Koh Tao
Ko Tao · Turtle Island · Mae Hat Bay
10°5.9'N 99°50.6'E
Depth
3–15m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Fair
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
Set 80m radius in Mae Hat Bay on the western coast. Sandy patches among coral give fair holding — snorkel to verify before setting. The island's ferry pier is in Mae Hat Bay — anchor clear of the channel. World-renowned dive site.
About This Anchorage
Koh Tao (Turtle Island) is Thailand's premier scuba diving destination, with some of the Gulf of Thailand's best coral reefs and clear water. Mae Hat Bay on the western coast is the main anchorage and ferry pier. The island is compact with multiple bays offering anchorage depending on wind direction. World-class diving and snorkeling directly from the boat in some locations. PADI dive training courses are extremely popular and inexpensive here.
Protected From
E · SE · S
Exposed To
N · NW · W
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (dive site mooring buoys available — use buoys at dive sites)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Do not anchor on coral reefs. Use mooring buoys at designated dive sites. Chumphon Pinnacle, Sail Rock, and Shark Island have permanent moorings — tie to these instead of anchoring.
Hazards
- !Coral reefs throughout — snorkel before anchoring in any bay
- !Ferry traffic in Mae Hat Bay — several ferries daily from mainland and islands
- !Dive boat traffic constant during daylight — watch for divers' surface markers (SMBs)
- !Squid fishing boats at night — very bright lights; can be distracting
Skipper's Tips
- →Mae Hat Bay has the best facilities — pier, restaurants, dive shops, provisions
- →Use mooring buoys at dive sites — never anchor on the reef
- →Snorkeling from the boat in the outer bays is excellent
- →Koh Nang Yuan is 1nm northwest — stunning three-island connected by sand bars
Facilities
Full range of restaurants, dive shops, and beach bars in Mae Hat village
Nearest provisions: Mae Hat village (0.2nm)
Best Months & Season
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Best April–October (SW monsoon). Mae Hat Bay is sheltered from W/SW in SW monsoon. NE monsoon (November–February) the western bays are exposed — anchor in the eastern bays.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
In the Gulf of Thailand, unexpected NE squalls can develop overnight and ferry wash can drag an unmonitored anchor. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — so you can enjoy the Full Moon Party, dive sites, and tropical evenings knowing your boat is protected.
Download Free for iOS