Pattaya & the Sattahip Wrecks · Thailand · Reef · Sand slope
Koh Khram Yai South
Coral top at 4 m with an outer sand slope running to 30 m
Area photo: Maturos thiangtong · CC BY-SA 4.0
The southern side of Koh Khram Yai, dived as reef rather than wreck. Coral tops out at 4 m and slopes gradually to 8 m, and beyond it the outer side is bare sand falling to 30 m. Schooling fusiliers, soldierfish, groupers, blue-spotted stingrays and sea turtles all work the reef.
Where it is and how deep
12.6718° N, 100.7781° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The reef starts at the top of the coral in about 4 m and slopes gradually to 8 m, so the first half of the dive is shallow, bright and easy to hold position on. Work the coral for the schooling fish - large schools of fusilier come through, with soldierfish underneath them and groupers sitting in the structure - and check the sand between coral heads for blue-spotted stingrays.
Past the reef the outer side is only sandy slope, and it drops to 30 m. There is nothing to hide behind out there, so it is a deliberate detour rather than the body of the dive: go down for what lives on the sand, xeno crabs among them, then come back up onto the coral and spend the rest of the tank in the shallows. Barracuda pass along the edge, and sea turtles are seen here.
Marine life and season
- Reef fish swarms
- Groupers
- Stingrays
- Macro critters
- Barracuda
- Sea turtles
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Prime | Fair | Good | Fair |
Season follows Pattaya & the Sattahip Wrecks: Gulf diving is best May-September and runs year-round; the wrecks are clearest November-March, though site charts drop to 1-2 m visibility in February, August, November and December.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Koh Khram Yai South?+
The coral reef runs from about 4 m down to 8 m, and the outer sand slope beyond it falls away to 30 m.
Sources
- Koh Khram Yai South dive site — Scubago
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