Sail Rock

Big Fishes Cave Deep

Sail Rock is a big granite pinnacle that is half way between Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Samui and would have to be the best dive in the Gulf of Thailand.
On a clear day, the granite boulder looks stunning, extending 15m above the surface and more than 30 m below. Enormous schools of trevally are all over the dive site and they energetically harass the smaller fish which bunch together and move as one for protection from these darting raids.  Reef sharks are commonly seen around the rock too.
The always friendly longfin batfish are also often present in great numbers. They may follow divers and curiously peer into your mask, seemingly as interested in you as you are in them. They make wonderful photographic subjects. Whale sharks occasionally cruise by too as do other pelagic fish. Always keep one eye on the big blue!
Sail Rock is best known for its chimney, a large swim-through that is entered at around 20 metres and can be exited in two places, first at around 10 metres or shallower at around 5 metres deep. The chimney’s cavern-like area is a haven for all sorts of fish life like schools of glassfish that appear to block your exit, only to part at the last second to reveal the holes.
Hingebeak and boxer shrimps inhabit the coral wall. The latter can sometimes be seen cleaning a moray eel's teeth and, with patience, a lucky diver could get a free manicure if they leave their hand still for long enough. Scorpionfish are well camouflaged on the wall so care with buoyancy is required when exiting the chimney. The hole at 10 metres is quite tight so most divers carry on up to the 5 metre exit and are rewarded by a blanket of anemones on the outer side.

Similar Dive Sites to Sail Rock

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  Anthong Marine Park, Gulf of Thailand.

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  Koh Ma