Diver observing a majestic whale shark swimming among a school of fish in crystal-clear blue ocean waters at the Sail Rock dive site between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.

Dive Sail Rock, Thailand’s most famous dive site.

Sail Rock Diving Trip

Level

all

Course

Duration

5

Hours

Max Depth

18-40

Meters

Cost

฿3,200

Thai Baht

The Learning Experience

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.

Ready to start your adventure?

What’s included

What to bring

Prerequisites

Sail Rock Diving Trip

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!

All activities start the day after arrival on the island.

฿3,200

Why choose Goodtime for Scuba Diving in Koh Tao?

Smaller Groups

Max 4 students per instructor for a more personalised experience.

Later Starts

Enjoy the freedom to sleep in; we start later than most dive schools on the island.

Uncrowded dive sites

We carefully plan our dive trips to avoid the crowds.

Fully Equipped Classroom

Our beach front classroom equipped with Air-Con and WiFi is the perfect environment to learn to dive on Koh Tao.

Highly experienced instructors

Our professional SSI instructors are passionate divers with extensive local knowledge.

Speed boat

We have our very own speedboat that allows us to travel to further dive sites in the quickest time possible.

Reviews

adam M.
14 July 2026

Best place to learn to scuba dive. Anna and Char were amazing. Best experience would recommend to anyone for fun dive or getting their certs

Reece N.
14 July 2026

Completed my open water training with a massive thanks to Lydia who I fully recommend for anyone planning on doing any diving in the future.

Marty
13 July 2026

I had 6 lovely dives with Julia, Marc, Tim and Shai. The Store is good equipped and the dive masters/ guides are kind and well prepared. The quiz night was also great fun. Thank you for the whole experience!

吳優Esther
13 July 2026

Nice and chill dives with Shai.Everything was smooth and wonderful!!

david L.
11 July 2026

We went diving for the first time in Ko Tao with this school. We had a fantastic time, and Lydia (the divemaster) was very kind, helping us set up our equipment and being very patient with us. Highly recommended.

Ohad T.
9 July 2026

Did a refresher dive with Carmen. Very nice bar and very good dive center

Frequently Asked Questions

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.