Koh Lipe & Tarutao · Thailand · Pinnacle · Reef
Sail Rock (Ko Batong)
Mild-current ridge at 5 to 18 m with feeding hawksbills
Area photo: fototaube · CC BY-SA 2.0
An underwater ridge behind Ko Dong, out in the western part of the archipelago, rising off the sandy seabed to within 5 m of the surface and dropping back to 18 m. Coral covers the rock, the current is mild, and the depth keeps it open to divers of every level. Hawksbill turtles occasionally come in to feed on the coral.
Also known as Sail Rock, Ko Batong.
Where it is and how deep
6.5167° N, 99.1627° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
Sail Rock is a ridge rather than a single rock: an underwater spine that rises off the sandy seabed to within 5 m of the surface and drops back to 18 m at its base. Coral covers the structure, and because the current is usually mild you can swim the length of it in either direction and come back over the top rather than planning the whole dive around the flow.
It suits everyone from a first dive after a course to an experienced diver looking for a relaxed second tank. Hawksbill turtles occasionally come in to feed on the coral, and the sand around the base is where the stingrays lie; giant pufferfish and batfish hang off the ridge itself. With 18 m as the floor there is time to work slowly and finish shallow on top of the rock.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Stingrays
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Good |
Season follows Koh Lipe & Tarutao: November-April is the dry-season diving window and February-April the best of it; from mid-June to mid-October only the Pak Bara speedboat runs and visibility falls toward 10 m.
Questions divers ask
Is Sail Rock good for beginners?+
Yes. The site runs from 5 to 18 m with mild current and is rated for divers of all levels, from beginner to advanced. It works as an early dive after a course as well as a relaxed second tank.
Sources
- Sail Rock, Ko Batong - Scubago — Scubago
- Diving in Thailand — Wikivoyage
More dive sites in Koh Lipe & Tarutao
Reef
Walk-in beach reef, 5 m deep, where courses start
Reef
Soft-coral outcrops and boulders, mantas in the current
Wall
Wall and coral garden on Ko Lipe's own coast, 12 to 30 m
Coral garden
Coral garden and short walls, 12 to 25 m, strong on macro
Pinnacle
Soft-coral dome from 6 m to a sandy base at 12-18 m
Reef
Cascading granite boulders from 5 m down to 25 m
Wall
Crevices and overhangs down a 10 to 30 m wall
Reef
Broken coral ground and sand patches, 5 to 25 m
Similar dives elsewhere
Offshore pinnacle with barracuda, napoleon wrasse and blacktips
A coral-covered pinnacle east of the Bidas, rarely on the schedule
A multi-headed pinnacle off an uninhabited islet, around 15 m
Untouched hard and soft coral on a rock topping out at 8 m