Southwest Pinnacle Dive Site

Depth: about 5-30 m, common dives 16-25 m
Beginners: not for brand-new beginners
Open Water: usually no
Advanced Open Water: yes, excellent
Recommended certification: Advanced recommended
Guide recommended: yes

offshore granite pinnacles, schooling fish, deeper profiles and whale shark chances

Overview

Best for: Advanced divers, confident OW, fun divers, deep students and photographers
Not ideal for: nervous beginners, DSD, seasick-prone visitors or shallow training
Vibe: deeper, bigger, fishier and offshore
Must-do or easy local site: must-do for certified fun divers when conditions are good

Landscape: large granite pinnacles, boulder ridges, anemones, soft coral, ledges and sand
Common marine life: fusiliers, barracuda, trevally, queenfish, batfish, groupers, snappers and morays
Special sightings: whale sharks, cobia, Jenkins rays, great barracuda and sea snakes
Macro life: yes but not main focus
Bigger fish: yes
Coral and reef scenery: yes, offshore pinnacle scenery
Photography: yes, wide angle and schooling fish

Visibility: variable, good days 15-30 m+
Current: common
Weather sensitivity: offshore/exposed and condition-dependent
Shelter/exposure: exposed
Wind and sea conditions: southwest/west/south swell and current
Hazards: depth, current, boat traffic, separation, NDL and fishing line
Swim-throughs/caves: small gullies/overhangs only
Wreck penetration: No, unless this is a wreck-specific page. For HTMS Sattakut only, penetration requires proper wreck training, equipment and supervision.

descend line, deeper pinnacles first, work shallower over tops, safety stop line/SMB

Southwest Pinnacle is one of Koh Tao’s stronger offshore sites for deeper profiles, schools of fish and occasional whale shark chances.

Shark Island, Hin Ngam, Ao Leuk, Sai Daeng