Sail Rock Diving
Koh Tao’s Best Dive Site & Whale Shark Hotspot
- 2900 THB
- 1 day
- Dive the best site in the Gulf of Thailand
- 2 Dives
- Chance of Whale Sharks
- Includes Lunch
What makes Sail Rock the Best Dive Site in the Gulf of Thailand?
- Chance to scuba dive with whale sharks
- Unique vertical ‘chimney‘ swim-through
- Diverse marine life
- Likely excellent visibility underwater
- Hidden secret pinnacle
Marine Life you’ll see at Sail Rock
- Giant grouper
- Barracuda
- Scorpionfish
- Batfish
- Macro species
- Giant Trevally
- Jacks
Sail Rock Schedule – Upcoming Trips
- Sunday, July 12th
- Thursday, July 23rd
- Friday, August 14th
Additional Trips Available on Request – Get in Touch!
[Please Note: Trip dates are subject to change depending on sea conditions, weather and demand].
Where is Sail Rock?
Ranked amongst the best dive sites in South-East Asia, Sail Rock – Hin Bae หินใบ in Thai – is an isolated islet situated midway between Koh Tao & Koh Phangan.
Journey time from Koh Tao to Sail Rock is about 1.5 hours depending on sea conditions.
Join us to explore the premier dive site in the Gulf of Thailand.
Dive Site Topography
Above water, Sail Rock emerges as a tiny uninhabitable rock in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand.
However, the topside vista of Sail Rock belies secrets awaiting discovery beneath the waves.
Sheer walls of Sail Rock plunge vertically from the surface to a depth of around 30 meters, meeting a silty seabed that slopes away to greater fathoms. It’s the perfect dive site for Advanced Open Water Divers.
The granite monolith is encrusted with kaleidoscopic hard and soft coral – a consequence of the remote location and timeless exposure to tropical currents.
Marine Life
In shallow water, stony Porites, gorgonian fans, table corals & anemones harbor tropical aquatic species such as butterfly & blue-ringed angelfish, triggers, yellow boxfish, wrasses, porcupine fish, moray eels & more.
A unique appeal of this dive site derives from its remote location. Bluewater surrounding Sail Rock draws vast pelagic schools; Chevron & yellow-tail barracuda swarm the monolith, forming schools dense enough to obscure vision. Giant Trevally dart amongst the clouds of fish, plus we often observe predatory Great Barracuda patrolling the reef. If diving from Koh Tao, Sail Rock is a must-see dive spot.
Sail Rock’s ‘Chimney’ Swimthrough
Sail Rock has an unusual geological feature.
Colloquially known as The Chimney, on the eastern face of Sail Rock, an underwater tunnel passes vertically through the pinnacle.
Entering the chasm at a depth of around 16 meters, divers can ascend upwards through the rock and exit to daylight at 6 meters.
Whale Sharks
The largest fish in the ocean – Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus) – live in tropical waters and can grow up to 10 meters long. Scientific tracking has shown that whale sharks dynamically change habitat, moving between oceanic and coastal regions (depending on the availability of food – usually plankton).
Whale sharks migrate through the Gulf of Thailand; As part of their epic voyages, we observe Whale Sharks filter-feeding around deep pinnacle dive sites.
We often see whale sharks close to Koh Tao. However, the highest probability of diving with a whale shark is at Sail Rock.
You do need to be lucky – but it can happen.
Secret Pinnacle @ Sail Rock
Suitable for divers with deep certification only. (Training is available).
Sail Rock is visible above water.
A submerged secret pinnacle hides just a short swim from the primary monolith.
Transitioning from Sail Rock to the Secret Pinnacle along the seabed is deep and sometimes challenging. The prerequisite certification is PADI Deep Specialty or equivalent. EANX is an advantage to enjoy more bottom time at depth.
The value of traversing across to the Secret Pinnacle is to explore part of the dive site which few divers will ever see.
The Secret Pinnacle is smaller than Sail Rock, but coral species and marine life are dense.
Making the swim across the seabed at depth adds an additional element of excitement.
Dive Tour Itinerary
- 06:50: Meet at Simple Life Divers
- 07:00: Board the dive boat and head to Sail Rock
- 09:00: Dive 1
- 11:00: Surface Interval & Lunch
- 12:30: Dive 2
- Mid-afternoon: Return to Koh Tao
*Itinerary maybe adjusted subject to weather and sea conditions.
Individual dive profiles, training activities and air consumption rates will influence bottom times.
Conditions & Best Time to Dive
- Except for November (monsoon season) Sail Rock can be a great dive throughout the year
- Located in the Gulf of Thailand currents are usually negligible or modest.
- For best visibility avoid diving Sail Rock during monsoon season or close to the Full Moon each month.
- Best chance of seeing whale sharks is between March and June.
Dive Group Size
Sail Rock trips typically run with 10-20 divers aboard the Simple Life dive boat.
In the water we divide into small groups of 1-4 divers.
Simple Life’s dive crew prioritizes giving everyone a fantastic diving experience.
Tailoring dive profiles to your experience level helps ensure everyone will enjoy long dives and see lots of aquatic life.
We can also provide private dive guides on request.
Want to Dive Sail Rock? Checklist – Everything you need to know
- Must be a certified diver. PADI Open Water or equivalent is okay, PADI Advanced or above is better. Due to depth Sail Rock is not suitable for snorkeling or intro dives.
- Meet at 06:45am, back to Koh Tao by mid-afternoon.
- 2 dives
- Includes lunch – Thai food. Let us know if you have any special dietary requirements
- Small dive groups (1-4 people)
- Amazing marine life
- Chance of scuba diving with whale sharks
- Vertical Chimney swimthrough
- Secret pinnacle accessible for divers with Deep certification
Sail Rock: FAQs & More Info
What prerequisites are required to dive Sail Rock?
To dive Sail Rock, you must be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent.
While PADI Open Water certification is sufficient to dive Sail Rock, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent) allows you to explore more of the site by extending your recommended recreational depth limit to 30 metres.
Citation: ✅ PADI – Open Water Diver Course
https://www.padi.com/courses/open-water-diver
Citation: ✅ PADI – Advanced Open Water Diver Course
https://www.padi.com/courses/advanced-open-water
Weather Disclaimer: What Happens When Weather/Sea/Diving Conditions are Poor?
Our priority is always your safety and making sure everyone who dives with Simple Life Divers has a fantastic experience.
Sail Rock trips operate subject to suitable weather, sea conditions and underwater visibility.
Because Sail Rock is one of the furthest dive sites from Koh Tao, it doesn’t make sense to undertake the journey if rough seas or poor visibility would compromise the experience.
If conditions aren’t suitable, we’ll recommend one of Koh Tao’s excellent local dive sites instead or, if you prefer, provide a full refund.
Can PADI Dive Training be combined with the Sail Rock trip?
We can combine PADI courses with Sail Rock dive trips.
Whether you’re an Open Water or Advanced Open Water diver, Sail Rock is an excellent place to build your confidence, gain experience, and continue your dive training.
To get the most from deeper dive sites such as Sail Rock, the PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) and Deep Diver Specialties can extend your no-decompression limits and increase your recommended recreational depth.
Tell us your current certification level and how long you’re staying on Koh Tao, and we’ll recommend the best combination of training and diving for you.
What Meals are included as part of the Sail Rock Dive Trip?
Meeting at Simple Life Divers at 07:00 and returning to Koh Tao by mid-afternoon, our Sail Rock trips are a full-day adventure, so we’ll make sure you stay well fed and hydrated throughout the day.
On board you’ll find complimentary drinking water, tea, coffee, and cookies available throughout the trip.
Lunch is also included, typically authentic Thai dishes such as Khao Pad (fried rice) or a mild stir-fry served with rice.
You’re also welcome to bring your own drinks and snacks if you prefer.
If you have any dietary requirements or food allergies, please let us know when booking so we can make suitable arrangements.
What is the maximum depth when diving at Sail Rock?
Sail Rock extends well beyond 40 metres (130 feet), although recreational divers will explore the site according to the maximum recommended depth for their certification level.
We’ll plan the maximum depth of your dive plan based on which certification you have. Specifically:
- Open Water Divers: 18 meters
- Advanced Open Water Divers and above: 30 meters
- Deep Specialty Certified Divers: 40 meters
Citation: ✅ PADI – Open Water Diver Course
https://www.padi.com/courses/open-water-diver
Citation: ✅ PADI – Advanced Open Water Diver Course
https://www.padi.com/courses/advanced-open-water
Citation: ✅ PADI – Deep Diver Specialty
https://www.padi.com/courses/deep-diver
How long does the boat ride from Koh Tao to Sail Rock take?
Our Sail Rock trips usually take around 1½ to 2 hours to reach the dive site from Koh Tao, depending on the weather and sea conditions.
What marine life can you see at Sail Rock?
Sail Rock is famous for its massive schools of chevron barracuda, bigeye trevally, queenfish, and giant groupers. During the right season—and with a little luck—you may also encounter a whale shark.
The rock acts as a magnet for marine life in the open ocean. You will also see moray eels, anemonefish, scorpionfish, and a vibrant macro ecosystem hidden inside the cracks of the rock walls.
Citation: ✅ NOAA – Whale Sharks
https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/whale-sharks.html
What happens if I get seasick on the way to Sail Rock?
We provide complimentary motion sickness tablets (dimenhydrinate) on board, and our crew is always happy to help if you’re feeling unwell.
Because our dive boat is relatively large and stable, most guests find the journey comfortable even in light swell. If you’re prone to motion sickness, we recommend taking a seasickness tablet around 30–60 minutes before departure for the best effect.
Please let our staff know if you have any allergies, are pregnant, or are taking other medications before using motion sickness tablets.
What is "The Chimney" at Sail Rock?
The Chimney is Sail Rock’s famous vertical swim-through, allowing divers to enter at around 18 metres and exit at either 12 metres or 6 metres, depending on the route taken.
It is completely natural, wide enough for comfortable single-file diving, and illuminated by beautiful beams of natural sunlight filtering down from the surface.
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