{"id":39589,"date":"2026-04-30T12:11:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T05:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thediversboat.com\/?p=39589"},"modified":"2026-10-09T16:43:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T09:43:25","slug":"sail-rock-where-you-want-your-departure-koh-tao-or-koh-phangan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thediversboat.com\/en\/sail-rock-where-you-want-your-departure-koh-tao-or-koh-phangan\/","title":{"rendered":"Sail Rock: Koh Tao or Koh Phangan \u2014 Which Departure Should You Choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Few dive centres can say this: The Divers Boat dives Sail Rock every day of the week, from two different islands<\/strong>, on our own boats. Koh Tao or Koh Phangan \u2014 the dive site is the same; what changes is the crossing, the schedule and the trip on offer. Here is what you need to choose, plus what to do if you are based on Koh Samui.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\ud83d\udea4 From Koh Tao (Mae Haad)<\/div>\n
About 2 hours<\/strong> crossing
\nDouble Sail Rock: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday
\nUltimate 3S (Southwest Pinnacle + Sail Rock + Shark Island): Monday, Wednesday & Saturday
\nSail Rock is on the programme 7 days a week<\/strong> counting the 3S<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\ud83d\udea4 From Koh Phangan (Chaloklum)<\/div>\n
About 1h15<\/strong> crossing
\nDouble Sail Rock: every day<\/strong>, 9:30am\u20134pm
\nNo 3S combo offered from Koh Phangan
\nThe shortest route to the site<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Koh Tao vs Koh Phangan, point by point<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nFrom Koh Tao<\/th>\nFrom Koh Phangan<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Boat crossing<\/strong><\/td>\nabout 2 hours<\/td>\nabout 1 hour 15<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Times<\/strong><\/td>\n11am \u2192 6pm (Double)
9am \u2192 6pm (Ultimate 3S)<\/td>\n		9:30am \u2192 4pm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Days<\/strong><\/td>\nDouble: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun
3S: Mon, Wed, Sat<\/td>\n		every day<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trips<\/strong><\/td>\nDouble Sail Rock (2 dives)
Ultimate 3S (3 dives)<\/td>\n		Double Sail Rock (2 dives)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Price<\/strong><\/td>\n3,200 THB (Double)
3,900 THB (3S)<\/td>\n		3,200 THB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best for<\/strong><\/td>\nyou are staying on Koh Tao and want three sites in one day<\/td>\nyou are staying on Koh Phangan or Koh Samui and want the shortest day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

The Double Sail Rock price is the same on both sides: 3,200 THB<\/strong>. Full rates on our Koh Tao diving prices<\/a> and Koh Phangan prices<\/a> pages.<\/p>\n

What if you are based on Koh Samui?<\/h2>\n

There is a third departure most divers never hear about: Sail Rock as a day trip from Koh Samui<\/strong>, through our Chaloklum base. You take the 8am Lomprayah ferry, we pick you up at the Koh Phangan pier, the boat leaves at 9:30am and you are back on Koh Samui the same evening. 4,800 THB including ferry and transfers<\/strong>, every day.<\/p>\n

That day is only possible because of the timing: our 9:30am departure is the only one in the Gulf that leaves enough room to arrive from Koh Samui in the morning. Details on our Koh Samui day trip prices<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

Sail Rock departure: which one should you pick?<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\u2705<\/div>\n
Choose Koh Tao<\/strong> if you are staying there, if you want to try the 3S combo (three sites in one day), or if you want the widest choice of days during the week.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u2705<\/div>\n
Choose Koh Phangan<\/strong> if you are staying there (Full Moon Party, a yoga retreat…), if you would rather skip the ferry crossing to Koh Tao, or if you want to go on any day \u2014 it runs 7 days a week from there.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u2705<\/div>\n
Choose Koh Samui<\/strong> if you only have one day: 8am ferry, 9:30am boat, back the same evening, 4,800 THB all in.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u2705<\/div>\n
Either way it is the same site and the same dive<\/strong> \u2014 only the crossing and the schedule change with your departure point.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What the table does not show<\/h2>\n

Crossing times and schedules are easy to compare. Two things matter just as much, and they are identical from both of our bases: we dive with a maximum of 4 divers per guide<\/strong>, and we deliberately reach the site later than most boats. Sail Rock is busy between 10am and midday, and the natural chimney \u2014 in at 16 metres, out at 5 \u2014 turns into a traffic jam at exactly that time.<\/p>\n

The level required is the same from both islands: Open Water minimum<\/strong>, Advanced Open Water recommended if you want to use the depth of the site, which drops to 40 metres. The current can be strong \u2014 this is an isolated pinnacle in open water, with no shelter.<\/p>\n

Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
\n

Is it the same dive whether I leave from Koh Tao or Koh Phangan?<\/p>\n

Yes, it is exactly the same dive site. Only the travel time (2 hours versus 1h15) and the departure schedule change.<\/p>\n

Is the 3S combo available from Koh Phangan?<\/p>\n

No. The 3S combo only departs from Koh Tao, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. From Koh Phangan, only Double Sail Rock is offered, every day.<\/p>\n

Does the price change depending on the departure point?<\/p>\n

No, Double Sail Rock is 3,200 THB from Koh Tao as well as from Koh Phangan. The Ultimate 3S, which adds Southwest Pinnacle and Shark Island, is 3,900 THB from Koh Tao. From Koh Samui the day costs 4,800 THB including ferry and transfers.<\/p>\n

I am on Koh Samui \u2014 can I dive Sail Rock in a day?<\/p>\n

Yes, every day. Take the 8am Lomprayah ferry to Koh Phangan, we transfer you to Chaloklum, the boat leaves at 9:30am and you are back on Koh Samui the same evening. 4,800 THB including ferry and transfers.<\/p>\n

What certification do I need to dive Sail Rock?<\/p>\n

Open Water is enough, from either island. Advanced Open Water is recommended if you want to use the depth of the site, which drops to 40 metres.<\/p>\n

Can I switch departure points during my stay?<\/p>\n

Yes, just get in touch and we will work around your plans between Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Want to know more about the site itself \u2014 the marine life, the natural chimney, the whale sharks, the full schedule? Head over to our complete Sail Rock diving guide<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\nWritten by Baloo, founder of The Divers Boat<\/strong>
\nI live on Koh Tao and I have been running The Divers Boat since 2016. We dive Sail Rock all year round, from Mae Haad on Koh Tao and from Chaloklum on Koh Phangan, on our own boats \u2014 which is why I can compare the two departures without guessing. A question before you choose? Write to us directly<\/a> \u2014 someone from the team answers.<\/div>\n
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Ready to pick your departure?<\/div>\n

Koh Tao, Koh Phangan or Koh Samui \u2014 we take you there every day of the week.<\/p>\n

See the full guide<\/a>
\nBook via WhatsApp<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n