Fun dive · Tanote Bay
The beach fun dive at Tanote
This is the simplest dive on Koh Tao: you gear up at the centre, walk across Tanote beach and step into the water, no boat involved. The house reef starts a few fin kicks from the shore, and because you go from the beach, there is no schedule to follow: you dive when you want, at your own pace.
Fun dive · Tanote Bay
A dive with no constraints
Straight off the beach
No boat, no crossing. You enter directly from Tanote beach, the reef is right there.
No fixed schedule
Because you leave from the shore, you are not tied to a boat departure. A dive in the morning, afternoon or late in the day, however you like.
Equipment included
All the gear is provided and prepared at the centre. Just come along and dive.
Tanote Bay
One of the loveliest bays on Koh Tao
Tanote Bay is a sheltered bay on the east coast of the island, about fifteen minutes by scooter from Sairee. Ringed by hills and viewpoints, it has stayed unspoilt: a wide sandy beach, calm water, rarely crowded. This is where our house reef lies.
The reef starts just a few metres from the shore and slopes gently down, from the sand to the drop-off. You stay between the surface and 18 to 20 metres: shallow enough for first dives, varied enough never to get dull.
The dive, step by step
Here is how a dive on the Tanote reef unfolds, from the moment you enter the water to the turnaround.
- 1
Entry from the beach
You step straight into the water from the sand, fins on. No boat, no ladder: a few steps and you follow the gentle slope down to the reef.
- 2
Granite boulders, an arch and swim-throughs
The reef is built around large granite boulders covered in hard corals and brain corals, dotted with barrel sponges. A rocky arch and a few swim-throughs make the terrain playful without being technical.
- 3
The catamaran, around 18 m
Further out lies a sunken catamaran, around 18 metres down. The hull has been taken over by life: one of the best macro spots in the bay and a playground for underwater photography.
- 4
The scooter and the coral nursery
You also pass a sunken scooter, guarded by a territorial damselfish, and concrete cubes with a coral nursery around 10 metres: artificial reefs that concentrate the life.
To see
What you might run into
Tanote is one of the best spots on the island to see blacktip reef sharks, especially early in the morning in the shallows. And plenty more down the slope.
- Blacktip reef sharks
- Green turtles
- Schools of barracuda
- Titan triggerfish
- Banded sea kraits
- Butterflyfish and angelfish
- Clownfish and anemones
- Groupers and parrotfish
On the macro side, the catamaran and the artificial reefs shelter frogfish, pipefish, octopus, Jenkins rays and cleaner shrimp. Plenty of reasons to bring the camera.
Tanote Bay
Conditions and level
Sheltered bay, light current
The bay is protected and the current is usually light. That is what makes it a comfortable site to learn at and to dive at an easy pace.
Variable visibility
Visibility changes with the day and the season: roughly 2 to 10 metres. To be honest, it is not a record-visibility spot, but the life is dense and close.
From beginners to experienced divers
The reef suits training dives and first dives just as well as the more relaxed fun dives of certified divers.
Known for night dives
Tanote is also one of the most popular night-diving sites on Koh Tao: the calm bay and the reef close to shore are ideal for it.
Fun dive · Tanote Bay
The site at a glance
- Depth
- 3 to 20 m
- Level
- All levels
- The terrain
- Boulders, rocky arch, swim-throughs
- Current
- Light
- To see
- Blacktip reef sharks, house reef
- Access
- From the beach, no boat
Before your dive
Ease back in, at your own pace
You're certified but your last tank was a while ago? Two ways to get back into the water comfortably.
Check dive
Beach dive · before your first boat trip
No Scuba Refresh needed but aluminium tank, shorty, warm water, all still to discover? A short dive from the beach to fine-tune weights and setup before heading out on the boat.
More about the check diveScuba Refresh
Half day · theory + skills
Your certification doesn't expire, but after a long break a refresh feels good. Half a day to ease back in before you head out to sea.
See the Scuba RefreshTanote Bay
And around the dive
While you dive, the people with you will not be bored in the bay.
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The Tanote rock
A big rock rises in the middle of the bay: the emblem of Tanote, perfect for snorkelling around and for the rope jump for the more daring.
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Snorkelling and beach
The house reef can also be explored from the surface, mask and snorkel. And the wide sandy beach is a good place to wait out the end of the dive.
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The viewpoints
The hills around the bay offer a few viewpoints over Tanote, well worth it before or after the dive.
Who it is for
- Certified divers who want a simple, easy outing with no boat logistics.
- Beginners in training: the shallow, calm reef is perfect for first dives.
- Families and anyone who prefers a beach entry over a boat trip.
Fancy diving at Tanote?
Pick your date and how many of you, we get back to you quickly to sort everything out. You can also message us on WhatsApp if you have a question first.