Diving in Koh Rong Archipelago
Why dive here
Koh Rong Archipelago offers 33 dive sites in Cambodia. Water sits around 29°C.
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.
Koh Rong Archipelago Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Koh Rong Archipelago
Koh Rong Archipelago Dive Sites
33 dive sites in Koh Rong Archipelago
Back Door
Back Door offers a gentle introduction to diving in Koh Rong, typically a calm, shallow spot around 12m. We’ve often found schooling fusiliers here, along with the occasional cuttlefish hiding amongst the soft coral patches. It’s a good site for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed second dive. Visibility can vary, but it’s generally a pleasant, easy drift.
Banana bay
Banana Bay, tucked away in the Koh Rong Archipelago, is a solid choice for a laid-back dive. With a maximum depth of 16 meters, it’s really comfortable for beginners or anyone looking for an easy-going afternoon in the water. We’ve found the reef here is home to a good variety of smaller reef fish, things like damselfish darting between the coral heads and the occasional parrotfish munching away. It's a gentle introduction to Cambodian diving, a good spot to get your fins wet and enjoy some quiet time underwater without any challenging currents or deep sections to worry about.
Barracuda point
Barracuda Point on Koh Rong is a good spot for new divers or those looking for an easy, relaxing dive. The reef mostly hovers around 12 meters, making it perfect for extending bottom time and practicing buoyancy. You’ll usually find decent visibility here, and while we haven't seen the massive barracuda schools like its namesake in Sipadan, you often encounter smaller groups of barracuda patrolling the edges. Keep an eye out for reef fish darting amongst the soft corals, it's a pleasant introduction to the archipelago’s calmer diving.
Coral Garden
Coral Garden, off the Koh Rong Archipelago, is a solid entry-level dive. We’re looking at a maximum depth of 13 meters, which means plenty of bottom time and a relaxed pace. It’s a good spot to get comfortable if you're new to diving, or just want a chill afternoon. You’ll drift past patches of hard coral and keep an eye out for blue-spotted rays tucked into the sand, and maybe some pipefish swaying in the current. Visibility is usually decent enough to enjoy the reef's gentle slope.
Corner bar
Corner Bar sits on the edge of Koh Rong’s shallower reefs, a gentle spot perfect for shaking off the dust or for newer divers. The maximum depth of 13m means plenty of bottom time to explore the sandy patches and the scattered coral heads. We often spot pipefish tucked into the anenomes here, and the resident parrotfish always seem busy munching on the coral. It’s a good, easy dive, a comfortable introduction to the archipelago’s calmer side without any surprises.
Corral
Corral is a shallow, sheltered spot in the Koh Rong Archipelago, perfect for getting back in the water or for newer divers. The reef here tops out at 10 meters, so you’ve got plenty of bottom time to take it all in. We often find juvenile reef fish darting amongst the patches of soft coral, and on a calm day, the visibility opens right up, making it easy to spot the resident pipefish and nudibranchs. It’s not a thrill-seeker's dive, but it’s a lovely, gentle introduction to Cambodian diving.
Crabby
Crabby sits in the shallows of Koh Rong, an easy dive to 8 meters. It’s a good spot for new divers to get comfortable, with calm conditions and little current to worry about. You’ll find small reef fish moving through the soft corals here, plus the occasional crab hiding amongst the rocks. A gentle introduction to diving in Cambodia.
Dry Rock North Phu Quoc
Dry Rock North Phu Quoc is a decent spot in the Koh Rong Archipelago, especially if you're just starting out or haven't been in the water for a while. With a maximum depth of 12 meters, it's a relaxed dive. We've often found small moray eels poking out from the rocky crevices here, alongside clusters of anemones with resident clownfish. It's a comfortable, easy dive, perfect for getting your fins wet without any major surprises.
Hin ao yai
Hin ao yai, out in the Koh Rong Archipelago, is one of those easy-going spots perfect for getting back in the water after a long break, or for newer divers finding their fins. It’s a shallow site, consistently around 10m, so bottom time isn't an issue here. You’ll find plenty of small reef fish weaving through the coral patches, and we often spot cuttlefish here, sometimes in pairs, changing colours right before your eyes. It’s a comfortable, relaxed dive, ideal for photographers wanting to practice their macro skills without battling a current.
Hin Gra Dueng Pinnacle (หินกระเดื่อง)
Hin Gra Dueng Pinnacle is a solid spot in the Koh Rong Archipelago, particularly if you’re newer to diving or just looking for something relaxed. The pinnacle itself tops out around 16m, making it an easy dive with plenty of bottom time. We’ve found it’s a good place to look for those smaller reef critters – nudibranchs often hide among the rocks, and we've seen cuttlefish here too. It’s not a dramatic wall dive, but for a gentle exploration, it definitely does the trick.
Hon Bang
Hon Bang is a shallow, gentle site, perfect for newer divers or those getting back into the swing of things. At just 9m, you'll have plenty of bottom time to spot cuttlefish, anemonefish darting amongst their homes, and nudibranchs slowly making their way across the reef. It’s a relaxed dive, a good spot for building confidence in the Koh Rong Archipelago.
HTMS Chang Wreck
The HTMS Chang, a former Thai naval vessel, sits upright in about 24 metres of water, making it one of our favourite wreck dives in Southeast Asia. It’s an intermediate dive, straightforward enough for confident newer wreck divers, but with plenty to explore for those with more experience. As you descend, the sheer size of the ship starts to reveal itself, looming out of the blue. We love the swim-throughs here, particularly navigating the cargo holds and engine room, where light shafts pierce the gloom, illuminating schools of fusiliers. She’s absolutely covered in life now. Look closely and you’ll spot pipefish clinging to the railings, and we often find cuttlefish camouflaged against the hull. The bridge is a tangled mass of soft corals, often swaying with the gentle surge. Our tip: go early in the morning for the best chance of spotting Jenkins' whiprays cruising around the deck. The visibility can vary, but even on an average day, the scale of the Chang makes it a truly impressive dive.
Koh Rong Archipelago Dive Centres
13 dive shops and operators in Koh Rong Archipelago
Ocean Wildlife in Koh Rong Archipelago
21 species recorded in Koh Rong Archipelago
Koh Rong Archipelago Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Koh Rong Archipelago, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:59
Sunset
18:24
Daylight
12h 25m
Golden Hour
17:56
First light (dawn) at 05:38 · Last light (dusk) at 18:45
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:32 | 18:04 | 11h 32m |
| Feb | 06:30 | 18:16 | 11h 46m |
| Mar | 06:16 | 18:20 | 12h 3m |
| Apr | 05:58 | 18:20 | 12h 22m |
| May | 05:46 | 18:24 | 12h 38m |
| JunLongest | 05:46 | 18:32 | 12h 46m |
| Jul | 05:53 | 18:36 | 12h 43m |
| AugNow | 05:59 | 18:28 | 12h 30m |
| Sep | 05:58 | 18:10 | 12h 12m |
| Oct | 05:58 | 17:51 | 11h 54m |
| Nov | 06:05 | 17:42 | 11h 37m |
| DecShortest | 06:19 | 17:48 | 11h 29m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Koh Rong Archipelago.
Where to Stay near Koh Rong Archipelago
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Marine Protected Areas near Koh Rong Archipelago
4 protected areas near Koh Rong Archipelago - please respect local regulations when diving
ឧទ្យានជាតិ សមុទ្រកោះរុង
ឧទ្យានជាតិ ព្រះសីហនុ (រាម)
ដែនជម្រកសត្វព្រៃ ពាមក្រសោប
តំបន់រ៉ាមសារ កោះកាពិ
Getting to Koh Rong Archipelago
Ta Noun
Preah Sihanouk
Phu Quoc Island
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