M’Pai Bay house reef - Koh Rong Archipelago
M’Pai Bay’s house reef is a gentle introduction to diving in Cambodia. We’re talking about a maximum depth of 7m, perfect for new divers or those looking for a relaxed refresher. You’ll spend your time here exploring sandy patches and small coral bommies, home to pipefish, juvenile snapper, and sometimes a grumpy stonefish blending perfectly with the bottom. It’s not a drift dive, just an easygoing bob around, and we often use it for skill practice before heading to deeper sites. Visibility can vary, but on a good day, it’s a calm, easy dive for spotting smaller critters.
- Location
- Koh Rong Archipelago, Cambodia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 10.623600, 103.295700
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 7m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: ឧទ្យានជាតិ សមុទ្រកោះរុង
Best Time to Dive in Koh Rong Archipelago
The warmest water temperatures in Koh Rong Archipelago occur in January, averaging 29.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 29.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.1°C (air: 27.0°C)
- February: 29.1°C (air: 27.3°C)
- March: 29.1°C (air: 27.9°C)
- April: 29.1°C (air: 28.8°C)
- May: 29.1°C (air: 29.0°C)
- June: 29.1°C (air: 28.4°C)
- July: 29.1°C (air: 27.8°C)
- August: 29.1°C (air: 27.8°C)
- September: 29.1°C (air: 27.4°C)
- October: 29.1°C (air: 27.4°C)
- November: 29.1°C (air: 28.0°C)
- December: 29.1°C (air: 27.6°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Koh Rong Archipelago
- Back Door - 12m
- Banana bay - 16m (reef)
- Barracuda point - 12m
- Coral Garden - 13m (reef)
- Corner bar - 13m
- Corral - 10m (reef)
- Crabby - 8m
- Dry Rock North Phu Quoc - 12m
- Hin ao yai - 10m
- Hin Gra Dueng Pinnacle (หินกระเดื่อง) - 16m (pinnacle)
- Hon Bang - 9m
- HTMS Chang Wreck - 24m (wreck)
- HTMS CHONBURI - 12m (wreck)
- HTMS SONGKHLA - 12m (wreck)
- Koh Kon - 5-18m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to M’Pai Bay house reef
- BB Divers - PADI
- BBDivers - PADI
- Bubbles Up! Dive Center
- Koh Mak Divers
- Koh Rong Dive Center - ["PADI"]
- MCC
Marine Life in Koh Rong Archipelago
Home to 24 recorded species including 18 reef fish, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 other, 1 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- Oriental sole (Brachirus orientalis) - Reef Fish
- Big-eye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Common Ponyfish (Leiognathus equula) - Reef Fish
- Six-banded Rock Cod (Epinephelus sexfasciatus) - Reef Fish
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Green Rrough-backed Puffer (Lagocephalus lunaris) - Reef Fish
- Deep Flounder (Pseudorhombus elevatus) - Reef Fish
- Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) - Reef Fish
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Crazy Fish (Butis butis) - Reef Fish
- Redcoat (Sargocentron rubrum) - Reef Fish
- Lattice monocle bream (Scolopsis taenioptera) - Reef Fish
- Crescent Grunter (Terapon jarbua) - Reef Fish
- Striated Locust Lobster (Eduarctus martensii) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Deep Body Silver Biddy (Gerres erythrourus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
- Banded archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix) - Reef Fish
- Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
- Silver moony (Monodactylus argenteus) - Reef Fish
- Remora (Echeneis naucrates) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for M’Pai Bay house reef
Based on average water temperature of 29.1°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories