The reefs of Tarutao National Marine Park are among the healthiest and most colorful in Thailand, making Koh Lipe a true diving paradise for divers! These waters are home to vibrant soft corals and hard corals, teeming reef fish, rare macro critters and pelagic encounters that attract divers from around the world.
Stonehenge – Koh Lipe, Thailand
Stonehenge is one of Thailand’s most famous dive sites, known for its towering granite pinnacles covered in colorful soft corals in shades of purple, pink, red, orange, and white. Divers can encounter rare macro critters, schooling reef fish, and breathtaking underwater scenery. A must-dive site in the South Andaman Sea.
Koh Sawang – Tarutao National Park
Koh Sawang offers a spectacular combination of hard and soft coral gardens, massive barrel sponges, and vibrant marine life. This dive site is perfect for spotting reef fish schools, macro critters, and unique underwater topography. It’s a hidden gem for divers exploring the Andaman Sea near Koh Lipe.
8 Mile Rock – South Andaman Sea
8 Mile Rock is a world-class dive site located offshore, famous for big pelagic encounters. Divers can spot whale sharks, mobula rays, devil rays, giant groupers, trevallies, and massive barracudas cruising in the blue. With its strong currents and action-packed dives, 8 Mile Rock is recommended for experienced divers seeking adventure.
With more than 20 islands and countless submerged pinnacles, Koh Lipe offers an incredible variety of dive sites. From shallow nursery reefs for beginners to dramatic wall dives and thrilling drift dives for advanced divers, this part of the Andaman Sea truly has something for everyone.
Whether you’re seeking colorful coral gardens, macro dives, exciting drift dives, wreck or encounters with whale sharks and mobula rays, scuba diving in Tarutao National Marine Park is a bucket-list experience for every diver in Thailand.
8 Mile Rock is one of the most legendary dive sites near Koh Lipe, located about 8 nautical miles south of the island in the Andaman Sea. This submerged pinnacle is renowned for its dramatic underwater landscape, strong currents, and unforgettable big-fish encounters.
📍 Location: 8 NM south of Koh Lipe
📏 Depth: 16m – 45m
🎓 Certification: PADI | SSI Advanced Open Water+
⭐ Best for: Experienced divers & pelagic encounters
🦈 Whale shark hotspot – frequent sightings
🐟 Pelagic action: trevallies, mackerel, tuna, barracuda
🐠 Reef fish: snappers, fusiliers, lionfish, scorpionfish
🦐 Macro life: shrimps, nudibranchs, cryptic critters
🛑 Special encounters: mantas, leopard sharks, giant groupers, mobula rays.
🌼 Underwater scenery: yellow daisy coral-covered rocks
The pinnacle begins at 16 meters, making it a deep dive site. Strong currents bring in large fish but add an exciting challenge. The surface can be rough, so not ideal for nervous swimmers. Due to its distance from the marine park, dive trips often include two dives at 8 Mile Rock to maximize big-fish encounters.
📘 Advanced Open Water – Deep Adventure Dive
📘 PADI Deep Diver Specialty
📘 PADI Multilevel Diver Specialty
Stonehenge is considered one of the top scuba diving sites in Thailand and a must-dive location around Koh Lipe. Famous for its colorful coral gardens and stunning underwater scenery, this site offers something for both beginner and experienced divers.
📍 Location: Near Koh Lipe, Tarutao Marine Park
📏 Depth: 5m – 27m
🎓 Certification: Open Water+
📸 Perfect for underwater photography
🌸 Soft corals: Purple, pink & white covering the reef
🦐 Macro life: Crabs, gobies, ornate ghost pipefish
🌊 Gorgonians: Spectacular sea fans thriving in the current
🐟 Reef life: Bright blue tunicates & colorful reef fish
🦈 Big encounters: Leopard sharks circling granite boulders
Strong currents are common, but there are plenty of sheltered spots to pause and explore. Currents make for a fun drift dive, carrying divers past coral gardens and gorgonians. The giant granite boulders rising from the seabed give this site its name—resembling the famous Stonehenge monument on land.
With depths starting at just 5 meters, Open Water Divers can explore the shallower sections, while more experienced divers can enjoy the deeper profiles. Its mix of macro subjects and big fish encounters makes it suitable for all levels.
One of the best dive sites in Koh Lipe & Thailand
Perfect for underwater photography
Home to colorful soft corals & ornate ghost pipefish
Chance to spot whale sharks & other large marine life
Koh Pung, also known as Honey Island, is a stunning dive site near Koh Lipe. The coral reef follows the island’s coastline all the way around, making it an exciting and diverse dive.
📍 Location: 9NM out of Koh Lipe, Tarutao Marine Park
📏 Depth: Max 35m
🎓 Certification: Open Water+
🌊 Famous for drift diving – strong currents, especially during full & black moon
🌸 Soft corals: Purple, pink, white, orange covering rocky boulders
🐟 Marine life: Moray eels, lionfish, scorpionfish, schools of reef fish
🦐 Macro encounters: Cleaner shrimps, nudibranchs, colorful coral fish
💨 Drift diving experience: Glide with the current, then explore sheltered side slowly
Start your dive by drifting along coral-covered boulders, flying over the reef with the current. Behind the island, the current slows, giving divers time to search for macro species and enjoy coral scenery. The mix of drift and calm exploration makes Koh Pung both exciting and relaxing in a single dive.
With a maximum depth of 35m, Koh Pung is accessible for Open Water Divers at shallower levels and offers more depth and drift challenges for experienced divers.
Known as Honey Island
One of Koh Lipe’s best drift dives
Colorful soft corals in purple, pink, white, orange
Encounters with moray eels, scorpionfish, lionfish, and reef fish schools
Great for spotting nudibranchs and cleaner shrimps
Koh Sawang is one of the most famous dive sites around Koh Lipe, located in the Tarutao National Marine Park. With pristine hard coral reefs, colorful pinnacles, and abundant marine life, many divers consider it the best dive site in Koh Lipe.
📍 Location: 7.5NM out of Koh Lipe, Tarutao Marine Park
📏 Depth: Max 30m
🎓 Certification: Open Water+
🌸 Famous pinnacles covered in red, purple, orange, white & pink soft corals
🎄 Christmas Tree Pinnacle – iconic and must-see for underwater photographers
🏝 Shallow hard coral reef in excellent condition for easy exploration
🌊 Deeper sections feature giant gorgonians and colorful pinnacles
🐟 Strong fish activity – perfect for wide-angle photography and fish ID dives
🐠 Schooling fish: trevallies, snappers, fusiliers, damsels
🐟 Reef fish: lionfish, scorpionfish, clownfish, triggerfish, flutemouthfish, trumpetfish
🦐 Macro life: nudibranchs, cleaner shrimps, and other small critters
With a maximum depth of 30m, Koh Sawang is accessible for Open Water Divers, while advanced divers can explore deeper areas and enjoy strong currents that bring in schooling fish.
Considered one of the best dive sites in Koh Lipe
Home to the famous Christmas Tree Pinnacle
Vibrant mix of hard corals, soft corals, and giant gorgonians
Excellent site for underwater photography and training courses
Rich marine life including trevallies, clownfish, lionfish, and nudibranchs
The Yong Hua Chinese Wreck is a large cargo ship that sank near the end of the 1990s and has become one of Koh Lipe’s most iconic wreck dives. With depths ranging from 28m to 42m, this site is recommended for Advanced Open Water Divers and offers both adventure and rich marine life.
📍 Location: Off Koh Lipe, Tarutao Marine Park
📏 Depth: 28m – 42m
🎓 Certification: Advanced Open Water +
🛡️ Protection: Wreck shields divers from strong currents once at the bottom
⚓ Adventure: Deep diving in varying conditions is a thrilling challenge
🏚️ Atmosphere: Explore the structure of a sunken cargo ship covered in marine growth
🐟 Predators: Giant barracudas, schools of fusiliers and snappers
🐠 Reef fish: Lionfish, scorpionfish, and colorful reef species
🦐 Macro life: Nudibranchs and smaller critters around coral overgrowth
🦈 Big residents: Giant grouper frequently patrols the wreck
Soft corals, black corals, and gorgonians covering the top of the wreck
Strong currents attract pelagic species, making the site dynamic and exciting
Recommended for Advanced Open Water Divers due to depth and currents. Ideal for PADI specialty courses: Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, and Advanced Open Water. Offers a mix of adventure, photography opportunities, and rich marine biodiversity.
Koh Lipe’s top wreck dive sites
Depth: 28m – 42m, protected by ship structure
Marine life: barracudas, lionfish, scorpionfish, giant grouper
Corals: soft corals, black corals, gorgonians
Perfect for wreck diving training and advanced courses
Koh Tarue is a small rocky island located in the northeast of the Butang Archipelago, near Koh Lipe. Known for its vibrant coral life and abundant schools of fish, it’s an excellent dive site for Open Water Divers seeking a scenic and relaxed underwater experience.
📍 Location: Northeast Butang Archipelago, Andaman Sea
📏 Depth: Max 20m
🎓 Certification: Open Water
🌸 Hard corals: High variety of healthy species
🐟 Marine life: Schools of tropical fish and occasional stingray sightings
🏝 Scenic terrain: Cliff walls and ledges at multiple levels for an engaging dive layout
Shallow maximum depth (20m) makes it suitable for Open Water Divers and beginners. Drift along the cliff face to explore coral gardens and observe diverse fish species. Sandy areas may reveal stingrays, adding excitement for underwater photographers.
Located in the northeast Butang Archipelago, ideal for diving near Koh Lipe
Maximum depth 20m – perfect for beginner and intermediate divers
Features hard coral gardens, schools of tropical fish, and occasional stingrays
Scenic cliffs and ledges for a varied dive experience
Koh Talang Steps is a unique dive site near Koh Lipe, featuring a series of rocky outcrops carved by tidal movements. These natural “steps” start in shallow water and descend to a maximum depth of 25m, creating a diverse underwater landscape for both beginners and experienced divers.
📍 Location: Koh Talang, near by Koh Lipe, Butang Archipelago, Andaman Sea
📏 Depth: Max 25m
🎓 Certification: Open Water
🌊 Perfect for drift diving, macro photography, and spotting rare marine life
🐟 Predators: Trevallies hunting, passing barracudas
🦐 Macro life: Nudibranchs (flabellinas), flounders, seahorses, coral cat sharks
🦀 Crustaceans: Durban dancing shrimp in abundance
🏝 Reef features: Barrel sponges, gorgonian fans, overhangs providing shelter for giant morays and lionfish
Drift along the “steps” for a dynamic dive from shallow to 25m. Explore under macro coral formations and rocky crevices for small critters. Ideal for underwater photographers and micro divers seeking vibrant marine life. Combines the thrill of spotting larger fish with the intricate beauty of macro subjects.
Unique step-like rocky formations carved by tidal movements
Depth range 0–25m, suitable for Open Water Divers
Excellent site for macro photography and fish spotting
Home to seahorses, coral cat sharks, nudibranchs, Durban dancing shrimp, lionfish, and giant morays
Koh Yang East is a stunning dive site near Koh Lipe, featuring a coral reef that follows the island’s coastline. Known for its healthy hard corals in shallow areas and large boulders overgrown with soft corals at depth, it’s an ideal location for both beginners and advanced divers.
📍 Location: Near by Koh Lipe, Butang Archipelago, Andaman Sea
📏 Depth: Max 25m
🎓 Certification: Open Water
🌸 Perfect for marine biodiversity, reef exploration, and Fish ID specialty courses
🏝 Shallow coral gardens and deeper boulder formations provide diverse underwater environment
🦐 Calm currents suitable for Open Water Divers with exciting marine encounters
🐠 Reef fish: Parrotfish, angelfish, wrasses, moorish idols, butterflyfish, lizardfish, groupers
🦈 Predators: Lionfish and scorpionfish
🦐 Macro life: Moray eels and smaller reef critters
🌸 Corals: Healthy hard corals in shallows and vibrant soft corals on deeper boulders
Explore shallow coral gardens or descend to the deeper boulder fields. Ideal for underwater photography and fish identification. Calm currents make it suitable for Open Water Divers while still offering exciting encounters with marine life.
Stunning coral reef along Koh Yang’s coast
Depth range up to 24m, accessible for Open Water Divers
Rich marine biodiversity including parrotfish, angelfish, lionfish, and moray eels
Excellent for underwater photography and PADI specialty courses
Koh Yang West is a beautiful dive site near Koh Lipe, featuring a coral reef that follows the island’s coastline. Known for its vibrant multicolor soft corals and rich marine life, it’s an ideal location for Open Water Divers looking for an enjoyable and visually stunning dive.
📍 Location: Near by Koh Lipe, Butang Archipelago, Andaman Sea
📏 Depth: Max 25m
🎓 Certification: Open Water
🌸 Colorful coral gardens and boulder formations with multicolor soft corals
🐟 Rich marine life: Parrotfish, angelfish, wrasses, butterflyfish, lionfish, and more
📸 Excellent opportunities for wide-angle reef shots and macro photography
Explore shallow coral gardens or deeper boulders teeming with life. Ideal for underwater photography, macro dives, and Fish Identification specialty courses. Calm currents make it accessible and enjoyable for Open Water Divers.
Vibrant coral reef along Koh Yang West’s coast
Maximum depth 24m, perfect for Open Water Divers
Rich marine biodiversity including lionfish, parrotfish, angelfish, and wrasses
Excellent for underwater photography and PADI specialty courses