Green Rock Dive Site

granite boulders, swim-throughs, deeper options and triggerfish

Overview

Best for: confident Open Water, Advanced divers, fun divers, buoyancy and photography
Not ideal for: nervous beginners, poor buoyancy or DSD
Vibe: bouldery, adventurous, swim-through-heavy and sometimes currenty
Must-do or easy local site: local must-do for confident divers

Depth and Certification Level

Depth: about 5-25/28 m
Beginners: only confident beginners in good conditions
Open Water: not usually primary OW training
Advanced Open Water: yes, very suitable
Recommended certification: Advanced preferred; confident OW with guide in good conditions
Guide recommended: yes

Marine Life and Underwater Scenery

Landscape: large granite boulders, swim-throughs, rock passages, reef patches and ledges
Common marine life: reef fish, butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish, wrasse, rabbitfish, damselfish, fusiliers, snappers, groupers, moray eels, blue-spotted rays and anemonefish, triggerfish, sea snakes and morays
Special sightings: Jenkins rays, turtles, cuttlefish, nudibranchs and larger barracuda
Macro life: yes, cracks and rubble
Bigger fish: moderate
Coral and reef scenery: rocky reef scenery
Photography: yes, swim-throughs and boulders

Conditions and Hazards

Visibility: variable
Current: can be moderate/strong
Weather sensitivity: bad conditions make it unsuitable for beginners
Shelter/exposure: fairly exposed
Wind and sea conditions: north/west/northwest swell
Hazards: triggerfish, current, depth, swim-throughs, separation and sharp rocks
Swim-throughs/caves: yes, many swim-throughs; no caves in technical sense
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 on line, explore deeper boulders and selected swim-throughs, finish shallow

Morning/afternoon/full-day: morning or afternoon
Boat time: 20-30 minutes from Sairee/Mae Haad
Night diving: possible but not standard
Dive schools: yes for AOW/fun dives
Busy with boats: can be busy

Courses and Skills

Try dives: no
Refreshers: only confident refreshers
Deep dives: yes, moderate
Navigation: yes but challenging
Buoyancy: yes for controlled divers
Specialties: deep, photo, fish ID, naturalist, navigation and buoyancy

Local Advice

Green Rock needs good buoyancy and sensible conditions, especially around swim-throughs, current and triggerfish territory. It is not ideal as a nervous-beginner site.

Nearby Paired Sites

Twins, Japanese Gardens, Red Rock, White Rock

Red Rock | Japanese Gardens | Diving in Koh Tao

Local Tips

What makes it different: boulder maze and swim-throughs
Manage expectations: triggerfish/current possible
Best thing: fun topography
Main downside: can be stressful in current or low vis
Tip: only use swim-throughs if buoyancy and conditions are right