Lighthouse Bay Dive Site

quiet shallow north/east bay dive with coral, boulders and snorkelling crossover

Overview

Best for: beginners, refreshers, DSD in calm conditions, snorkellers and relaxed photographers
Not ideal for: depth, wrecks, big fish or dramatic pinnacles
Vibe: easy, shallow, quiet and bay-style
Must-do or easy local site: nice easy local site

Depth and Certification Level

Depth: about 4-14 m
Beginners: yes
Open Water: yes
Advanced Open Water: only non-deep specialties
Recommended certification: Open Water or DSD with instructor
Guide recommended: recommended

Marine Life and Underwater Scenery

Landscape: shallow reef, boulders, rocky shoreline, sand/rubble and coral gardens
Common marine life: reef fish, butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish, wrasse, rabbitfish, damselfish, fusiliers, snappers, groupers, moray eels, blue-spotted rays and anemonefish, rays and small reef life
Special sightings: turtles, sea snakes, cuttlefish, pipefish and occasional blacktips
Macro life: moderate
Bigger fish: no
Coral and reef scenery: pleasant shallow reef scenery
Photography: yes, good natural light

Conditions and Hazards

Visibility: variable, good when calm
Current: usually little to mild
Weather sensitivity: north/east swell or rain can make it murky
Shelter/exposure: fairly sheltered bay
Wind and sea conditions: north/northeast/east swell
Hazards: shallow coral, snorkellers, boats, urchins and low visibility
Swim-throughs/caves: no major features
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

shallow descent, follow reef/boulder edge, finish near boat

Morning/afternoon/full-day: morning
Boat time: 20-40 minutes
Night diving: possible but not standard
Dive schools: yes when conditions suit
Busy with boats: usually less than main sites

Courses and Skills

Try dives: yes in calm conditions
Refreshers: yes
Deep dives: no
Navigation: basic
Buoyancy: yes
Specialties: photo, fish ID, naturalist and buoyancy

Local Advice

Lighthouse Bay is a quieter shallow bay-style dive with snorkelling crossover. It can be useful in the right conditions, but it is not a dramatic deep site.

Nearby Paired Sites

Mango Bay, Hin Wong, Laem Thian, Japanese Gardens

Mango Bay Dive Site | Hin Wong Bay Dive Site | Diving in Koh Tao

Local Tips

What makes it different: quieter alternative to busier beginner bays
Manage expectations: not dramatic
Best thing: relaxed uncrowded feel
Main downside: can be underwhelming for advanced divers
Tip: treat it as a slow shallow reef dive