Sail Rock (Hin Bai) is widely considered the best dive site in the Gulf of Thailand, featuring a massive granite pinnacle that rises 8 meters above the surface and drops to over 35 meters.
It is famous for The Chimney, a vertical swim-through that divers can enter at 18 meters and exit at 6 meters, surrounded by thousands of schooling barracuda, trevally, and frequent whaleshark sightings.
Because of its isolated location between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, Sail Rock acts as a biological magnet, offering the highest density of pelagic marine life in the region.
Amazing Sail Rock Deep Dive Site
Sail Rock dive site can be reached in around 90 minutes from Mae Haad pier and is located in a south-easterly direction from Koh Tao.
Sail Rock, also known as Hin Bai, is a stunning underwater granite rock pinnacle situated between the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, and is commonly referred to as one of the best dive sites in the entire Gulf of Thailand.
What you can see at Sail Rock
Sail Rock is a diver’s dream come true with its unique rock formation, potential for currents, and nutrient-rich waters. It attracts a diverse array of marine life.
Pelagic Encounters: Keep an eye out for majestic creatures like whale sharks, sailfin fish, schools of barracuda, dolphins, Bryde’s whales, and massive schools of jackfish.
Vibrant Coral Reefs: While the main attraction is the pelagic life, Sail Rock also boasts beautiful coral formations teeming with colorful reef fish.
The Chimney: A famous vertical swim-through feature within the rock itself offers a unique and exciting diving experience.
Thrilling Currents: Sail Rock is known for its often strong currents, which bring an abundance of plankton that attracts larger marine life.
Explore the beauty of Sail Rock
A Sail Rock dive trip usually departs Koh Tao around 06:30 and returns around 3 pm, however, this is dependent on the dive operation’s schedule.
Our Sail Rock trips provide hot and cold refreshments for the duration of the trip and the schedule includes two Open Water dives, a light breakfast on the outbound trip, followed by the first dive, a Thai buffet lunch, and a second dive if the conditions permit.
A trip to Sail Rock usually includes two dives with a Thai buffet lunch in between dives, including a fruit selection, biscuits, and hot and cold drinks.
You can see Sail Rock emerging from the ocean before you arrive and the rock itself rises approximately 8 meters from the water and plunges down to around 20 meters before sloping away to 40 meters and beyond.
There is a ledge on the east side of the rock that is used for Open Water training dives; however, Advanced divers will benefit the most from a visit to Sail Rock.
Sail Rock Chimney
On the north side is ‘the chimney,’ which consists of a hollowed-out center of the rock that divers can ascend and descend through one at a time.
The chimney is an excellent buoyancy challenge for more advanced divers; however, if you take your time and with a torch, you can find dozens of species of invertebrates such as crabs, shrimp, flatworms, and nudibranchs hiding in the cracks and crevices.
The entrance to the chimney swim-through is through an opening in the side of the rock at around 18 meters, with an exit hole at around 5 meters.
Abundance of Marine Life
Sail Rock is well known for its abundant and diverse marine life, which is partly due to its remote location away from the islands in the Gulf of Thailand.
With good visibility, you can expect to be enveloped in a myriad of fish species as you leisurely move around the huge granite rock pinnacle.
Quite often, huge shoals of batfish, jacks, chevron, and giant barracuda all hang in the nutrient-rich currents that swirl around the rock.
Information for Sail Rock dive site
Location: Approximately 12 kilometers southeast of Koh Tao
Depth: Max 40 meters, Min 5 meters – Average 22 meters
Type of site: Large granite rock pinnacle with a swim-through
Experience Level: Due to the potential for currents and depth of the dive site, Sail Rock is best suited for advanced divers
Conditions: Outerlying dive site that is subject to currents and adverse weather
Average Visibility: 5-40 meters
Top Tips for Diving Sail Rock
Choose a Reputable Dive Operator: Always book your dive trip through a reputable dive center to ensure your safety and a professional experience.
Check the Weather: Strong winds and rough seas can affect dive conditions.
Reliable Equipment: Ensure you have the right equipment for the conditions, and good buoyancy control.
Enjoy the Experience: Sail Rock is a truly special dive site. Relax, immerse yourself in the underwater world, and appreciate the incredible marine life.
Diversity of Marine Life
Coral Reef Marine Life and Macro Invertebrates.
While Sail Rock is primarily known for its pelagic visitors, there is a lot to see closer to the reef.
Colourful Reef Fish: A variety of reef fish, including butterflyfish, angelfish, damselfish, rabbitfish, and groupers, inhabit the waters around the rock.
Invertebrates: Look out for stunning nudibranchs, shrimp, and crabs hiding in the cracks and crevices of the reef.
Coral Formations: Although not as extensive as some of the local dive sites around Koh Tao, Sail Rock offers some interesting hard and soft coral formations to explore.
Specialty Courses at Sail Rock
Combining PADI Specialty Courses at Sail Rock is a great way to get the most out of your dives at one of the best dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand.
Sail Rock is perfect for completing PADI specialty courses such as Deep diver, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Underwater Photography, Fish Identification, or Underwater Naturalist.
As an advanced diver with an interest in deep dive sites and continuing your diver education, you should add a PADI specialty course to your diving experience at Sail Rock.
With stunning underwater topography, abundant marine life, and potential for whale shark encounters, it is no surprise Sail Rock is one of the best dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand.
Sail Rock is a diver’s paradise for pelagic and macro lovers, and should not be missed if you want the best opportunity to encounter all your favorite marine life.
Message us to book any of our dive trips, to check the schedule and ask about our accommodation options at Isla Tortuga Divers.
