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News report on Koh Tachai overcrowding and tourism restrictions.
Koh Tachai, Ao Lek is a remote Andaman drift dive with coral blocks.
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Koh Tachai, Ao Lek is a boat-access drift dive with big rocks, coral blocks, and an active current that makes the site feel alive. The long profile rewards patient buoyancy and a guide who can time the entry and exit around the water movement. Visibility can be excellent in season, but the site is less forgiving when the current turns or the park is outside its open window. Expect reef fish, turtles, boxfish, morays, pufferfish, and the occasional sea snake.
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
18m - 25m
Depth Note
Mooring-line access starts around 18 m and the main profile runs to about 25 m.
Best Season
November to April, with the park open from mid-October to mid-May.
Typical Conditions
Open-water coral blocks and boulders, medium-strong current, usually calm surface, and good visibility in the dry season.
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Safety Notes
Listen closely to the briefing, use the mooring line, and keep awareness of current and sea snakes.
Access Restrictions
Boat access only, with seasonal national-park rules and guide-led descents on the mooring line.
Legal Notes
Similan National Park access is seasonal, and the island beach is closed to the public.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
A long drift profile over rocks, coral blocks, and boulders; better for controlled buoyancy than for casual cruising.
Freediving
Not a good freedive target except in limited shallow sections and only if the operator explicitly allows it.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is generally not the point here; the site is set up for scuba and park access is seasonal.
Use the planner to scan this week, inspect today in local time, and understand how exposure shapes conditions at Koh Tachai, Ao Lek.
Directional shelter context for incoming swell.
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
No Dive Logs Yet
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Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Planning answers for access, conditions, timing, and site logistics.
Last Updated
Research Sources
News report on Koh Tachai overcrowding and tourism restrictions.
General Koh Tachai article with topography, coral structure, and current notes.
Detailed Koh Tachai conditions page with current, visibility, crowding, and marine life.
Dive-center page with seasonality, access, and operator support.
Know this site? Improve Spot Details.
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