Species spotlights, seasonal sightings and the reef characters worth knowing by name.
21 stories
Marine LifeA dive-site-first guide to Koh Tao's three offshore pinnacles — depths, who can dive them, where the whale sharks, barracuda and trevally sit, and how to position yourself to see them.
Marine LifeWhere we take you for your first dives on Koh Tao and why — the shallow-sand training sites by season, the reefs you move on to, and the marine life each one is known for.
Marine LifeFrom barracuda and trevally to lionfish, cuttlefish, pufferfish, boxfish, moray eels, batfish and sea kraits — a species-by-species guide to the marine life you can meet on Koh Tao's reefs.
Marine LifeEverything about Koh Tao's blacktip reef sharks — how to identify them, how they behave and hunt, the bays where you can reliably see them, the best time of day, and how to watch them responsibly.
Marine LifeBluefin, Bigeye, Golden and Gold-spotted trevally — how to tell Koh Tao's four trevally species apart, where and when to see them, how they hunt and school, and how to observe them responsibly.
Marine LifeHow to identify the white-eyed moray, how it hunts and breathes, where to find it on Koh Tao's dive sites, and why this misunderstood predator matters for reef health.
Marine LifeEverything about the bigfin reef squid of Koh Tao — how they hunt, communicate and change colour, the best dive sites and times to find them on night dives, and how to observe them without causing alarm.
Marine LifeMeet the three pufferfish species you can see diving Koh Tao — the Giant Puffer, the Porcupinefish (including Steve, the Junkyard's celebrity) and the Seal-faced Puffer — plus where to find them and how to interact responsibly.
Marine LifeHow to identify the Red Lionfish, where it shelters around Koh Tao, when it hunts, how to stay safe around its venomous spines and how to photograph it respectfully.
Marine LifeHow to identify, spot and safely observe the venomous, perfectly camouflaged Bearded Scorpionfish — plus the Koh Tao dive sites where you are most likely to find one.
Marine LifeKoh Tao hosts three barracuda species — the Great, Chevron and Pickhandle — each with its own look, behaviour and favourite dive sites. Learn to tell them apart, where to find them and how to position yourself safely around a barracuda tornado.
Marine LifeWhere and when to spot banded sea kraits around Koh Tao, how to identify them, how to observe them safely, and why these venomous but placid sea snakes matter for the reef.
Marine LifeWhere to find yellow boxfish at Koh Tao dive sites like White Rock, Twins and Japanese Gardens, how they behave, what they eat and how to observe and photograph them responsibly.
Marine LifeWhere and when to find cuttlefish around Koh Tao, how their colour-changing camouflage works, what their courtship and hunting look like, and how to observe them without causing stress.
Marine LifeWhich jellyfish live around Koh Tao, when you're most likely to see them, which ones actually sting, what to do if you're stung — and how the island compares with Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
Marine LifeBlue-spotted ribbontail rays, Jenkins' whip rays and the rare eagle ray — how to identify each species, where and when to find them around Koh Tao, and how to watch them responsibly.
Marine LifeThe complete guide to diving with Koh Tao's triggerfish — the titan and yellow-margin species, where to find them (White Rock, Green Rock and the famous Trigger Pit), their territorial behaviour and how to stay safe.
Marine LifeWhen and where to see whale sharks around Koh Tao, how to dive and snorkel with them safely and respectfully, and how you can help protect the ocean's gentle giants.
Marine LifeThe state of marine conservation in Koh Tao — the island's biodiversity, the threats its reefs face, the artificial reef, coral nursery and clean-up programmes protecting them, and how visitors can help.
Marine LifeSea turtles are keystone species — they control jellyfish, keep seagrass beds and coral reefs healthy and signal the state of the ocean. Here is why they matter, what threatens them and how you can help.
Marine LifeHow and why corals bleach — the coral-algae relationship, the temperature thresholds that break it, what happens to a reef afterwards, and what divers can do to help.
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