White Rock, one of Koh Tao’s largest and most beloved dive sites, offers a captivating underwater experience for divers of all levels. This vibrant dive site offers diverse marine life and is particularly renowned for its spectacular night dives.
A Haven for Marine Life
Located just 2km off Koh Tao’s west coast, White Rock features a fascinating topography of granite pinnacles, boulders, and a shallow coral garden. Depths range up to 22 meters, with an average of 12 meters, making it accessible to Open Water divers.
Exploring the Underwater Realm
The site is easily navigable, running along a north-south axis, and you can begin your exploration at the southern pinnacle, which descends to 22 meters.
Here, you may encounter Blue Spotted Ribbontail Rays hiding under ledges, large Malabar Groupers, White Eyed Moray Eels peering from crevices, and a large school of Yellowtail Barracuda patrolling the buoy line.
As you venture north, you will discover a vibrant coral garden teeming with life. Keep an eye out for colorful reef fish such as Blue Ringed and Six Banded Angelfish, Bannerfish, Coralfish, Parrotfish, and Butterflyfish.
White Rock Dive Site: Underwater Paradise
Koh Tao, a jewel in the Gulf of Thailand, is renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, attracting scuba divers from around the world.
With over 30 dive sites to choose from, White Rock stands out as a truly captivating underwater paradise, offering an unforgettable experience for novice and experienced scuba divers alike.
A Dive Site for Everyone
Located off the western coast of Koh Tao, White Rock is easily accessible and boasts calm conditions with minimal currents throughout most of the year.
With an average depth of 12 meters and a maximum depth of 22 meters, this dive site is perfect for Open Water certified divers, while also offering enough depth and complexity to engage those with more advanced certifications.
Visibility typically ranges from 5 to 20 meters, providing excellent opportunities for underwater navigation and exploration.
White Rock Dive Site: A Geological Wonder
White Rock derives its name from the Thai phrase “Hin Kao,” referring to the prominent white rock formation that breaks the surface at the northern end of the site.
This striking geological feature, along with the numerous granite pinnacles and boulders that characterize the dive site, creates a dramatic and intriguing underwater landscape.
These rock formations provide shelter for a myriad of marine creatures, making every dive a unique adventure.
Navigating the Depths at White Rock
The dive site is oriented along a north-south axis, making navigation straightforward.
Divers often begin their descent at the southern pinnacle, which plunges to a depth of 22 meters. This area is a haven for larger marine life, with schools of Yellowtail Barracuda often seen circling the buoy line.
As you ascend towards the shallower northern end, the landscape transitions into a vibrant coral garden, interspersed with sandy patches and rocky outcrops.
White Rock Encountering Marine Life
White Rock is filled with a rich diversity of marine species. Scuba Divers will discover Blue Spotted Ribbontail Rays gliding effortlessly beneath ledges, while White Eyed Moray Eels peek out from their rocky hideaways.
The coral garden is a kaleidoscope of color, home to a variety of reef fish including Angelfish, Bannerfish, Butterflyfish, and the aptly named Beaked Coralfish.
Intriguing Marine Life Behaviors
White Rock offers more than just static observations of marine life. Divers can witness fascinating behaviors, such as Titan Triggerfish guarding their nests during breeding season, or Banded Sea Kraits gracefully hunting for their next meal.
Sea Turtles are frequent visitors to White Rock, often seen grazing on the soft corals that adorn the reef.
White Rock Night Diving at its Best
As the sun dips below the horizon, White Rock transforms into a magical nocturnal wonderland and our night dives are popular.
Giant Barracuda emerge from the shadows, their sleek bodies patrolling the reef’s edge in search of prey. Cuttlefish and Pufferfish, masters of camouflage, become visible in the beam of your dive light, their colors shifting and shimmering.
Peer into the crevices and you may find Triggerfish sleeping peacefully, or even a Sea Turtle tucked away for the night.
White Rock Whaleshark Encounters
While not a guarantee, White Rock has a reputation for attracting Whalesharks, especially during their migratory periods. These gentle giants often pass through the area, providing lucky divers with an unforgettable encounter.
Beyond the Dive
White Rock’s appeal extends beyond its underwater wonders. The dive site’s proximity to Koh Tao makes it easily accessible, allowing for multiple dives throughout the day.
Its calm conditions and shallow depths make it an ideal location for introductory discovery dives, while its diverse marine life and potential for exciting encounters keep even experienced divers coming back for more.
White Rock Conservation Considerations
While exploring the beauty of White Rock, it is crucial to remember the importance of responsible diving practices.
Maintain proper buoyancy control to avoid contact with the reef, and refrain from touching or disturbing any marine life. By adhering to these principles, we can help preserve this incredible ecosystem for generations to come.
White Rock Marine Life
White Rock is teeming with marine life, offering encounters with a diverse range of fish and invertebrates across the whole dive site.
- Reef Fish: The coral garden is a kaleidoscope of color, home to Angelfish (Blue Ringed, Six Banded), Bannerfish, Butterflyfish, Damselfish, Wrasse, Parrotfish, and Grouper.
- Predatory Fish: Larger predators, such as Sailfin fish, Great Barracuda, Trevally, and Groupers, patrol the area, adding an element of excitement to the dive.
- Eels: White Eyed Moray Eels can be found peeking out from crevices in the rocks.
- Triggerfish: Titan Triggerfish, known for their territorial behavior, are common residents, especially during breeding season.
- Other Fish: Keep an eye out for unique species like the Scribbled Filefish and the Yellow Boxfish.
Corals: A variety of hard and soft corals thrive at White Rock, including Massive Corals, Staghorn Corals, Sea Fans, and colorful Anemones.
Crustaceans: Numerous crustaceans inhabit the site, including various species of Shrimp, Crabs, and Lobsters.
Mollusks: Nudibranchs, in their dazzling array of colors and patterns, are a highlight for macro photographers. You might also encounter Cuttlefish and Octopus camouflaged against the rocks.
Other Invertebrates: Sea Stars, Brittle Stars, Feather Stars, Sea Urchins, and Sea Cucumbers can be found throughout the site.
White Rock Highlights
- Turtle Encounters: Sea Turtles are frequent visitors to White Rock, often seen grazing on the soft corals.
- Night Diving: The site comes alive at night, with nocturnal creatures like Giant Barracuda, Cuttlefish, and Pufferfish becoming more active.
- Whaleshark Sightings: White Rock has a reputation for attracting Whalesharks, especially during their migratory periods.
- Variety of Depths: The site offers a range of depths, making it suitable for divers of all levels.
White Rock Diving Tips
- Buoyancy Control: Maintain excellent buoyancy control to avoid damaging the corals.
- Respect Marine Life: Observe creatures from a distance and avoid touching or disturbing them.
- Photography: The site offers excellent opportunities for underwater photography, with its diverse marine life and stunning scenery.
White Rock is a truly captivating dive site, offering a glimpse into the rich biodiversity of Koh Tao’s underwater world. Its diverse marine life, stunning geological features, and calm conditions create an unforgettable underwater experience that will leave you wanting more.
A Must-Dive Destination
Whether you are a novice diver seeking your first underwater adventure, or an experienced explorer looking for new and exciting encounters, White Rock is a must-visit destination on your Koh Tao diving itinerary.
Its diverse marine life, stunning geological features, and calm conditions create an unforgettable underwater experience that will leave you wanting more.
Koh Tao is a great location to go fun diving and create memories that last a lifetime. With our expert diving instructors, dive leaders, custom dive boat and quality dive equipment, Isla Tortuga Divers can meet the needs of all certified divers.
Contact us for fun dive pricing, our Air Conditioned Rooms or Shared Rooms and our daily dive site schedule.
