Mango Bay

Mango Bay is a secluded bay on Koh Tao's north coast with a small beach, a sandy middle and coral reefs along both sides. What makes it special is the variety within one sheltered bay: one side is a coastline of big coral-encrusted boulders with a swim-through and schools of scad, often dived as a drop-off from about 16 m into the shallows, while the other side holds a large coral garden of mushroom, table and staghorn corals with barrel sponges and giant clams. Over the sand, look for peacock soles, snake eels, Jenkins whiprays and the occasional seahorse, and turtles, titan triggerfish and harlequin sweetlips are seen along the coral garden. Big schools of fusiliers and snapper gather in the shallow water. Calm water with little or no current makes it a favourite for training dives and beginners, and it is mostly reached by boat.