Chumphon Town is the small provincial capital of Chumphon province 500km south of Bangkok on the east coast of Thailand. It's an intersection between roads north, south and west and is also a ferry departure point for Koh Tao. The area is little dived and the reefs here are more healthy with many fewer divers on them than Koh Tao.

International tourism hasn't reached this area and the atmosphere is laid back, Divers can stay in Chumphon town but better alternatives are to stay at Sai Ree Beach to the south or at Thung Wua Laen beach 15km north. These relaxed beach resort areas have some simple bungalow accommodation and a few basic bars and restaurants. Both beaches have two dive centres offering local daytrip dives. If you would like a more Thai style holiday away from the crowds this may be the area for you. The visibility is not as good as on the west coast of Thailand, especially the sites closer to the coast because of freshwater run off from the Taphao river but there are still many islands with interesting dive sites to explore. More dive sites keep being found and there are potentially dozens of wrecks in the area just waiting to be discovered.

The best time to dive Chumphon is May to October. The best dive sites are clustered together about 1.5km sail east from Thung Wua Laen beach.

Koh Ngam Yai or East Cliff Rocks as it is alternatively known is home to thousands of edible nest swiftlets and locals harvest these nests from the island. The rocky ledges up the island are covered with the workers bamboo huts..... Continued >>