Explore Chumphon Pinnacle Deep Dive Site
Chumphon Pinnacle dive site is considered to be one of the best dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand, and is located approximately a 45-minute boat ride from the main pier on Koh Tao.
Deep Diving at Chumphon Pinnacle
Chumphon Pinnacle offers scuba divers a kaleidoscope of color and marine diversity, and quite often whale sharks can be seen cruising through the dive site.
It is one of the most popular dive sites on Koh Tao due to its sheer abundance of marine life, and many dive centers will conduct deep specialty and nitrox specialty courses here up to a maximum depth of 40 meters.
Location: Approximately 12 kilometers northwest of Koh Tao
Depth: Max 40 meters, Min 14 meters – Average 22 meters
Type of site: Large granite main rock pinnacle with smaller large granite rocks off the southwest and north side.
Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
Conditions: Outerlying dive site that is subject to currents and adverse weather
Average Visibility: 10-40 meters
Scuba diving at Chumphon Pinnacle, Koh Tao, is widely considered to be one of the best dives in the entire Gulf of Thailand.
It is a large granite rock pinnacle that emerges from the seabed at around 30 meters depth and rises up to 14 meters from the surface. The variety of marine life, along with the stunning rock formations, make this a truly memorable dive.
Many of the dive centers operate trips in the mornings or afternoons to Chumphon Pinnacle with dive boats departing around 7am or 12:15pm.
Diverse Marine Life
At the top of the main rock pinnacle, sea anemones and their symbiotic partners—Pink Anemonefish—hide from predators within the protective reach of the sea anemones’ stinging tentacles.
As you descend onto the dive site, rich coral reefs come into view with a variety of hard and soft corals, creating a colorful, diverse, and vibrant underwater scene.
Expect to see abundant fish life and a wide variety of fish species, including anemonefish, angelfish, butterflyfish, clownfish, groupers, trevally, snapper, surgeonfish, batfish, triggerfish, moray eels, and trumpetfish.
If you are a macro enthusiast, look closely in the cracks and crevices of the rocks for interesting macro life like nudibranchs, shrimp, crabs, and scorpionfish.
Of course, every diver hopes for pelagic encounters. Look out for larger species of marine life in the blue water around the rock pinnacle, such as barracuda, Bryde’s whales, and whale sharks, who are frequent visitors often passing through the dive site.
Schools of Fish
The visibility at Chumphon Pinnacle dive site can be excellent, sometimes reaching up to 40 meters, which makes it a great location for underwater photography.
At its best with clear visibility, Chumphon Pinnacle is spectacular with huge schools of trevally and snapper swirling around like a silver tornado ball.
You will also see large numbers of pickhandle barracuda, fusiliers, and batfish that appear suspended in the water column off the main rock pinnacle.
Barracuda Rock at Chumphon Pinnacle: If the conditions permit and with good visibility, divers can swim southwest off the main rock pinnacle and explore Barracuda Rock, which is a rock pinnacle itself that attracts huge schools of fish.
If you get in close with good buoyancy, you will see lots of macro marine life including banded shrimp hiding in the small crevices and if you look further into the cracks, quite often you will discover Jann’s pipefish.
Chumphon Pinnacle is the dive site with the most whale shark sightings, and if you are lucky, you may get to see more than one on the same dive.
Chumphon Pinnacle Whale Sharks
Look out for giant barracuda, king mackerel, and the occasional sailfish swimming off the main rock pinnacle, who are waiting patiently for an opportunity to ambush their unsuspecting prey and catch themselves lunch.
Whale shark sightings are reported to the Thai whale sharks group so they can be compared to previous visits and monitored for injuries, to check their gender, and report any behavioral anomalies.
Chumphon Pinnacle offers divers fun, educational, and exciting dives, and every diver has a story to tell when returning from the dive site. It is well worth the 45-minute boat trip.
Fun Diving at Chumphon Pinnacle
Chumphon Pinnacle is not suited to beginner divers, and experienced divers need to follow best practice diving at all times, both underwater and at the surface.
Divers should consider these additional best practices about diving at Chumphon Pinnacle and be alert at all times.
Currents: The currents can be variable at Chumphon Pinnacle, so it is important to be an experienced diver with good buoyancy control.
Depth: The depth of the dive can range from 14 meters to 40 meters, so make sure you are properly certified for deep diving and carry extra equipment if appropriate.
Dive Shops: Many dive shops on Koh Tao offer day trips to Chumphon Pinnacle. Be sure to choose a reputable shop such as Isla Tortuga Divers with experienced PADI diving instructors.
Specialty Courses at Chumphon Pinnacle
Fun diving or taking specialty courses such as Deep, Nitrox, or Underwater Photography at Chumphon Pinnacle is an amazing experience that divers will not forget.
With stunning underwater scenery, abundant marine life, and the potential for exciting encounters, it is no surprise it is considered one of the top dive sites in Thailand.
For certified divers with the appropriate certification, you may want to consider adding Enriched Air (nitrox) to your dives, to extend your bottom time and spend longer having fun.
With its rich coral reefs and diverse marine life, Chumphon Pinnacle dive site is a true underwater paradise.
Message us to ask about our dive site trip schedule and our accommodation options on Koh Tao.
