Phuket · Thailand · Reef · Drift · Sand slope
Koh Hey Coral Bay
A wreck at 8 m and a drift south down a slope that reaches 40 m
Area photo: Jeanvenotella · CC BY-SA 4.0
A small bay on Koh Hey (Coral Island) with a small wreck at 8 m, corals around it and a slope that runs down onto sand. From the bay the dive can be turned into a drift southwards, where the depth reaches 40 m. Visibility is the variable: 3 to 5 m is common, but on good days it opens to more than 20 m, and with luck big schools of yellow snappers move through.
Also known as Coral Island Coral Bay, Koh Hey/Coral Bay.
Where it is and how deep
7.7402° N, 98.3733° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The dive begins in the bay, which is small and shallow enough that the first feature comes almost at once: a small wreck lying at 8 m. Spend time on it and on the corals around it, because this is the shallow, easy part of the site and the best of the reef. From the wreck the bottom slopes away, and the coral gives way to sand as you go deeper, so the shape of the dive is a gradual descent down the slope from the bay.
The second option is to drift. Heading south out of the bay the slope continues down, and the depth along it reaches 40 m, so this version of the dive is planned as a drift with the boat following and the depth set by your certification. Visibility decides how much of it you see: 3 to 5 m is typical, but on good days it clears to more than 20 m and, if you are lucky, big schools of yellow snappers appear. Ascend from the slope and surface to the boat.
Marine life and season
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Phuket: Calm, dry conditions mid-Oct to May; the May–Oct monsoon cuts clarity but Phuket's sites stay open, unlike the Similans (closed 16 May–15 Oct).
Know before you go
- Visibility is often only 3 to 5 m; stay close to your buddy and the guide, especially on the drift out of the bay.
- The slope south reaches 40 m; agree a maximum depth before the drift and watch the computer, because the slope offers no natural stopping point.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Koh Hey Coral Bay?+
The small wreck in the bay lies at 8 m. The slope to the south goes down to 40 m, so the depth depends on whether you stay in the bay or drift.
What is the visibility like at Koh Hey?+
It varies a lot: 3 to 5 m is common, but on good days visibility opens to more than 20 m.
Sources
- Koh Hey Coral Bay — Scubago
More dive sites in Phuket
Pinnacle
Large schools of barracuda on an exposed pinnacle in strong current
Reef
Boulders and coral off Karon Beach, dived from the shore in mild current
A 34 m barge lying open at 30 to 34 m off Racha Yai's east coast
Reef
A 3 to 12 m house reef off the beach for training, macro and night dives
Wreck
Small wrecks and concrete cubes in one calm bay, with batfish in the hulls
Similar dives elsewhere
Scattered boulders on sand, with overhangs holding the fish life
A gentle drift over coral and sand to 18 m
Coral top at 4 m with an outer sand slope running to 30 m
A coral-covered rock standing alone on the sand