Chumphon Pinnacle

Koh Tao · Gulf of Thailand · Thailand

Chumphon Pinnacle is Koh Tao's premier deep dive site, a cluster of granite pinnacles northwest of the island rising from a sandy seabed at 36 meters to roughly 14 meters below the surface. The pinnacles are covered in large pink and purple barrel sponges and dense anemone gardens, creating a colourful landscape that contrasts with the granitic grey rock. The site is Koh Tao's best chance for big-animal encounters. Whale sharks visit during their Gulf of Thailand migration, with sightings most common from March to May. Bull sharks have been documented around the pinnacles, appearing periodically and creating excitement among experienced divers. The schooling fish are the daily spectacle — massive schools of batfish form dense silver clouds around the pinnacles, chevron barracuda circle in impressive formations, and yellowtail snapper school at every depth. Large groupers occupy the deeper sections between pinnacles, and giant trevally hunt aggressively through the schools. The anemone gardens host multiple species of clownfish, and moray eels peer from crevices throughout the structure. Chumphon Pinnacle is reached by boat from Koh Tao in approximately 45 minutes and is the island's signature advanced dive. Currents can be unpredictable, and visibility varies from 5 to 25 meters. On good days with clear water and calm conditions, the pinnacle delivers some of the most impressive fish concentrations in the Gulf of Thailand.