overhangs
•Less traffic than White Rock
•Good macro life: nudibranchs, shrimp, boxfish
•Fun for confident beginners too

Private angle: Green Rock is our favourite backup plan: when the main sites are crowded, we head here and almost always have the water to ourselves.

10 – 25 m · All levels

Shark Island

Pelagics and reef walls

•Named after the island's shark-fin silhouette, not sharks
•Regular visits from reef sharks and eagle rays
•Steep wall on one side, gentle reef on the other
•Clear water on the south side of Koh Tao

Private angle: With a private boat you can circle the whole island and pick the side with the best current and visibility — no fixed group itinerary.

18 – 40 m · Advanced / Experienced

Southwest Pinnacle

Advanced, exposed and rewarding

•Deep granite pinnacles and strong currents
•Seasonal whale sharks and bull sharks
•Big pelagic action away from the busy bays
•Best on calm days with good surface conditions

Private angle: Southwest needs a fast, seaworthy boat and local knowledge. Our private speedboat gets you there comfortably and lets the guide read the current before you jump in.

Try scuba & courses

Never dived? Koh Tao is the perfect place to start.

Our Try Scuba Diving program lets you breathe underwater for the first time with your own private SSI instructor. If you fall in love with it, you can continue straight into the SSI Open Water Diver course — also taught privately, from our own boat.

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SSI Open Water course student practicing skills during scuba diving Koh Tao training

Diving FAQ

Common questions about Koh Tao island diving.

What is the best time for scuba diving Koh Tao?+

Koh Tao island diving is year-round. Visibility is usually best from March to October, and whale sharks are most commonly seen around Sail Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle between March and May.

Do I need a diving certification to join?+

No. Certified divers can book fun dives, and beginners can try scuba diving with a private SSI instructor. Open Water and Advanced Adventurer courses are also available.

Why book a private dive boat instead of a shop?+

A private boat gives you flexible timing, your own guide, and the freedom to move away from busy sites. If White Rock is crowded, we can switch to Green Rock or another quiet spot on the same trip.

How do I book diving from The Fisherman's Villas?+

Message Tom on WhatsApp. He is responsive, speaks with the in-house dive team, and will build a trip or course around your dates, group size and experience level.

Ready to dive?

Message Tom on WhatsApp. He will arrange your private trip, course, or multi-day diving plan around the best Koh Tao sites.

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Scuba DivingKoh Tao.