Koh Lipe Diving Guide 2025 – Best Dive Sites, Seasons & Tips
Welcome to Koh Lipe – Thailand’s “Maldives”
We’ve just spent nine unforgettable days diving in Koh Lipe, often called the Maldives of Thailand. Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned diver, this island delivers everything from beginner-friendly reefs to deep, current-swept pinnacles where whale sharks sometimes pass.
Koh Lipe sits at the southern tip of Thailand, within the Tarutao National Marine Park, and while it’s famous for white-sand beaches and turquoise lagoons, the real magic lies beneath the surface.
Unlike many islands in the Andaman Sea, diving in Koh Lipe is available year-round. The park rotates site closures to allow reefs to regenerate, ensuring healthy ecosystems and excellent diving no matter when you visit. It’s one of the best examples of sustainable dive tourism in Thailand.
Where Is Koh Lipe & Why It’s a Top Dive Destination
Koh Lipe is Thailand’s southernmost island, near the Malaysian border, surrounded by over 30 diverse dive sites. It’s part of the protected Tarutao National Marine Park, a region known for pristine coral reefs and incredible biodiversity.
You’ll find:
Soft coral gardens in every colour imaginable
Rare macro species like seahorses and nudibranchs
Pelagic encounters including barracuda, trevally, and whale sharks
The island caters to all levels — from first-time divers to advanced underwater photographers — and most sites are just 10–20 minutes away by longtail boat.
Best Dive Sites in Koh Lipe
8 Mile Rock – For Advanced Adventurers
Located 30 minutes south by speedboat, 8 Mile Rock is one of Thailand’s most famous deep-water pinnacles. It’s an advanced site due to depth and strong currents — but if you’re qualified and conditions are right, it’s absolutely worth it.
Expect huge schools of trevally, barracuda, snapper, and if you’re lucky — a whale shark sighting (especially April–June). The site lies outside the marine park, meaning it’s open all year round.
We dove with Satun Dive using their speedboat to reach the site quickly and safely — highly recommended, especially in low season when winds can pick up later in the day.
Pro Tip: Bring your camera! 8 Mile Rock’s dramatic topography and schooling fish make it perfect for wide-angle photography.
Stonehenge – The Coral Cathedral
Just a 15-minute longtail ride from Sunrise Beach, Stonehenge is Koh Lipe’s signature reef dive. Named after its towering limestone pinnacles, this site bursts with pink and purple soft corals, an underwater dream for photographers and divers alike.
Depths range from 5–25 metres, so it’s suitable for Open Water divers, though currents can be moderate to strong depending on tides.
Stonehenge is open from January to October, giving it a three-month rest period to stay healthy and vibrant — another great example of the park’s sustainability approach.
Other Must-Dive Sites
If you love macro diving, Koh Lipe will surprise you. Hidden among the soft corals are tiger tail seahorses, harlequin shrimp, ghost pipefish, and even coral cat sharks resting in crevices.
Our favourite operator for macro spotting was Castaway Divers — their guides have incredible eyes for the tiny and rare.
Expect to also encounter bigfin reef squid, lionfish, morays, and blue-spotted stingrays around the sandy patches.
Pro Tip: Full-body skin protection is recommended — there are plenty of sea urchins tucked into the reef!
Diving Seasons in Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is one of Thailand’s few islands where diving is possible all year round, but each season brings a different flavour.
| Season | Months | Highlights | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Season | Nov–Apr | Calm seas, more dive sites open | Busier, higher accommodation prices |
| Low Season | May–Oct | Quieter atmosphere, whale shark chances, Stonehenge open | Occasional rain and wind |
We visited during low season (June) — and loved it.
The water was 28°C, visibility ranged from 5–25 metres, and while some sites were closed, there were still plenty to explore. We weren’t bored after nine days of diving — quite the opposite.
Underwater, we often had entire dive sites to ourselves, and on land, Koh Lipe was tranquil and relaxed. In high season, both the island and the dive sites can get very busy.
If you value space, silence, and solitude — shoulder season is gold. You’ll trade a few rain showers for an uncrowded paradise (and honestly, we’re getting wet anyway!).
Low Season Travel Tips
Expect short rain bursts — plan flexible dive days.
Book morning dives, as afternoon winds can pick up quickly.
Choose dive centres with speedboats for safer, faster returns — especially to 8 Mile Rock (we recommend Satun Dive).
Bring motion tablets if you’re prone to seasickness — surface chop can appear suddenly.
Dive Conditions & Marine Life
Water temperatures hover around 28°C year-round, so a 3mm shorty wetsuit is perfect.
Visibility can range widely — we had 25 m on calm days and 5–10 m when weather turned.
Currents are part of the Koh Lipe experience. They can be strong at exposed sites, which makes it a fantastic training ground for buoyancy control and for divers planning to visit current-heavy destinations like Komodo or the Maldives.
Eco Diving & Marine Conservation
Koh Lipe’s dive centres work hand-in-hand with Tarutao Marine Park to ensure reefs stay healthy through seasonal closures and education.
Here’s how to dive responsibly:
Use reef-safe sunscreen
Avoid touching coral or marine life
Perfect your buoyancy skills — strong currents at sites like 8 Mile Rock can challenge your control. If your buoyancy isn’t quite there yet, maintain extra distance from the reef to avoid fin kicks or accidental damage.
Respect park regulations and local conservation projects.
Every dive is a chance to protect what you love — and Koh Lipe is an ideal place to practice eco-conscious diving.
Diving Logistics – What to Expect
Most dive centres in Koh Lipe operate from traditional longtail boats that depart directly from the beach. Depending on tides, you might need to wade through shallow water to board.
Longtails offer a charming, local experience — but limited space, so if you’re carrying camera rigs or video housings, a speedboat operator may be better suited.
Prices across dive centres are capped by local dive centre agreement and regulation, keeping training and fun dives consistent across operators. During low season, many centres even offer free or discounted accommodation with dive packages.
Is Koh Lipe Good for Beginners?
Yes — Koh Lipe is one of Thailand’s best destinations for new divers.
Shallow, calm reefs and gentle currents make it ideal for Open Water training, while advanced divers will find exciting challenges at 8 Mile Rock and deeper pinnacles.
As PADI Scuba Diving Professionals, who’ve taught and mentored hundreds of students across Asia, we rate Koh Lipe as Thailand’s most balanced diving destination — easy enough for beginners, but still thrilling for advanced divers.
Our Personal Experience
We spent nine days diving here — and loved every minute. From macro marvels to coral cat sharks, Koh Lipe exceeded our expectations.
Our highlight? Stonehenge glowing in the afternoon light and a surprise encounter with a tiger tail seahorse.
We appreciated the peaceful atmosphere of low season — no crowded boats, no surface chaos, just pure connection with the ocean.
It’s easy to see why Koh Lipe is called the Maldives of Thailand — but underwater, it’s so much more.
Final Thoughts
Koh Lipe offers year-round diving, vibrant coral gardens, whale shark encounters, and world-class macro life — all within a few minutes from shore.
Whether you’re a beginner learning to clear your mask or a seasoned diver chasing pelagics, Koh Lipe deserves a spot on your Thailand dive list.
To us, it’s a rare balance: adventure and tranquility, accessibility and authenticity.
🎥 Watch our full Koh Lipe Diving Guide on YouTube for cinematic underwater footage, or download our free Dive Trip Packing Checklist
Read next: Top Dive Sites in the Andaman Sea, Thailand – Ultimate Diver’s Guide
