Log This Dive

Ao Tanot

Ao Tanot on Koh Tao is one of those sites we always recommend, especially if you’re looking to escape the busier spots. It’s not about huge pelagics here, but rather a proper exploration of the smaller stuff that makes the Gulf so fascinating. We love meandering through the boulders and seeing what pops out. We usually kick over to the south side first, where a jumble of granite forms cool swim-throughs and overhangs. Keep an eye out for blennies peeking from crevices, their little heads swiveling as you pass. On the sand patches, we’ve often spotted grey sweetlips hovering, and the staghorn corals here are impressively dense, almost like an underwater forest. Look closely among the branches for Miry’s demoiselles darting in and out, their electric blue flashing. This is a site for the patient diver, someone who enjoys slowing down and spotting the small pearl-spotted wrasse or a well-camouflaged rock cod. It’s perfect for a second dive of the day, when the light is softer and the crowds have usually dispersed from other spots.