Dive Site: Koh Dok Mai

About Koh Dok Mai

Koh Dok Mai, meaning 'Flower Island,' is a distinctive limestone outcrop located in Thailand's Andaman Sea, between Phuket and Phi Phi Islands. This small island is renowned for its dramatic vertical walls that plunge to depths of 30 meters, creating an exceptional site for wall diving. The topography features a less steep west side with hard coral growth extending from 12 to 20 meters, while the more popular east side presents sheer walls riddled with numerous cracks and crevices. Two notable caves, a large and a small one, are found on the east face, offering divers a chance to explore sheltered environments. While not explicitly seasonal for specific species, the site is known year-round for its abundant small marine life, including tiger-tail seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, and various nudibranchs. The cracks and overhangs provide shelter for an array of small reef creatures. Diving here typically involves following the wall, allowing for detailed observation of the intricate ecosystem. The site is accessible via day boat trips from Phuket and is often combined with other nearby dive locations, providing a varied dive itinerary.

Dive site facts: Koh Dok Mai

Depth

5–30 m

Typical dive

12–25 m, 50–60 min

Current

Mild to moderate

Visibility

15–30 m

Water temperature

28–30°C

Entry

Boat / negative entry

Level

Open Water Diver, Advanced recommended for caves

Dive type

Wall, macro, drift, cave/cavern

Night dive

Possible

Region / port

Phuket, Andaman Sea

Coordinates

7.9786° N, 98.8445° E

Conditions & Currents

Currents at Koh Dok Mai can range from mild to moderate, especially along the island's exposed walls. Divers should be prepared for potential drift, particularly when navigating the east side. Visibility typically ranges from 15 to 30 meters during the peak season, though plankton blooms can occasionally reduce it, potentially attracting larger pelagic species. Water temperatures are consistently warm, averaging 28-30°C. Entry is typically a negative or controlled descent directly onto the wall, allowing divers to quickly reach the desired depth and begin their exploration along the feature. Maintaining good buoyancy control is crucial, especially when investigating cracks and overhangs or nearing the cave entrances.

Marine life & sighting chances

Tiger-tail seahorse

occasional

Ornate ghost pipefish

occasional

Nudibranchs

common

Angelfish

common

Scorpionfish

occasional

Lionfish

common

Pufferfish

common

Dancing shrimps

common

Boxfish

occasional

Leopard shark

rare

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Divers typically enter the water from the day boat and descend directly along the limestone wall of Koh Dok Mai. The dive usually begins on the more popular east side, which features numerous cracks and crevices, including access points to a large cave and a smaller, more challenging cave. Throughout the dive, you can explore the wall's many overhangs and small ledges, looking for macro life. The dive progresses along the wall, allowing for a thorough investigation of the diverse hard and soft corals. The maximum depth of 30 meters is usually reached early in the dive, followed by a gradual ascent as divers continue their exploration. The dive concludes with a safety stop along the shallower parts of the wall or in the blue, depending on current conditions, before ascending to the boat.

Underwater photography

Koh Dok Mai is a macro photographer's dream, with subjects like tiger-tail seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, and countless nudibranchs hiding in the wall's cracks and soft corals. A macro lens (60mm or 100mm) is highly recommended. For the caves, a wide-angle lens can capture the dramatic entrance and unique topography, but careful lighting with strobes or video lights is essential due to the limited ambient light. Buoyancy control is paramount to avoid disturbing delicate marine life and stirring up sediment within the caves. Take care to illuminate small subjects without overexposing their surroundings, and always respect the integrity of the wall and its inhabitants, especially when photographing fragile corals or shy creatures.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Shark Point

  Known for leopard sharks and vibrant soft corals on three pinnacles.

• Anemone Reef

  A submerged pinnacle teeming with anemones and clownfish, close to Shark Point.

• King Cruiser Wreck

  A passenger ferry wreck, popular for fish schools and structure exploration.

• Koh Phi Phi — Bida Nai

  Offers walls, reef, and swim-throughs, often combined with Koh Dok Mai itineraries.

Getting there & logistics

Diving at Koh Dok Mai is primarily facilitated by day boat trips originating from Phuket, Thailand. Phuket International Airport (HKT) serves as the main gateway, with frequent domestic flights from Bangkok (BKK) and international connections. Typical dive itineraries often combine Koh Dok Mai with nearby sites like Shark Point, Anemone Reef, and the King Cruiser Wreck, making for a full day of diving. While there are no specific marine park fees mentioned for this individual site, some wider regional dive areas or liveaboard routes may incur national park charges. The duration of trips to this site is generally a single day, returning to Phuket each evening.

Safety & environment

The nearest recompression chamber is located in Phuket, providing critical support for diving emergencies. Evacuation from Koh Dok Mai to Phuket would typically involve boat transfer followed by land transport, which can take several hours depending on sea conditions and traffic. Divers are strongly advised to carry comprehensive dive insurance that covers medical emergencies, evacuation, and recompression treatment. Site-specific hazards include potentially strong currents, especially at certain times, which can necessitate drift diving techniques. The small cave on the east side requires a cavern specialty or equivalent certification for penetration due to its narrow and extended nature; divers without this training should not attempt entry. Always adhere to your divemaster's instructions and maintain awareness of your depth, air consumption, and no-decompression limits, particularly in areas with deeper profiles or inside enclosed spaces.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Koh Dok Mai FAQ

Liveaboards diving Koh Dok Mai

These liveaboards may visit Koh Dok Mai on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Mandarin Queen 9

Thailand

26 guests37.5 m

Manta Queen 8

Thailand

24 guests

$127/day

The Junk

Thailand

18 guests33 m

$163/day

Deep Andaman Queen

Thailand

23 guests30.5 m

$194/day

Explorer

Thailand

16 guests25 m

$150/day

Andaman

Thailand

20 guests26 m

$108/day

Stingray

Thailand

8 guests24 m

$245/day

Seatopia

Thailand

24 guests24 m