Chumphon Pinnacle

Chumphon Pinnacle is a large granite pinnacle rising from about 35-40 meters up to roughly 14 meters below the surface, with high-relief terrain whose top is carpeted in sea anemones that host many pink anemonefish. The site is an open-ocean pinnacle known for strong pelagic activity and frequent visits by large trevallies, barracudas, reef predators and seasonal megafauna such as whale sharks and reef manta rays. Access is by boat (about 10-12 kilometers northwest of Koh Tao, roughly 40 minutes) and dives typically follow the sloping sides of the pinnacle. Maximum depths reach about 35-40 meters and the site is suitable only for advanced divers; conditions include open-water offshore currents with moderate to strong flows and occasional surges. Visibility is often 10-30 meters (occasionally up to 40 meters) and the water is warm year-round; divers must pay careful attention to depth and no-decompression limits.