Tanote Bay

Also known as: Aow Tanote · Ao Tanot

Tanote Bay is a wide bay on Koh Tao's east coast with a beach, a large rock in the middle and coral reef fringing both sides. Its specialty is the mix of natural reef and artificial features: a small sunken catamaran sits in the sand off the main reef, joined by reef balls, concrete cubes, coral nursery frames and a sunken scooter guarded by a territorial damselfish. The catamaran attracts macro photographers, with banded pipefish, shrimps, spider crabs, small octopus and a Jenkins whipray often resting beneath it. The reef slopes gently from a few metres to about 18 to 22 m over granite boulders with a rock arch and swim-throughs, and blacktip reef sharks, turtles, titan triggerfish, banded sea kraits and schools of yellowtail barracuda are seen. Conditions are usually calm, especially in the southwest monsoon, and the bay can be dived from a boat or from the beach, which suits all levels.