Ao Leuk Dive Site

pretty shallow east/southeast bay dive with beach/snorkelling crossover

Overview

Best for: beginners, DSD, Open Water students, refreshers, photographers and snorkellers
Not ideal for: depth, wrecks, swim-throughs or big fish
Vibe: easy, scenic, shallow reef bay
Must-do or easy local site: nice easy local highlight for beginners

Depth and Certification Level

Depth: about 4-16 m
Beginners: yes when calm
Open Water: yes
Advanced Open Water: yes for non-deep specialties
Recommended certification: Open Water or DSD with instructor
Guide recommended: recommended

Marine Life and Underwater Scenery

Landscape: sandy bay, gentle reef slopes, coral patches and bommies
Common marine life: reef fish, butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish, wrasse, rabbitfish, damselfish, fusiliers, snappers, groupers, moray eels, blue-spotted rays and anemonefish, juvenile groupers, snappers and rays
Special sightings: baby blacktips, turtles, cuttlefish, sea snakes and nudibranchs as bonuses
Macro life: moderate
Bigger fish: not really
Coral and reef scenery: good shallow reef scenery
Photography: yes, good natural light

Conditions and Hazards

Visibility: beautiful when calm, poor when choppy
Current: usually mild
Weather sensitivity: east/southeast swell affects it quickly
Shelter/exposure: sheltered in bay but exposed to east/southeast weather
Wind and sea conditions: east/southeast wind and swell
Hazards: snorkellers, boats, shallow coral, urchins, sand and current near mouth
Swim-throughs/caves: no
Wreck penetration: No, unless this is a wreck-specific page. For HTMS Sattakut only, penetration requires proper wreck training, equipment and supervision.

Typical Dive Profile

descend over sand/reef edge, explore bay side, finish shallow

Morning/afternoon/full-day: morning
Boat time: 20-35 minutes; closer from south/Chalok side
Night diving: possible in calm conditions
Dive schools: yes
Busy with boats: sometimes with snorkel/dive boats

Courses and Skills

Try dives: yes
Refreshers: yes
Deep dives: no
Navigation: basic
Buoyancy: yes
Specialties: photography, fish ID, naturalist and buoyancy

Local Advice

Ao Leuk Dive Site is distinct from Ao Leuk Bay. It works best in calm weather and is useful for beginner diving and snorkelling crossover when the east side is flat.

Nearby Paired Sites

Shark Island, Hin Ngam, Sai Daeng, Tanote, Hin Wong

Ao Leuk Bay | Hin Wong Bay Dive Site | Diving in Koh Tao

Local Tips

What makes it different: one of the prettiest easy bay dives when east side is calm
Manage expectations: condition-dependent and shallow
Best thing: clear shallow reef on calm days
Main downside: poor in east-side chop
Tip: dive it when the east side is flat and go slowly along reef edges