Dive Thailand - Dive Sites
Koh Tachai
Koh Tachai is considered one of the finest sites for liveaboard diving in
Thailand and lies about halfway between the Surin and Similan Islands. It is
famous as a place to see larger animals such as manta rays, leopard sharks, nurse sharks and hawksbill turtles. Manta rays are
strong pelagic swimmers, able to cross the open oceans. Seemingly inquisitive,
mantas sometimes approach divers, apparently enjoying the tactile stimulation
of human contact as well as the bubbles from scuba units. However, in areas
frequented by divers, mantas often become very wary and cease to approach,
so please refrain from touching or chasing these creatures, so future divers
can enjoy their company too.
Whale sharks also make appearances on a pretty regular basis. The biggest fish on earth, the whale shark is a cold blooded cartilaginous fish and breathes through gill slits just like any other shark. Its tail is vertical and moves from side to side, unlike warm-blood aquatic mammals such as whales, dolphins and dugongs, which have parallel tails and breathe through lungs.
Southeast of Koh Tachai Island, one kilometre offshore lies a submerged crowned reef of hard sheet corals, and scattered boulders that provide great swim-throughs and cut-throughs. It also provides refuge for tired divers caught unawares by the sometimes hectic currents! This is considered the premiere dive spot around the island - the main reason so many Phuket liveaboard dive boats make their way here.
The south side of this site is the deeper side, and a logical place to start
your dive. The north side features a huge abandoned fish cage. Common fish
you'll see here are blue-dash and yellow-backed fusiliers, red-tooth triggerfish,
bigeye trevally and unicornfish. At the edge of the coral crown, next to a
buoy line, is a cleaning station popular with tierra batfish. Watch their amusing
antics while you off-gas on your safety stop.
The uninhabited main island itself is seldom dived except on night dives, but there is a beautiful beach on the north side, ideal for beachcombing strolls during surface intervals.
• Map of Similan Islands
Koh Tachai Reef Basics:
Great for: Large animals, reef life and health, diving value-for-money, advanced divers
Not so great for: Wrecks, wall dives, beginner divers, snorkelling, non-diving activities
Depth: 14 - 36m
Visibility: 15 - 40m
Currents: Can be very strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Intermediate - advanced
Number of dive sites: 4
Diving Season: October to May
Distance: ~165 km north of Phuket (9 hours), 65 km northwest of Khao Lak (4 hours)
Access: Phuket liveaboards to the Similan Islands and Burma
Recommended length of stay: 2 days
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