Koh Tachai Pinnacle

Koh Tachai Pinnacle is a twin-granite-pinnacle site with dramatic topography: the larger southern dome tops at about 10–12 m and the smaller northern peak around 18 m, set among large granite boulders, caverns and swim-through channels with hard corals, soft corals and gorgonians. Marine life is exceptionally abundant and a main attraction, with frequent sightings of manta rays and whale sharks in high season and large schools of trevally, tuna and chevron barracuda circling the pinnacles. Access is by boat only, with divers descending a mooring line to the reef top; day-trip speedboat visits are forbidden so the site is generally dived from liveaboards. Depths at the pinnacles range from about 10 m at the top to over 30 m at the base. Visibility is typically 20–35 m or more and water temperatures are around 27–30 °C. Currents can be moderate to very strong and dives often become drift-style; divers commonly seek shelter behind boulders or hug the reef to manage surge. Because of the depth, currents and drift conditions the site is recommended for intermediate-to-advanced divers.