The Tanote Bay dive site, Koh Tao, is a beautifully preserved east coast bay offering exceptional diving and snorkelling right from its wide sandy beach. The reef begins just metres from the shore and drops gradually to 18 metres along large granite boulders draped in diverse hard corals and brain corals. Green turtles, nudibranchs, juvenile longfin batfish, eight-banded butterflyfish and blue-spotted trout make every dive here a genuine encounter with the rich marine life of Thailand’s diving island. Moreover, the Tanote Bay dive site is a reliable option when westerly winds close down the other side of Koh Tao.

Tanote Bay dive site: a pristine east coast bay

The Tanote Bay dive site is one of the most beautiful bays on the east coast of Koh Tao. With its wide sandy beach and clear turquoise water, it offers exceptional diving and snorkelling directly from the shore. The reef starts just metres from the beach and drops gradually to 18 metres. Along this slope, large granite boulders covered in diverse hard corals and brain corals create a striking and varied underwater landscape.

Furthermore, this site holds a key role in our diving programme. Located on the east coast, it is naturally sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds. As a result, when conditions make the west coast sites inaccessible, it remains a reliable and rewarding alternative. The journey from Mae Haad takes approximately 45 minutes rounding the island — and the marine life more than justifies the trip.

Marine life at the Tanote Bay dive site

The Tanote Bay dive site offers remarkable marine diversity. Unlike offshore blue-water sites focused on large pelagics, this coastal reef rewards curious divers who take time to observe the details. Indeed, every coral head and every crevice in the rock holds its own surprises. You can expect to encounter green turtles, nudibranchs, juvenile longfin batfish, blackspotted puffers, longfin bannerfish, blue-spotted trout, parrotfish, titan triggerfish, eight-banded butterflyfish and a small wreck on the bay floor.

The small wreck — an extra point of exploration at Tanote Bay dive site

In addition to the coral reef, the Tanote Bay dive site is home to a small wreck resting on the bay floor. Although modest in size, it offers an accessible introduction to wreck diving for Open Water certified divers. Already colonised by corals and reef fish, it adds an extra point of interest that makes every dive here even more varied. Talk to our dive guides about including it in your dive plan. Moreover, if you want to go further, our full wreck diving trips to the HTMS Sattakut and HTMS Suphairin are also available.

What level do you need?

The Tanote Bay dive site is accessible from Open Water (OW) certification level. Its maximum depth of 18 metres, gentle current and sheltered bay configuration make it a comfortable site for newly certified divers. Nevertheless, the diversity of marine life — particularly the turtles, nudibranchs and varied reef species — makes it equally rewarding for experienced divers.

One important note: the titan triggerfish present in the bay can be territorial during nesting season. As at Green Rock, our dive guides give a full briefing on triggerfish behaviour before every dive — so you can enjoy the site safely and confidently. Furthermore, check our fun dive prices for all available options.

Dive the Tanote Bay dive site with The Divers Boat

The Divers Boat organises fun dive trips to the Tanote Bay dive site from Koh Tao, departing from Mae Haad — the main pier on Thailand’s diving island. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes rounding the east coast. Our blue boat is dedicated exclusively to certified divers: small groups, attentive multilingual guides and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, in good weather and bad.

In practice, this site pairs naturally with other east coast sites such as Hin Wong Pinnacle for a complete and varied dive day. Contact our team to book your fun dive at this beautiful corner of Koh Tao’s east coast.