Lighthouse Bay

Also known as: Gluay Teun Bay

Lighthouse Bay, also called Gluay Teun Bay, is a relatively sheltered bay at the northeastern tip of Koh Tao, named after the small lighthouse on the cliffs above. Its specialty is coral: it has some of the best table corals around the island, together with staghorn patches, barrel sponges, toadstool soft corals and many Christmas tree worms. The reef slopes gently from a few metres to around 14 to 22 m, with granite boulders hosting anemones and pink anemonefish, and a larger pinnacle, probably Lighthouse Pinnacle, lies about five minutes' swim to the north. Butterflyfish, parrotfish, groupers, schools of yellowtail barracuda, moray eels and blue-spotted stingrays are typical, and one centre highlights the ornate ghost pipefish. Visibility is good for most of the year except during the northeast monsoon around October and November, and the calm conditions suit training dives, beginners and photographers.