Diving Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe is surrounded by over 30 islands and islets, hundreds of reefs and outcrops all within easy reach with day trips. Unlike other dive destinations of southern Thailand, in Koh Lipe most of the dive sites are very close and reachable within 10 or 20 minute boat ride, only 8 Mile Rock is about one hour away by boat. On the island aren't organized multi-day diving cruises but daily tours with dive boats, which provide departures in the early morning, different diving on chosen sites and return in the afternoon. Alternatively it is also possible to dive around Koh Lipe individually by hiring an economic long-tail, the typical Thai boat; the cost is around 1,500 THB per half a day or 3,500 THB for the whole day.

Several Scuba Centres organize day trips, usually called Fun Dive, and Diving Courses of two or three days for beginners or for divers that want to improve their level. The day trips usually depart from Pattaya Beach at 09.00 a.m., provide one, two or three dives and the return is between 13.00 or 16.00, depending on the number of dives. The costs depend on the chosen boat, the distance of the sites, by diving equipment and services on board. Indicatively the prices are: 1,600 THB for one dive, 3,000 THB for two and 4,000 THB for three dives. The prices include the round trip by dive boats, diving gear, tanks, weights and weight-belts, assistance by assistance by PADI Divemaster guides, fresh fruit, drinks and meal on board; are excluded 250 THB for Nitrox and 200 THB National Marine Park fee. A night dive costs about 2,000 THB; one dive from shore costs about 1,200 THB. Discounts are provided for divers with all own equipment.

8 Mile Rock

8 Mile Rock is a submerged pinnacle 9 miles south of Koh Lipe, about 60-minute boat ride. The pinnacle rises from a depth of over 50 metres and its the top is about 14 meters below the sea surface. 8 Mile Rock is challenging site due to the strong currents and also because there aren't areas of the site shallower than 14 metres. The visibility is always excellent, usually between 30-45 metres. The submerged mountain is mostly covered by purple, blue and red soft tree coral in excellent condition. The dive site is famous for its fantastic marine life and the great chance of spotting giant Manta Rays and Whale Sharks, the two largest pelagic species of the oceans. Here you will find a huge density of all marine species that the Andaman Sea can offer including Moray Eels, Eagle Rays, Scorpionfish, Ornate Ghost Pipefish and a lot of invertebrates, such as Nudibranches, Seahorses, Cuttlefish and Crabs. Around the pinnacle swim in hunting large schools of Barracuda. In the deep waters near the seabed can be seen Giant Groupers, Stingray, and Leopard Sharks.Read More  

Yong Hua Wreck

Yong Hua Wreck is challenger deep site not far from Koh Lipe, just 9 Km to north. The wreck was originally a fish processing boat that caught fire and sank in 1996 near Koh Yong Hua. The fishing vessel was quite large, 75 metres long by 18 metres wide. The wreck rests an upright position and almost intact on a sandy bottom at a depth of 42 metres, with the upper part of the ship at about 26 metres from the surface. Since its sinking, the ship's remains were quickly covered by soft corals and sea fans, which soon attracted other marine life. The remains are a perfect habitat for Nudibranchs, Ghost Pipefish, and Shrimps. Scorpionfish and Lionfish are also common inside and around the wreck. In the flat sandy bottom around the wreck rest giant Groupers. Large shoals of pelagic fish like Trevally, Fusiliers, Snappers and Chevron Barracuda can also be spotted here. Please note, at divers are not permitted the penetration inside the wreck for safety.Read More  

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is an amazing dive site close to Koh Talang, just 3 Km east of Koh Lipe, about 10 minutes by boat. The site name derives from the chain of submerged granite pinnacles arranged like standing stones, which resembling Stonehenge in the U.K. The monoliths formation rises from the sandy seabed at 40 meters depth up to 2 metres below surface, in the central area of the rocky chain. The top of rock formation is covered with coloured gardens of soft corals, while deeper down is mostly covered with white corals. Clinging to stone there are also barrel sponges, gorgonian sea fans, red anemones, table corals, staghorn and other types of hard corals. The large sandy area around the pinnacles is littered with small coral bommies. The towering rocks are teeming of marine life. The beautiful coral gardens are perfect habitat for tropical fish and invertebrates, such as Nudibranches, Sweetlips, Ornate Ghost Pipefish, Trumpetfish, small Lobsters, Shrimps and Seahorses. So much marine life and fish bait also attracts many predators like Scorpionfish, Lionfish, Frogfish and Moray Eels. Large shoals of Trevally, Fusiliers, Snappers and Batfish swim near the rocks. Giant Barracudas patrol the area a little way away from the pinnacles. In the deep crystal water of Stonehenge is also reported sightings of Tuna, Devil Rays, Leopard Sharks, Eagle Rays and occasionally Whale Sharks.Read More  

Sail Rock

Sail Rock site is a submerged ridge which running parallel to the south coast of Koh Butang, a small island about 17 Km west of Koh Lipe. The ridge has the appearance of two rocky fingers that stretching out from the island into the depths of the sea. The ridge is mostly covered by hard and soft corals, with patches of sea fans and black corals. Its shallow waters, between 5 and 18 metres of deep, and the mild currents makes it an easy dive site suitable to intermediate divers. All along the two fingers the marine life is prolific and including Batfish, Pipefish, Scorpiofish, Moray Eels and Sting Rays. Between cracks and crevices seek refuge Nudibranches, Seahorses, Banded Boxer Shrimps and Flatworms. In the surrounding waters are also reported sightings of Hawksbill Turtles, Dogtooth Tuna and large shoals of Barracuda.Read More  

Jabang aka Koh Cha Bang

Jabang is a set of submerged pinnacles in a triangle shape just east of Koh Hin Ngarm a small rock island 5 Km north of Koh Lipe, about 10 minutes by boat. Also known by the locals as Koh Cha Bang, the underwater granite formation rises from a sandy bottom at 25 meters deep and reaches almost the sea surface, just 3 meters below. Due to its mild currents near surface, the shallow waters between 3 and 8 metres are also suitable to snorkelling and macro underwater photography. The visibility around the rock formation is always excellent also in the deep area, normally between 15 and 30 metres. The peaks and the walls of the pinnacles are really stunning, with pink, purple and yellow soft corals covering the granite rocks, without doubt, one of the most colourful coral gardens of all dive sites around Koh Lipe. Corals are home to Seahorses, Nudibranches, Banded Boxer Shrimps, Needlefish and lots of others reef fish. Here you will find a huge density of Ornate Ghost Pipefish, Scorpionfish, Lionfish, Cleaner Pipefish, Stonefish and Yellow Boxfish. Large shoals of Barracuda and Trevally swim in circle around the pinnacles. Turtles are also frequently spotted near the sea surface.Read More  

Koh Taru

Koh Taru is a small rocky island just east of Koh Adang, about 10 km north-west of Koh Lipe. The tiny island has a wonderful shallow coral reef, which starts a few metres below sea surface and then slowly drops down to a sandy bottom at 25 metres of deep. The reef is ideal for beginner divers and diving courses, while the more advanced divers will appreciate the deeper reef. The marine life along the cliff includes Stonefish, Marbled Rays, Damselfishes, Oriental Sweetlips and a lot of invertebrates like Nudibranchs, Harlequin Shrimps and Seahorses. Large schools of Snappers patrol the surrounding area.Read More  

Whale Shark in Koh Lipe

 Site Features

• Access: Day trips by diving boats
• Distance from Koh Lipe: About 10 Km to north-west, 20-minute boat ride
• Water Temperature: Between 28-31° C
• Surface Conditions: Calm to slightly choppy, can be rough in monsoon season
• Current: Mild, can be strong
• Diving Depth: Between 5-25 metres
• Visibility: Ranges from good to excellent between 15-25 metres
• Experience Level: Suitable to all levels of divers and diving courses

Sunrise Beach

Sunrise is the beach in the east side of Koh Lipe. It is the best snorkelling and diving area in the island. Directly from the shore you can dive or snorkel onto its shallow reef for thousand of square metres and even explore the two small rocky islands just in front of beach. The coral reef has a depth between 5 and 13 metres. The currents are weak and visibility is good, on average 10-15 metres. The reef is covered with patches of coral bommies, staghorn corals and anemones. Despite the proximity to the most popular beach of Koh Lipe the reef offers frequently sightings of Clownfish, Cuttlefish, Batfish, Trumpetfish, Angelfish and Pufferfish. Giant Moray Eels and Blue-spotted Stingray are also spotted here.Read More  

Koh Sawang

Koh Sawang is a tiny island 15 Km west of Koh Lipe, about 45-minute boat ride. The rocky outcrop island has a beautiful coral reef, which starts from 5 metres of deep and then slowly slopes down to 30 metres. The gentle slope is covered with stunning hard coral gardens mixed with anemones and big colourful feather stars. In the deepest part of the reef there are large granite boulders that form beautiful small pinnacles mostly covered with white soft tree corals. The highest has the shape similar to a cone; it is 10 metres tall and known by divers as Christmas Tree Rock. The underwater world near the reef offers sighting of Scorpion, Lionfish, Pennant Bannerfish, Moray Eels, Long-nose Butterflyfish and even huge Jellyfish. In the surrounding waters swim large schools of pelagic fish like Snappers, giant Barracuda and Devil Rays. Into the deep blue are also reported sightings of Whale Sharks and Manta Rays, less frequent than other sites but still possible in the right season. The currents on the reef usually are mild but can be strong; the visibility is always excellent, more of 30 metres.Read More  

Diving in Koh Lipe

 Site Features

• Access: Day trips by diving boats
• Distance from Koh Lipe: About 15 Km to west, 45-minute boat ride
• Water Temperature: Between 28-31° C
• Surface Conditions: Calm to slightly choppy, can be rough in monsoon season
• Current: Mild, can be strong
• Diving Depth: Between 5-30 metres
• Visibility: Ranges from good to excellent between 20-35 metres
• Experience Level: Suitable to intermediate divers