Sail Rock Diving 2025–2026: The Ultimate Guide from Koh Phangan

Alan Duncan
4 days ago
2 min read

(by The Dive Inn – Chaloklum’s original Dive Center since 2002)

Sail Rock (Hin Bai in Thai) is widely regarded as the best dive site in the Gulf of Thailand – and for good reason.

Every year, thousands of divers from Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and even Koh Samui make the journey to this legendary pinnacle to swim with whale sharks, massive schools of barracuda and clouds of trevally.In this complete 2025–2026 guide we tell you everything you need to know before booking your Sail Rock dive trip from Koh Phangan:

When is the absolute best time to see whale sharks in 2025–2026
Current 2025 prices & what is included
How to get the clearest water (30 m+ visibility)
Why Sail Rock is better from Koh Phangan than from Koh Tao
Full marine life calendar
Tips for photographers & first-time visitors

Best Time to Dive Sail Rock in 2025–2026

Visibility & whale shark calendar (updated December 2025)

Month	Visibility	Water Temp	Whale Shark Probability	Notes
December–February	10–25 m	27–29 °C	Medium	Calm seas, perfect for Open Water students
March–May	20–30 m	28–30 °C	HIGH	Peak season – best chance for whale sharks
June–August	15–25 m	29–30 °C	Medium-High	Fewer crowds, still excellent
September–November	10–20 m	28–29 °C	Low	Green season – great local discounts

2025–2026 Prices – Sail Rock Day Trip from Koh Phangan

(all prices include full equipment, breakfast, lunch, fruits, water, tea/coffee, dive guide & dive insurance)

Trip Type	Price 2025–2026	Dives	Notes
Fun Diving (certified)	3,100 THB	2	Free rental computer for divers!
Try DIving	4,100 THB	2	No experience needed
Open Water Course	12,900 THB	4	Get your certification
Advanced Open Water+	12,900 THB	6	Level up! AOW in three days.

Why Dive Sail Rock from Koh Phangan (Not Koh Tao) in 2025

Shorter boat ride – only 60 minutes from Chaloklum
vs 1.5–2 hours from Koh Tao
Smaller groups – we take maximum 4 divers per guide
(many Koh Tao boats take 8–12)
Less crowded site – you often have the pinnacle to yourself in the morning
Better value – same site, lower price, more personal service