Chumphon Pinnacle
A submerged granite pinnacle offshore, widely rated Koh Tao's best dive site, known for schooling fish, groupers, barracuda and seasonal whale sharks.
- Category
- Diving & Snorkeling
- Entrance fee
- No land fee; visited only via a dive boat. Fun dives typically ~1000-1500 THB per dive as of 2026, confirm with dive shops. A national marine-park diving fee may apply.
- Hours
- Accessible by scheduled dive-boat departures (usually early morning and midday); not a walk-up site.
- Best time
- Dry season (roughly Mar-Sep can be good; visibility varies); best on calm days with less current. Whale-shark sightings are seasonal and never guaranteed.
- Time needed
- Half day including boat transfer (one to two dives).
- Difficulty
- Advanced-leaning: a deep granite pinnacle (~14-36 m) often with current; suited to certified divers, not beginners or snorkelers.
About Chumphon Pinnacle
Chumphon Pinnacle is the marquee dive of the Koh Tao area, a submerged granite pinnacle offshore that's widely rated the island's best dive site. Expect swirling schools of fish, big groupers and barracuda, and if you're very lucky, a seasonal whale shark. For certified divers, this is absolutely worth it.
Be clear that this is a scuba site, not a snorkeling one. The pinnacle is deep and often has current, which puts it in advanced-leaning territory, better suited to experienced certified divers than beginners. Snorkelers can't do it at all.
About those whale sharks: the hype is real, but the sightings are rare and seasonal. Don't book expecting to see one, book for the excellent diving and treat a whale shark as a bonus if it happens.
Highlights
- Widely rated Koh Tao's best dive site
- Schooling fish, groupers and barracuda
- Seasonal chance of whale sharks
- Dramatic deep granite pinnacle
Tips
- Book through any Koh Tao dive centre, it's boat-access only
- For certified divers, not for beginners or snorkelers
- Best on calm days with less current
- Don't book expecting whale sharks, sightings are rare and seasonal
How to get there
From Koh Tao (Mae Haad/Sairee dive shops): ~30-45 min by dive boat northwest. Book through any Koh Tao dive centre; it is a scuba site, generally too deep for snorkeling.