Aow Leuk: Koh Tao's Sheltered Bay for Beginners and Snorkellers

Aow Leuk (also written Ao Leuk) is the easy-going bay of Koh Tao's south-east coast. If you search for the Aow Leuk dive site on Koh Tao, you are looking at a curve of white sand, a coral fringe that starts almost at the shoreline, and a wide flat sandy floor that has become the island's classroom for new divers.

It is also one of the best places on the island to snorkel. Small juvenile blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallows, and because the bay stays calm when the west coast is windy, dive schools, freedivers and snorkel boats all end up here. Boats from the west side usually need around 15 to 20 minutes to reach it, and you can also walk in from the beach.

Aow Leuk dive site map

1. 1Sandy beach
2. 2Northern fringing reef, 3-10 m
3. 3Southern boulders, to 15 m
4. 4Open sand, training area
5. 5Suan Olan artificial reef, 14-16 m
6. 6Coral nurseries

Diving Aow Leuk: the usual route

A typical dive starts from the beach or the boat and follows the northern reef at 5 to 10 m. The coral here is a mix of staghorn, table and boulder heads, with giant barrel sponges and Christmas tree worms sitting on the boulders.

From there you cross the sand to the artificial reef at around 14 to 16 m, spend some time looking around the structures, and then swim back along the reef for the safety stop. Skills sessions for courses stay on the sand and do not go this far.

If you only have time for one thing, make it the shallow reef on the northern side. It is where the coral and the juvenile sharks are, and it is shallow enough to stay down for a long time.

Underwater layout

The northern side has a fringing reef that rises from a few metres and slopes down to about 10 m. A broad band of sand separates it from a rockier southern end, where granite boulders reach roughly 12 to 15 m. Some guides call that southern corner Hin Ngam.

Out on the sand at around 14 to 16 m is the Suan Olan artificial reef: a reef pyramid, concrete modules and a sunken model of a mini car. Coral nursery frames run by conservation groups are also set in the bay. The map on this page is schematic, so treat the positions as a guide rather than a survey.

Marine life at Aow Leuk

• Blacktip reef sharks: small juveniles in the shallows, shy and harmless to people.
• Rays and bottom dwellers: blue-spotted stingrays on the sand, scorpionfish camouflaged on the reef.
• Reef fish: yellow boxfish, parrotfish, angelfish, anemonefish, harlequin sweetlips, titan triggerfish and yellowtail barracuda.
• Macro: Christmas tree worms, anemone crabs, sea stars and nudibranchs, which makes it a good photography site.
• Occasional visitors: eagle rays, turtles and giant clams.

Conditions and best time to dive

The bay is protected, so there is very little current. That is why it works as a fallback when the west coast is rough. June to September, when the west side is windier and boats move east, is a natural time to come, and February to May is good for general clarity.

Late October to December is the weakest stretch. The north-east monsoon can make the east side rough, and run-off cuts visibility. Because the bottom is sandy and shallow, visibility also drops after heavy rain or when divers stir up the sand. Neighbouring sites such as Shark Island and Hin Ngam are usually quoted at 10 to 25 m.

Training and freediving

Aow Leuk is used for Discover Scuba, Open Water skills, buoyancy practice and refreshers. Freediving courses run here too, and the calm water suits yoga classes on the surface. Reef-monitoring dives also happen in the bay.

The depth is gentle, from the surface down to roughly 16 to 18 m at the deepest part of the sand and artificial reef. Exact numbers vary with the tide and where you measure.

Because the water is so calm, it is also a good place to try a first snorkel before you commit to a boat trip somewhere deeper.

Tips from local divers

• Go early or late in the day for the best chance of seeing juvenile sharks.
• Keep your fins off the sand so you do not silt out the training area.
• If you enter from the beach, bring cash for the small entrance fee. Arriving by boat avoids it.
• Do not stand on the coral. The reef begins close to the sand.
• Use it as your plan B when the west coast is choppy.

Safety notes

Tour boats pass over the shallow reef, so surface with a marker and stay aware of traffic. Scorpionfish blend in with the reef, so look before you put a hand down. Shallow coral is easy to damage, so good buoyancy matters more here than depth skills.

Why dive Aow Leuk

• Juvenile blacktip reef sharks in the shallows
• Easy snorkelling straight from the beach
• Suan Olan artificial reef with a mini-car model
• Calm bay when the west coast is rough
• Coral nurseries and reef restoration work

Aow Leuk: frequently asked questions

Nearby dive sites

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