Diving Chumphon

Explore diving Chumphon

Chumphon is Thailand's mainland gateway to Koh Tao, and its own dive sites lie in Mu Ko Chumphon National Park, about 17 km off the coast. Most diving is around two limestone islands, Ko Ngam Yai and Ko Ngam Noi (also written Koh Ngam), and the rocks nearby. There are around 11 dive sites: Suntudsamut 4 wreck, Hin Lak Ngam, HTMS Prab wreck, Ko Ngam Noi, Ko Ngam Yai, Hin Chedi, Cave Front, Hin Pae, Sam Laem, Ko Ran Pet and Ko Ran Gai. The HTMS Prab, a 1944 landing ship sunk as an artificial reef in 2011, has its deck at 17-18 m. Suitable for Open Water Divers, while Hin Lak Ngam and Sam Laem go below 25 m for Advanced divers. Expect hard and soft corals, anemones, snapper and barracuda schools, hawksbill turtles and nudibranchs, with fewer boats than at Koh Tao.

When to dive Chumphon

Chumphon's dive season runs from February to October. April to August usually brings the calmest sea and the best visibility, often up to about 20 m on the outer sites; September is also calm but is the wettest month. From mid-October to mid-February the northeast monsoon brings wind and waves, and most Chumphon dive boats stop. Water is around 29°C all year, so a 3 mm shorty or full suit is enough. Local dive logs show whale sharks from March to October, with the 2025 peak in August-September. Sightings are never guaranteed. Whale sharks are a reserved (protected) species in Thailand: keep your distance, never touch them and never block their path.

Book your diving Chumphon

Common marine life sightings for Chumphon

More Information

By air: fly from Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) to Chumphon (CJM) with Nok Air or Thai AirAsia, about 1 hour. The airport is in Pathio, about 35 km north of town; vans run to town and the beaches. Most international flights land at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK).

By train: long-distance Southern Line trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok. Overnight sleepers take about 7-9 hours and arrive late at night or before dawn.

Book at dticket.railway.co.th.

By bus: from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal, about 7-8 hours for the roughly 460 km trip.

Going on to Koh Tao? Chumphon is the main mainland port. Lomprayah boats leave from Thung Makham pier and Boonsiri from Pak Nam, about 1 h 45 min to 2 h. Many divers stop a day or two to dive the national park first.

Time Zone

UTC+07:00

Phone

+66

Currency

THB

Voltage

220-240 V

Pressure

Bar (bar)

Plug

A, B, C

Languages

Chinese, English, Thai, Malay

1st Stage

INT / Yoke / K

Domestic airports

Chumphon Airport (CJM)

International airports

Don Mueang Intl. (DMK),

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)

Thanks, from PADI.

This page wouldn't be possible without contributions from the following PADI members: Sensui Dive Center, Duck n Dive Koh Tao. Disclaimer

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