Trat Province dive sites

Travel from Bangkok to Trat by domestic flight in under one hour, or by bus in approximately five hours. From Trat's Laem Ngob pier, speedboats depart for Koh Mak two to three times daily during high season, taking about one hour. Some services stop at Koh Chang or Koh Kood en route. In low season from June to October, services reduce and some accommodation closes. Koh Mak is car-free and small enough to cycle around in an hour.

Koh Mak is one of Thailand's best locations for beginner diving. Maximum depths rarely exceed 15 metres, currents are typically gentle, and water temperatures are warm year-round. The sheltered bays provide easy entry conditions, and the abundance of interesting marine life at shallow depths keeps new divers engaged. Several operators offer PADI Open Water courses, and the relaxed island pace means less pressure than on busier dive islands.

Visibility at Koh Mak is generally lower than the Andaman Sea coast, typically ranging from 5 to 15 metres depending on season, tides, and plankton levels. The best visibility occurs from December through March during the dry northeast monsoon. While this is modest by global standards, the shallow reefs and close-encounter marine life mean that visibility is rarely a limiting factor for enjoyable diving. The lower visibility actually enhances the intimate feeling of muck and macro diving that Koh Mak does well.