Japanese Gardens

Japanese Gardens sits on the northeast side of Koh Tao, just off the coast near Nang Yuan Island. It’s a wide, gently sloping reef that tops out around 6 metres and drops to about 18 metres at its deepest, which makes it ideal for beginner divers and a pleasant option for certified divers who want a slower-paced dive focused on marine life rather than depth.

The site gets its name from the ornate coral formations that cover the sandy plateau — brain corals, table corals, and sea fans scattered across the bottom in a way that does, if you squint, resemble a Japanese garden. Visibility here is usually good, the current is mild, and the combination of open sandy patches and coral structure attracts a wide range of reef fish.

Turtles are a regular sighting at Japanese Gardens. They tend to rest on the coral heads in the shallower sections or cruise slowly across the sand. Reef fish are present in good numbers year-round — parrotfish, angelfish, and various wrasse species are common, along with the occasional moray eel tucked into the reef. Keep an eye on the sand for flatfish and small rays.

It’s one of the first ocean dive sites most Open Water students visit at Goodtime, and for good reason. The calm conditions and forgiving depth mean you can focus on your skills without the reef being a distraction — though it often is anyway.