Aow Leuk
Aow Leuk dive site – Koh Tao
Aow Leuk (also spelled Ao Leuk) means “Deep Bay,” referring to the bay’s wide, curved shape rather than its underwater depth. This beautiful, sheltered bay on Koh Tao’s southeast coast is one of the island’s best dive sites for beginners, snorkelers, underwater photographers, and scuba training. With calm conditions, crystal-clear water, and healthy coral gardens, Aow Leuk offers relaxed diving and an incredible diversity of marine life.
Its gently sloping reef and sheltered location make it one of the most frequently used dive sites for Open Water Diver courses and introductory dives on Koh Tao.
Location & Diving Conditions
Location: Situated on the protected southeast coast of Koh Tao.
Coordinates: 10.0708562, 99.8351711
Plus Code: 3RCR+82V Get Directions
Conditions: The dive site lies deep inside a sheltered crescent-shaped bay, providing excellent protection from strong winds, particularly during the southwest monsoon. Currents are usually very light or completely absent, making Aow Leuk ideal for beginners and training dives.
Visibility: Water clarity is generally excellent, with visibility typically ranging between 10 and 20 meters (33–66 ft) throughout most of the year. These calm conditions make it an excellent location for practicing buoyancy control and underwater photography.
Topography
Structure: The seabed consists of a broad, gently sloping sandy bottom bordered by the bay’s rocky headlands. Scattered throughout the sand are numerous coral bommies and granite formations, creating a varied underwater landscape full of marine life.
Depth: The reef begins in just 1 meter (3 ft) of water near the beach and gradually slopes to a maximum depth of approximately 15–18 meters (50–60 ft) in the center of the bay. Most of the best diving takes place between 5 and 12 meters (16–40 ft).
Artificial Reef: Aow Leuk is also home to several artificial reef projects, where concrete sculptures and specially designed reef structures have been placed to encourage coral growth and provide shelter for juvenile fish and other marine life.
Marine Life
Artificial Reef Ecosystem
The artificial reef structures have become thriving habitats for young corals, reef fish, and many smaller marine species, making them fascinating areas to explore.
Reef Fish
Often referred to as a nursery for marine life in the Gulf of Thailand, Aow Leuk is filled with juvenile reef fish. Divers regularly encounter large schools of yellowtail barracuda, fusiliers, and sergeant majors, alongside colorful parrotfish, butterflyfish, batfish, and countless tropical reef species.
Blacktip Reef Sharks
One of Aow Leuk’s biggest attractions is the opportunity to see juvenile blacktip reef sharks hunting in the shallow sandy areas close to the beach. These shy sharks are harmless to divers and are frequently seen during calm mornings.
Sandy Bottom & Macro Life
Careful observers will discover blue-spotted stingrays, well-camouflaged scorpionfish, tiny seahorses, and colonies of graceful garden eels emerging from the sandy seabed. The abundance of small marine life also makes Aow Leuk a favorite destination for macro photographers.
