Koh Mak Divers - Koh Tao

Koh Mak Divers, or simply ‘Mak Mak’ as the locals call it, often gets overlooked for some of Koh Tao’s flashier spots. But we love it. It’s a gentle slope, mostly sandy bottom with some scattered coral bommies that just invite you to slow down and really look. That's where the magic happens. We’ve spent whole dives here just hovering over a single patch of sand, watching a Blue-spotted Stingray glide past, or spotting a Blenny peeking out from its hole. The site is relatively shallow, which means plenty of light for photography, and it’s a great place to practice buoyancy without feeling rushed. You’ll find schools of Yellowstriped Cardinalfish darting between the rocks, and those enormous, almost prehistoric Black Sea Cucumbers just slowly doing their thing. We’ve seen juvenile Great Barracuda here too, sleek and silver, practicing their hunting moves. For newer divers, it’s a calm introduction to the reef. For experienced divers, it’s a reminder that sometimes the best dives are the ones where you just chill out and observe. It’s our pick for a leisurely afternoon dive, especially if you’re keen on macro life and don’t want to fight a crowd.

Location
Koh Tao, Thailand, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
11.811196, 102.476685

Marine Protected Area: Mu ko Chang

Best Time to Dive in Koh Tao

The warmest water temperatures in Koh Tao occur in May, averaging 30.6°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.3°C
  • February: 28.6°C
  • March: 29.3°C
  • April: 30.2°C
  • May: 30.6°C
  • June: 30.2°C
  • July: 30.0°C
  • August: 29.7°C
  • September: 29.4°C
  • October: 29.2°C
  • November: 29.3°C
  • December: 28.6°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Koh Tao

Nearest Dive Centres to Koh Mak Divers

Marine Life in Koh Tao

Home to 56 recorded species including 35 reef fish, 11 sharks & rays, 4 other, 2 hard corals, 1 clams & mussels, 1 sea urchins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Koh Mak Divers

Based on average water temperature of 29.5°C, currents 14 cm/s.

  • 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