Level
all
Course
Duration
5
Hours
Max Depth
18-40
Meters
Cost
฿2,900
Thai Baht
We run Sail Rock trips the same way we approach the rest of diving at Goodtime: smaller groups, experienced staff, and enough flexibility to adapt to conditions instead of forcing the same dive plan every day.
Offshore sites demand a bit more awareness than the shallow reefs around Koh Tao. Currents shift. Visibility changes. Marine life moves. Having guides who know the site well makes a difference, especially for divers visiting Sail Rock for the first time.
Our groups stay intentionally small so the dives feel calm and manageable underwater. Briefings are detailed without turning into lectures, and the goal is always to help divers feel comfortable enough to actually enjoy the site rather than simply tick it off a list.
Sail Rock has a reputation that stretches well beyond Koh Tao. For a lot of divers, this is the site they talk about afterwards. The dive where the water suddenly filled with barracuda. The day a whale shark appeared halfway through the safety stop.
Dive Sail Rock, one of the Gulf of Thailand’s most legendary dive sites. Famous for massive schools of fish, dramatic underwater topography, and whale shark encounters, this offshore pinnacle is a must-do dive trip from Koh Tao.
Available on Tuesdays and Fridays!
We’ve just spent the last two days of our Thailand Contiki with Goodtime Adventures and it has been the absolute highlight of our trip! The first day we went out snorkelling around the Island of Koh Tao. Liv, Ben & Chris made sure we all had the best time, found the coolest snorkelling sites & kept the party going all day. We came back to do our Basic Diver Training. Fabio was my instructor and he was brilliant. He made me feel so safe, is an excellent teacher and could tell he just loved his job. The rest of the team including Lydia & Chris were also fantastic and made the day run so smoothly. Mike was also awesome and I can’t wait to see the photos. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We’ll be back to complete our certification.
I had the pleasure of spending 4 days with Goodtime Adventure. I did a fun snorkelling day with Chris, Benth and Liv. These three really brought the good vibes while ensuring everyone on the boat was having a good time and a safe time. I then did the one day basic diver course where Chris taught me the basics of scuba. Because of his excellent instructing skills and incredible patience I chose to come back to Koh Tao and Goodtime a few days later to do my Open Water Diver course. Chris once again made the whole experience relaxing and fun, I felt safe for the entire duration of the course thanks to his vast humble experience. I could not recommend the Goodtime family enough! I now leave Thailand with a new skill and passion thanks to Goodtime Adventures. Also, Chris deserves an extra point because he's hot!
11/12 2025 @Lukas Thanks for the great first dive in the sea! @Lydia Thank you for the calm, slow dive at the reef! It was great to see so much! @ Ana Thank you for the great dive at the wreck, it was beautiful! @restaurant team Very friendly and fun staff, thank you for the hospitality! @Zach Thanks for the great photos! @T2 Tanks for the Great dive! Thanks Michi for being my buddy, great dives! 04/05 2026 Thanks again to the Goodtimes team! The dives with Livia, Benthe, Lydia and Christopher were fantastic!
I did my 3-day Open Water course and had an amazing experience. The dives were unreal, especially sites like White Rock. I felt like I got so much out of it in just a few days. Fabio was a brilliant instructor as well, really clear, calm, and easy to learn from, which made the whole course feel much more relaxed and enjoyable. Couldn’t recommend it enough!
A huggeee thank you to Liv and Ben!! As a pretty new diver still getting comfortable underwater and making some rookie mistakes along the way, I always felt very looked after with them. They were incredibly patient, encouraging, and reassuring through all of it, and never once made anything feel stressful or intimidating. Left with a lot more confidence and some very very lovely memories. Can’t wait to come back and dive with you guys again!
Yes, Sail Rock can be dived by Open Water certified divers, depending on conditions and experience level. The site features a range of depths, with shallower sections starting around 6 metres and the bottom extending from 30 metres to 40+.
Because conditions can sometimes include currents and reduced visibility, many divers prefer to visit after gaining a few dives of experience or completing their SSI Advanced Open Water course.
No, Advanced certification is not strictly required to dive Sail Rock. Open Water divers can still enjoy the site within their depth limit of 18 metres.
However, Advanced Open Water or equivalent certification is recommended because many of its most famous features, including the secret pinnacle and the chimney swim-through, are best experienced beyond 18 metres.
Sail Rock rises from depths of around 40 metres to 15 metres above the water creating a dramatic offshore rock in the Gulf of Thailand. Most fun dives here are conducted between 12 and 30 metres, depending on certification level, conditions, and dive plan.
The site is famous for its huge schools of barracuda, big eye trevally, fusiliers, batfish, groupers, and reef fish. Macro life such as nudibranchs and shrimp can also be found around the reef. The site is well known for seasonal whale shark encounters, which are one of the main reasons divers travel there from Koh Tao.
The dive site sits between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand, making it accessible from both islands. But we prefer diving from Koh Tao as it has a wealth of dive sites accessible within minutes from our dive centre. Whereas Koh Phangan only has Sail Rock.
Whale shark sightings are never guaranteed, but Sail Rock is considered one of the best places in the Gulf of Thailand to encounter them. Divers occasionally see whale sharks cruising around the pinnacle, particularly when plankton levels are high.
