Diving and watersports in Thong Nai Pan

The Gulf of Thailand has one five star rated PADI diving site. It's called Sail Rock and it's about 2 hours by boat from Thong Nai Pan. Other noteworthy sites are Chumphon Pinnacles and Angthong Marine Park. There is a wide variety of marine life to see including blue ringed angel fish, green turtles, whale sharks, hexagon groupers and clown fish. If you don't want to travel far there is Koh Mah and Koh Tae Nok, both small islands near Koh Phangan where there is live coral and an abundance of marine life to see.

On Thong Nai Pan Noi there are two dive shops: H20 Scuba and Tropical Dive Club. H20 is on the road leading down to the beach and Star Huts. Tropical Dive Club is beach front next to Baan Pongs. Tropical Dive Club is the only dive shop with its own speed boat. For directions to both places see the map in the restaurants section. On Thong Nai Pan Yai there is Dreamland Diver which is affliated to Dreamland Resort. For directions click here. All three shops offer a full range of PADI courses and recreational dives. On Thong Nai Pan Noi you can normally find Lee at Handsome Sandwich. He is vastly experienced and offers PADi courses and fun dives.

Most resorts will organise boat and snorkelling trips which usually include lunch and transfers.

From November to February there is often a few waves in the bay. Be careful of the under tow. A few days a year it's too dangerous to swim but most of the time a bit of swell makes kayaking and body boarding great fun. You can rent kayaks at Panviman and Baan Panburi in Noi and at Dreamland Resort and Candlehut Resort in Yai.

On calm days there are often 2 jet skis for hire. Parascending is sometimes available in the high season; and on occasion, the Jungle Bar boys can be seen out on the 'Lovely Jumbly' speed boat practising water skiing.

For those who prefer to stay on the beach there is often a volley ball game going around 5pm when it gets cooler.