While the Cardamom and Elephant Mountains are renowned for their rainforests and wildlife, the nearby coastline and islands in Koh Kong Province offer excellent opportunities for scuba diving in Cambodia. Offshore islands such as Koh Sdach feature coral reefs, rocky outcrops, and sandy seabeds teeming with tropical marine life. Divers can encounter reef fish, nudibranchs, seahorses, rays, and occasional turtles in warm waters. With relatively uncrowded dive sites and a peaceful atmosphere, diving near the Cardamom Mountains is ideal for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path underwater adventure in the Gulf of Thailand.
The best time for scuba diving near the Cardamom and Elephant Mountains is from November to May, during Cambodia’s dry season. Water temperatures remain warm throughout the year, typically between 27°C and 30°C, while visibility is often at its best during the calmer months, reaching 10–20 metres. The rainy season from June to October may reduce visibility due to increased runoff, although diving remains possible depending on local conditions.
To access dive sites near the Cardamom and Elephant Mountains, most visitors fly into Phnom Penh International Airport and travel by road to Koh Kong, a journey of around 4–5 hours. From Koh Kong, local boats transport divers to nearby islands and reefs in the Gulf of Thailand. Although less developed than Cambodia’s southern islands, the region offers authentic dive experiences, uncrowded reefs, and easy access to both rainforest adventures and tropical scuba diving.
Technical Diving
Freediving
Emergency First Response
FREE – Introduction to Scuba Diving Online
Marine Debris
Shark & Ray Protection
Adopt a Dive Site
