Whether you are new to the sport of diving, or if you have been logging bottom time for decades, chances are good that you enjoy the sight of beautiful Manta Rays soaring through the water along with you. These amazing creatures can be found in many places around the world; but, Koh Bon is one of the best places to swim with them, away from crowds and in clean water with excellent visibility that often reaches forty meters. Let’s explore this incredible paradise, where Manta Rays and other marvelous creatures await.
Koh Bon Island - Thailand Dive Sites
Both Koh Bon Island and the outlying Koh Bon Pinnacle feature steep walls that are beautifully covered in soft coral and sea fans, with depths over forty meters in some places. These sites are subject to a current, which makes for an excellent drift, and which attracts the manta rays and other large creatures that inhabit the area. Lying about an hour north of the Similan Islands, this area is at its best between April and May, but in recent years, manta rays have been seen here throughout the year.
Koh Bon Island features a 33 meter wall on the south side, which faces a small, tranquil cove that is hemmed in by a stepped ridge that leads down to more than forty meters. If you head out to the ridge, you’ll see the manta rays gliding and circling. Stay still and try not to alarm them – if frightened, they will depart the area and may not return for several hours.
While you’re waiting for manta rays to appear, there is lots of other life to enjoy! White tip reef sharks hunt for stray fish, and leopard sharks lounge at the bottom of the wall on the flat, sandy area. Beautiful yellow, green, and turquoise soft coral act as a backdrop to damselfish and titan triggerfish, and the entire wall is alive with all kinds of macro life that is just begging to be photographed.
Koh Bon Pinnacle - Thailand Dive Sites
Koh Bon Pinnacle features a cavern where nurse sharks often hide, and has a fish trap that makes a good landmark. From the main pinnacle, which is located to the west of Koh Bon Island, you can see a second, smaller pinnacle to the north. The pinnacle area is much more exposed than the island wall is, and it is recommended for expert divers only. Maximum depth at the pinnacle is fifty meters, and the current can be challenging. You’ll only be able to dive here when conditions are ideal, but if you can make it down here, to at least twenty to thirty meters where the action is best, you’ll see lots of black tip reef sharks and eagle rays, plus more manta rays swirling through the water.
Koh Bon Cove - Thailand Dive Sites
Once you are finished with the more exciting Koh Bon dive sites, head to Koh Bon Cove for some peaceful relaxation. The reef here is splendid, and offers the opportunity to encounter small damsels and gobies, plus lots of other fish. At night, when the cove is most often explored, you might encounter red octopus and other intriguing creatures. This very shallow site is splendid though, 24 hours a day, and is great for a simple snorkel.
A few dive operators do offer day trips to Koh Bon; but if you prefer to spend more time diving and less time lounging on deck, then go with a liveaboard. You’ll enjoy getting away from the crowds, plus you will enjoy some world-class diving. An excellent choice!