Pottery / Junkyard Artificial Reef

artificial reef, conservation training, macro life and buoyancy practice

Overview

Best for: eco divers, conservation students, macro lovers, refreshers, buoyancy and fish ID
Not ideal for: big fish, pristine natural reef, deep dives or dramatic topography
Vibe: quirky, shallow, educational and slow-paced
Must-do or easy local site: niche, not first-day must-do

Depth and Certification Level

Depth: generally shallow, often 6-12 m
Beginners: yes with supervision
Open Water: yes, especially later dives
Advanced Open Water: yes for buoyancy, naturalist, fish ID, photo and navigation
Recommended certification: Open Water; good buoyancy needed for conservation areas
Guide recommended: strongly recommended to understand what you are seeing

Marine Life and Underwater Scenery

Landscape: artificial reef structures, coral frames, rubble/sand, small natural rocks and restoration modules
Common marine life: juvenile fish, damselfish, wrasse, gobies, blennies, shrimp, crabs, nudibranchs and small reef fish
Special sightings: pipefish, seahorses if lucky, scorpionfish, cuttlefish, morays and unusual juveniles
Macro life: yes, one of the better reasons to go
Bigger fish: no
Coral and reef scenery: good for seeing coral growth/restoration rather than pristine reef
Photography: yes for macro and conservation content

Conditions and Hazards

Visibility: variable, often lower nearshore
Current: usually mild
Weather sensitivity: rain/runoff and west-side swell can reduce visibility
Shelter/exposure: generally sheltered nearshore
Wind and sea conditions: west/southwest conditions and runoff
Hazards: sharp structures, fishing line, fragile coral frames, low visibility and boat traffic
Swim-throughs/caves: structure gaps only if briefed; not overhead diving
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

slow shallow tour between structures, coral growth and macro life

Morning/afternoon/full-day: morning or afternoon local trip
Boat time: short local ride, often 5-20 minutes depending site
Night diving: can be interesting for macro but not classic
Dive schools: yes, especially eco-focused schools
Busy with boats: less than main training sites

Courses and Skills

Try dives: possible but not first choice
Refreshers: yes
Deep dives: no
Navigation: yes, structures make landmarks
Buoyancy: excellent
Specialties: conservation, buoyancy, photography, fish ID, naturalist, navigation

Local Advice

This is a conservation, buoyancy and macro-life site rather than a pristine natural reef. It is useful supporting content for eco-minded divers and refreshers.

Nearby Paired Sites

Pottery, Three Rocks, Jansom, Mae Haad Reef, White Rock

White Rock | Diving in Koh Tao

Local Tips

What makes it different: human-made habitat and reef restoration angle
Manage expectations: not pristine or dramatic
Best thing: seeing marine life use human-made habitat
Main downside: can look messy if unexplained
Tip: go with someone who knows the structures and dive slowly