Diving in Cambodia

Southeast Asia

2 regions

48 dive sites

Look, we’ll be straight with you, Cambodia isn’t going to rival Raja Ampat for coral health or the Philippines for sheer number of species, but it absolutely holds its own unique charm. Think of it as Southeast Asia’s quiet achiever. The Koh Rong Archipelago is your go-to for easily accessible diving, with healthy stretches of reef still recovering and plenty of macro life if you take your time. We’ve found cleaner wrasse diligently working, horseshoe crabs plodding along the sand, and those shy pink anemonefish tucked into their homes. For something a bit more adventurous, and where Cambodia truly shines, head out to Koh Tang and the more distant offshore islands. The boat ride can be a bit of a commitment, but the reward is often clearer water and bigger schools of fusiliers. We’ve spotted narrow-barred Spanish mackerel darting through, and the deeper sections can reveal sharptooth snappers. Visibility is generally best from November to May, before the heavier rains stir things up. It’s a developing dive destination, for sure, but that’s part of its appeal - you’re often sharing the sites with just a handful of other divers, which we always appreciate.

Cambodia Dive Regions

2 diving areas in Cambodia

Koh Rong Archipelago

The Koh Rong Archipelago still feels a bit like the Wild West of Southeast Asian diving, and we love that. It’s got a raw, untamed energy you don't find much anymore. You'll spend your days exploring reefs and pinnacles around the islands, often with just your boat on the horizon. Our favourite spots are often the less-travelled ones, where you can find blacktip reef sharks circling the deeper edges of the reefs and massive schools of blacktip ponyfish swirling like silver clouds. We've had fantastic luck spotting Hawksbill turtles munching on corals in the shallows around Koh Rong Sanloem, especially during the calmer mornings. The coral here is healthier than you might expect, with some genuinely impressive sea grape and anemone patches sheltering pink anemonefish. Dive the small wrecks for a chance to spot a Pharaoh cuttlefish or even a shy Oriental sole camouflaged against the sand. Visibility hovers around the 10-15 metre mark on most days, occasionally stretching to 20 metres in the dry season, making it perfect for intermediate divers looking for something a bit different. Go soon, before everyone else discovers it.

33 dive sites

Koh Tang & Offshore

Koh Tang. Ah, Koh Tang. It’s a trek to get out here, but for our money, these offshore islands are where Cambodia’s diving truly shines. We’re talking proper visibility, often pushing 20 metres, and currents that bring in some serious pelagic action you just don't get closer to shore. The dive sites here are a mix of sloping reefs, dramatic walls, and a few wrecks that have become artificial reefs. We particularly love the feeling of being truly remote; the water just feels… wilder. Keep an eye out for the Golden Trevally cruising the deeper sections, and if you’re lucky, a flash of a Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel darting past. One of our favourite sites has a surprisingly healthy patch of cymodocea seagrass where we’ve spotted Indonesian Bamboosharks snoozing, and once, a tiny Hedgehog Seahorse clinging on. It’s not the colourful coral gardens you might find elsewhere in Southeast Asia, but the sheer abundance of fish, those schools of Yellowstripe Scad, the occasional Crazy Fish peeking from a crevice, makes it consistently interesting. The journey involves a longer boat ride, sometimes a bit choppy, but the reward is worth it for the better conditions and the chance to see some of Cambodia’s larger marine residents.

15 dive sites