Tanote Bay
Tanote Bay Dive Site
Tanote Bay is one of Koh Tao’s most scenic and diverse dive sites, located on the island’s rugged east coast. Known for its enormous granite boulders, healthy coral formations, and excellent visibility, Tanote Bay offers an exciting underwater landscape suitable for both newly certified and experienced divers. Its sheltered location during the southwest monsoon often provides calm conditions when many west coast sites are affected by wind and waves.
The site is famous for its impressive underwater rock formations, swim-throughs, and abundant marine life. Combined with the bay’s crystal-clear water, Tanote Bay is a favorite among underwater photographers and divers looking for a relaxed but visually rewarding dive.
Key Details
- Depth: 3–22 meters. The shallow reef begins just below the surface and gradually slopes to deeper granite boulders and sandy areas.
- Skill Level: Open Water to Advanced. Beginners can enjoy the shallow reef, while experienced divers can explore deeper boulder formations and navigation routes.
- Visibility: Typically 10–25 meters, often among the best around Koh Tao.
- Currents: Usually mild, making the site comfortable for most divers.
- Topography: Large granite boulders, rocky reefs, sandy patches, hard coral gardens, and several natural swim-throughs create an exciting underwater terrain.
Marine Life
Tanote Bay supports an impressive diversity of tropical marine life thanks to its combination of rocky habitats, coral reefs, and sandy seabed.
- Reef Fish: Schools of yellowtail barracuda, fusiliers, blue-lined snapper, butterflyfish, bannerfish, rabbitfish, and surgeonfish are common throughout the bay.
- Resident Species: Blue-spotted ribbontail stingrays often rest on the sandy bottom, while giant moray eels hide between the granite rocks. Groupers, sweetlips, and scribbled filefish are frequently encountered around the boulders.
- Macro Life: Careful observers may find nudibranchs, cleaner shrimp, pipefish, whip coral gobies, porcelain crabs, and colorful Christmas tree worms among the corals.
- Seasonal Visitors: Hawksbill turtles occasionally feed around the reef, and whale sharks are rare but unforgettable visitors during migration seasons.
Coral Reef
The reef features a healthy mix of hard corals, including:
- Staghorn coral
- Table coral
- Brain coral
- Mushroom coral
- Boulder coral
Soft corals and sponges add vibrant colors to the granite walls, while numerous reef fish use the coral gardens for shelter.
Diving Experience
Tanote Bay offers a relaxed dive with plenty to explore. The shallow reef provides ideal conditions for training dives and underwater photography, while the deeper granite formations offer interesting navigation routes, small caves, and natural swim-throughs. The impressive boulder landscape creates dramatic scenery unlike many other dive sites around Koh Tao.
Because the bay is less crowded than popular west coast dive sites, divers often enjoy a peaceful underwater experience with excellent opportunities to observe marine life without large groups nearby.
Conditions
Tanote Bay is particularly popular during the southwest monsoon (June to September), when its east coast location is protected from prevailing winds. Water temperatures remain warm throughout the year, typically ranging from 28–30°C.
Location
Tanote Bay lies on the eastern coast of Koh Tao and is accessible by dive boat. The bay’s clear water, striking granite formations, and thriving reef ecosystem make it one of the island’s most beautiful and rewarding dive destinations.
Coordinates
10.0985, 99.8489 Get directions
