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Koh Koun dive sites take less than two hours to reach by boat from Koh Rong Samloem Island and they are some of the furthest diving destinations conducted from Sihanoukville on the mainland.
This section lists all the top spots for scuba diving and snorkeling at Koh Koun, and what kind of marine life exists at this remote location in the Gulf of Thailand.
Despite being one of the secluded scuba destinations, the main reason for diving here is to experience enhanced visibility underwater.
There are only a few sand beaches and most of the inhabitants on the small islands are personnel from the Cambodian military.
Even so, Koh Koun is an awesome place for certified Open Water divers to experience some spots with deeper water.
The resort is a mass of trees and measures 80 Ha (0.8 km2) - situated to the north of Koh Rong Samloem Island.
One of the benefits of diving at Koh Koun Island is having a variety of shallow and deep water sites with calm seas and great visibility.
In fact, scuba divers can expect to experience water clarity ranging from ten (10) to thirty (30) metres throughout most of the year.
Note: Most of the islands near Preah Sihanouk province remain uninhabited. Even so, reports suggest there could be plans to develop a Casino, golf course, and an airport in the future.
There are several reasons for adding Koh Koun to our Cambodia diving list, including its vibrant reef gardens and a diverse variety of marine creatures.
Furthermore, you will find several wall dives (similar to Cobia Point Koh Rong Samloem) and steep drop-offs with no shortage of places to see big fishes (e.g. pelagic wanderers). Typical aquatic animals and marine biodiversity found in the area include:
Note: The heaviest monsoon weather affects the diving season in Cambodia from June until September. Even so, the general remoteness of Koh Koun Island dive sites renders them better suited for exploration by overnight live aboard dive boats.
For one reason or another, local divers consider the Coral Bay dive site found on the east side of the island as being one of Cambodia's best.
Once the dive boat gets there, it usually drops anchor in the shallow bay with a sandy bottom. As a result, new divers get an easy descent and steady swim at the start of the dive.
The guide may recommend a dive towards the vibrant coral reef (e.g. for beginners) as it stretches around the headland. But, divers with more experience can choose to make a muck dive by diving away from the shoreline.
Note: You should choose the muck diving route if you enjoy underwater photography. This is where you're most likely to see species of nudibranch, pipefish, seahorses, and the awe-inspiring devil-scorpionfish.
There's no shortage of beautiful dive sites around Sihanoukville, and Corner Bar is one of the best. You can find a stunning reef of hard corals with marine species aplenty.
You need to head to the west side of the island to reach this favoured location. Often, strong currents break in this region, so you can expect to catch sightings of large schooling fishes.
Note: This is one of the ideal spots for macro diving enthusiasts. So, get your cameras ready for snapping colourful soft-bodied mollusks and sawblade shrimps.
The Koh Rong Archipelago Marine Protected Area (MPA) contains a coral reef dive site (Middle Tree) that is designated as a Conservation Zone.
So, you need to have a valid reason for scuba diving and boating in this region of seagrass and mangrove habitats (e.g. for research purposes).
Note: Another section explains the key differences between marine park and marine reserve, with a list of world famous marine parks and reserves.
This diving location is usually conducted as a drift dive. Divers will glide with the current towards the Coral Bay dive site to the east of the island.
Note: It will be important to know how to use a compass while scuba diving because the route takes you towards the conservation area in the south (a no-go zone for recreational scuba divers).