Chumphon Pinnacle

Also known as: Chumphon Pinnacles

Chumphon Pinnacle is a granite pinnacle that stays completely under water, standing in open sea about 11 to 12 km northwest of Koh Tao, and many centres call it the island's signature deep site. Divers come for the sheer amount of fish: batfish hang above the top, large schools of trevally, snapper, fusiliers and barracuda swirl around the rock, and giant groupers rest close to the granite. The highest point lies at about 14 m, and sea anemones sheltering pink anemonefish cover the upper rock almost completely, while smaller satellite pinnacles, including Barracuda Rock to the southwest, add deeper sections around the main rock. It counts among the best whale shark sites around Koh Tao, and some dives have met more than one at a time. Its offshore position means waves when it is windy and currents that can pick up, so Advanced Open Water certification is usually recommended, and visibility is often better than at the sites close to the island.