Popular Koh Tachai liveaboards Explore all liveaboards
Sawasdee Fasai
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The Junk
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Liveaboard Diving in Koh Tachai
What To Expect On A Koh Tachai Liveaboard
Liveaboards to Koh Tachai usually visit this area on a Similan Islands itinerary on theri way to Richelieu Rock. It's only 12 square kilometers in size and located on the northwest of Similan Islands National Park, it actually lies between the Similan and Surin Islands. An idyllic location in the Andaman Sea, this small uninhabited island is formed of lush rainforest, stunning white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Relatively untouched Koh Tachai is still unspoilt and worth the visit on your liveaboard dive cruise. Below the surface, some other visitors include whale sharks, manta rays, leopard sharks and Napoleon wrasse to name just a few. The waters around the island are quite shallow towards the shore then drops off suddenly to depths of 70 metres. Acting like a barrier, these drop offs protect the island and the rich waters around it offer excellent snorkeling.
What You Can See
There are two great dive sites at Koh Tachai, the plateau to the south and the eastern reef. Off the eastern coast, the sheltered shallower waters make for good night dives. Most liveaboards will moor here for the night.
Koh Tachai plateau, about 1km south east of the island, is so named because it is ringed by a ridge like coral plateau crowned with hard corals, gorgonian sea fans line the scattered boulders, sloping from 12 - 35 m to the sandy bottom where leopard and nurse sharks lie peacefully undisturbed. Groups of snapper lurking on the top ledges, octopus hiding amongst the corals, under which red banded cleaner shrimp work tirelessly. It is best to pay close attention to the divemaster's brief as this site can be challenging at times although the swim-throughs provide shelter from the strong currents. There is a descent line from a buoy on the south side, helping the diver to descend in sometimes strong surface currents. This site is for the more experienced diver. Towards the end of the dive, you may see coral eating Hawksbill turtles, groups of batfish or even the banded sea snake lurking near the mooring line upon your ascent. Keep an eye out for the odd Napoleon wrasse patrolling the area.
Koh Tachai pinnacle is usually done as a drift dive and here the currents bring high levels of plankton, during the months of February - April, and in turn the larger pelagics feeding on them such as the Manta Ray and Whale Shark. The strong currents enable the barracudas, trevallies and sharks to hunt easily for smaller prey. Early morning dives can waken you up from your slumber quite quickly as it can sometimes be a feeding frenzy and you may not know where to look there are so many fish. Visibility varies on the month and the amount of plankton in the water, between 10-30m. If the larger pelagics are not on show then be on the lookout for the macro life. Small frogfish and nudibranch are known to grace these waters.
An impressive underwater topography mixed with a diverse marine life make Koh Tachai a must for Surin or Similan cruises.
Getting There
The best way to get to Koh Tachai is on a Thailand liveaboard trip to the Similan or Surin Islands, which will depart from either Phuket or Khao Lak. Further from Phuket than from Khao Lak, (200 km north of Phuket and 80 km northwest of Khao Lak), it is worth checking what port you prefer to depart from. Khao Lak is about 100km north of Phuket and can be reached overland. Please check your itinerary before purchasing flight tickets. There are international flights into Phuket and / or domestic flights from Bangkok to Phuket. Reachable from Khao Lak in one hour you may find other day boats in the area.
Koh Tachai Diving Reviews
- 9.1 Superb
- 84 Verified Reviews
- 9.6 Exceptional
- Jan J
Slovakia
Quite a strong current but very impressive ladnscape underwater.
Diving Koh Tachai in January on the Oktavia
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Alexander T
United Kingdom
Saw a range of marine life including a Whale Shark
Diving Koh Tachai in January on the The Phinisi
- 9.6 Exceptional
- Sanee I
Canada
One of my top dives! Strong currents makes it worth it
Diving Koh Tachai in December on the Hallelujah
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Guadalupe F
Argentina
Really nice. Good, easy diving.
Diving Koh Tachai in November on the Bavaria
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Paul L
- United Kingdom
A great dive site for the experienced. Strong currents - but strong currents attract huge Travally....
Diving Koh Tachai in October on the Bavaria
- 8.0 Very good
- yaqoub Y
United Arab Emirates
Koh Tachai i fall in love with you. this how can Describe my feelings . i can't forget how i was wave good bay when we was ascent.
Diving Koh Tachai in April on the Hallelujah
- 8.0 Very good
- Adam H
- United Kingdom
Great vis again and also lots of fish life. Some strong currents on some of the sites, not for inexperienced divers. Whaleshark was spotted by another group on one of our dives, i did not see it.
Diving Koh Tachai in April on the Manta Queen 1
- 9.2 Superb
- herbert K
Austria
Whale shark sighting, what do you want more
Diving Koh Tachai in April on the Manta Queen 7
- 9.6 Exceptional
- Matthew S
Australia
Lovely, we saw two whale sharks there.
Diving Koh Tachai in April on the Manta Queen 2
- 9.6 Exceptional
- ILGUK J
South Korea
We saw whale shark at the dome point. Whale shark!
Diving Koh Tachai in April on the Manta Queen 7
- 9.6 Exceptional
- HUIJEA L
- South Korea
good place for fun diving.
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the Oktavia
- 9.2 Superb
- Martin R
Germany
Loved the shadows on the white sand while diving
Diving Koh Tachai in October on the Pawara
- 9.2 Superb
- Daniel N
Sweden
Very beautiful dive sites as well teeming with marine life and beautiful healthy coral.
Diving Koh Tachai in May on the Manta Queen 1
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Lisa M
United States
Amazing visibility, diverse dive sites
Diving Koh Tachai in October on the Hallelujah
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Norbert D
- Germany
loads and loads and loads and loads of fish. not even in Australia have they been so plentiful. it is a bit of shame that the Thai people didn't properly take care of these miracles under the sea but the site is still brilliant.
Diving Koh Tachai in April on the Manta Queen 2
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Evan R
New Zealand
Really enjoyed seeing new nudibranches & a magical seahorse. I enjoyed finding some of the smallest critters but also the big Napolean Wrasse & Moray eels.
Diving Koh Tachai in April on the Sawasdee Fasai
- 8.8 Fabulous
- Christopher T
- United States
The rock formations underwater make it special.
Diving Koh Tachai in April on the Similan Explorer
- 9.2 Superb
- Eric W
Singapore
Koh Tachai got a nice coral garden as well. Saw a Marble ray there.
Diving Koh Tachai in March on the Manta Queen 6
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Elles D
Netherlands
Nice reefs,beautiful rock formations, sometimes current is a factor. Not too busy. Great diversity.
Diving Koh Tachai in March on the Deep Andaman Queen
- 9.6 Exceptional
- James C
- United Kingdom
Really interesting site with lots of different kinds of coral and fish
Diving Koh Tachai in March on the Pawara
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Rebecca H
- United States
Another amazing dive. We saw a fleeting glimpse of a manta ray at the end of our dive. Clown triggerfish, lots of barracuda, crown of thorns, lionfish...
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the Manta Queen 1
- 9.2 Superb
- Eugene S
- Canada
This was a very good dive.
Diving Koh Tachai in March on the Dolphin Queen
- 7.6 Good
- Juliane H
- Austria
Other group, saw small whale shark. Special thing for us, stone fish. Good visibility, warm water - nothing to complain
Diving Koh Tachai in March on the Dolphin Queen
- 8.0 Very good
- Andrew B
- United Kingdom
Really good as we saw Manta Rays which was the highlight of our trip
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the Deep Andaman Queen
- 9.6 Exceptional
- JAYEON C
- South Korea
Interesting to see unique geography.
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the The Junk
- 9.6 Exceptional
- Yann B
France
Good at Twin Peaks - much action from Pompanos, yellowtail barracudas. Night dive at Avlek.
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the The Junk
- 8.8 Fabulous
- Pablo E
Chile
Here is the place we meet the mantas, incredible experience
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the Similan Explorer
- 8.0 Very good
- Maria Tereza C
Brazil
Strong current in the First dive. We had to hold the rock during a long time as it was impossible to swim around. Fortunately a big school of barracudas made us company. Second dive was good.
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the Hallelujah Liveaboard
- 8.8 Fabulous
- Maillard J
- France
The conditions were not so good ( too strong current)
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the Dolphin Queen
- 7.2 Good
- Felipe C
- Brazil
Good dive site good visibility
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the Deep Andaman Queen
- 9.2 Superb
- Franco L
Italy
Beside some strong corrent, nice
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the Manta Queen 6
- 8.4 Very good
- Noel H
- United States
Good - lots of fish and some fun drift diving.
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the Hallelujah
- 8.4 Very good
- Chris G
- Singapore
Good, no large fishes, but plenty of marine life
Diving Koh Tachai in January on the Similan Explorer
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Jia S
China
Currents are tricky but lots of fun!
Diving Koh Tachai in January on the Hallelujah Liveaboard
- 9.2 Superb
- Shiou H
- United States
The world underwater is simply breathtaking! It was an adventure diving with current, waves, and surge
Diving Koh Tachai in January on the Thai Sea
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Todd H
- United States
Beautiful landscape with huge sea fans and starfish. Teaming with fish and life. Strong current.
Diving Koh Tachai in January on the MV DiveRACE Class E
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Benjamin B
- United States
Amazing. So much coral and beautiful marine life
Diving Koh Tachai in December on the Manta Queen 3
- 9.6 Exceptional
- David G
- United States
Amazing, could see so many fish and awesome coral.
Diving Koh Tachai in December on the Dolphin Queen
- 7.6 Good
- Sandra K
- Germany
Very very nice. The best with Richelieu Rock
Diving Koh Tachai in November on the Diva Andaman
- 7.2 Good
- Miranda M
- Netherlands
nice places with nice coral lots of different fishes
Diving Koh Tachai in November on the Deep Andaman Queen
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Sarah H
- United States
visibility wasn't great, but we saw choke manta ray....absolutely incredible
Diving Koh Tachai in April on the Deep Andaman Queen
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Raymond C
- United Kingdom
Unfortunately no big pelagics but the usual suspects were in abundance Great diving
Diving Koh Tachai in March on the Deep Andaman Queen
- 9.2 Superb
- Richard C
- United States
I'm sure it's not the norm, but safety stop in a school of barracdas! Way too awesome!!!!
Diving Koh Tachai in February on the Deep Andaman Queen
- 8.8 Fabulous
- Farhan R
- Australia
Visibility was not as good as others but that could just be bad luck on that day
Diving Koh Tachai in January on the Deep Andaman Queen
- 7.2 Good
- Daniela G
Portugal
Good, but visibility could have been better.
Diving Koh Tachai in December on the MV DiveRACE Class E
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Kal G
Israel
a few great spots but poor visibility & a lot of dead reef
Diving Koh Tachai in December on the Diva Andaman
- 8.0 Very good
- Joseph F
- United Kingdom
Nice barracuda schools and fish life
Diving Koh Tachai in December on the Deep Andaman Queen
- 9.2 Superb
- John A
- United States
Challenging ripping current but great dive with Giant Manta and dive guide kept us safe.
Diving Koh Tachai in March on the Deep Andaman Queen
