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Koh Tas dive sites take around one hour from the coastal city of Sihanoukville (by boat) and it's one of the nearest diving destinations from the mainland.
This help guide lists all the top spots for scuba diving and snorkeling at Koh Tas Island and what kind of marine life exists at this tiny location in the Gulf of Thailand.
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 Tas is an accessible place to try scuba diving in sheltered spots near the beach (e.g. a shallow bay).
This is one of the least developed destinations and there are two main beaches - one in the north and the other in the south.
Despite being one of the out-of-the-way dive destinations, one reason for diving this rocky isle is for the good visibility underwater.
One of the benefits of diving at Koh Tas Island is having several shallow and deep water sites with 'relatively' clear water (up to 10 metres viz) and calm seas.
In fact, scuba divers can expect to experience water clarity ranging from ten (10) to thirty (30) metres throughout most of the year at some of the remote locations.
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 Tas to our Cambodia diving list, including its vibrant reef gardens and a diverse variety of marine creatures.
You will find the best sites for scuba diving and snorkeling in the west and the south. Maximum depths bottom out around nine metres on the ocean floor.
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: This region in Southeast Asia has a wet season from June to October and the dry season usually arrives in November until May.
The seabed in the northern zone of Koh Tas is mostly sand, with several colourful coral gardens as well as an abundance of juvenile tropical fish species.
You will also find coral bommies dotted around the dive site, creating sheltered habitats for moray eels and scorpion fish.
Note: Do you enjoy underwater photography? If so, this is where divers may see species of nudibranchs, pipefish, and seahorses.
If you choose to dive the southern side of the island you should take time to explore the beautiful shallow coral reef.
As coral bommies stretch out from the shore the landscape gently drops down the sand around seven (7) metres below the surface.
From there, you can dive deeper towards the west and eventually get down to twelve (12) metres. This is where divers have a good chance of getting close to sea anemones and other fish life.
Note: This is one of the ideal spots for macro diving enthusiasts. So, get your cameras ready for snapping colourful soft-bodied mollusks and other macro life fauna.
This favoured destination resembles many of the best dive sites at Koh Kon Island, a few more kilometres further westward.
The large rocks situated at the shoreline drop off in the south and quite abruptly in the north, eventually reaching the sandy bottom at fourteen (14) metres.
Note: Koh Kon dive sites to the west are where you should feel unlucky if you don't see box fish, sea bass, yellow goatfish, large snappers, sweetlips, and giant parrot fish.