The Diving

The dive sites are shallow and calm, perfect for children, beginners or those wanting relaxed dives. Depths range from 5m (16ft) to 14m (46ft). The majority of the diving is at sites around the island or neighbouring islands and consists of reefs that in the main have grown in and around boulder formations. Many of the reefs are excellent snorkelling spots too.

Koh Raet - is the perfect example of the easy yet delightful diving Koh Kood has to offer. Located to the west of the island between Koh Rat and Koh Kood, Koh Raet is a sheltered site offering a shallow relaxed reef dive at the north and a deeper, 14m (46ft), boulder formed dive at the southern end. The north is a great snorkelling destination too.  Juvenile Harlequin Sweetlips can be found hiding in the staghorn coral and Humphead Parrot Fish can be spotted here too. Look out for stingrays, morays, catfish, goat fish and razor fish and maybe some Whip Rays in the sand.

Hin Bang Bao (Hin Loy) - is the dive not to miss. It’s an open ocean pinnacle and therefore a hectic fish fuelled experience. The pinnacle protrudes out of the water, underwater the formation has big caves and swim-throughs too. Groupers, sweetlips, fusiliers, parrotfish make their home here. The reef is rich in varieties of both hard and soft coral.

Christmas Tree Worm

Lak Uan Reef - lies in the bay of the same name and is popular with batfish. Black and White-tip sharks can be seen as well as other hunters like grouper, rainbow runners and jackfish. The eagle eyed might spot stonefish or scorpion fish too. Hin Yedhi and Ao Tum are also popular with the batfish, turtles and sharks.

Klong Hin Reef - is often locally referred to as Anemone Bay,  apart from the numerous clownfish and their anemones, big boulders offer shelter to parrotfish, groupers and the usual colourful suspects.Finding Nemo is super easy here,  If you are lucky, you might even see a turtle too.  Saddle-back colonies can be found at Koh Maisi too. This is a small island offering a rock and boulder dive where you will find stonefish, eels, stingray, nudibranch and much more.

Relaxed shore dives can be found from Ao Kalang and Bang Bao and Ao Yai. Ao Yai has both a reef and pinnacle dive. The pinnacle has some excellent soft coral where you can see the pacific blue pipefish as well as numerous saddleback anemonefish.

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Trips to Koh Rang National Park and Koh Chang’s wreck dive are also possible. Koh Rang National Park is deeper, ranging from 10m (33ft) to 30m (99ft). Koh Rang Pinnacle and Hin Kuak Ma or Three Finger Rock are the dives to do. Koh Rang Pinnacle looks like a cathedral packed with fish. Look out for barracuda, groupers, triggerfish, and batfish and maybe even a turtle too.  Go to Three Finger Rock for the chance to see a Bamboo Shark and maybe a turtle too. Koh Yak, Koh Laun, Koh Tong Lang and Koh Kra are small islands ringed by shallow reef which you enjoy diving around.

How to Get there

Visitors need to fly to Bangkok and from there initially travel to Trat. Bangkok Airways offer this hour flight two to three times a day.  From Trat, you can take a ferry or speedboat to the island. The speedboats aren’t always the most comfortable in choppy weather and larger ferries only take an hour to make the crossing. The last ferry leaves at 2pm, if you arrive too late you will need to stay overnight in Trat.

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Where to Eat & Drink

Eating out centres around the resorts, either your own or wandering to a neighbouring resort. Resort independent options are focussed around Klong Chao Beach. For fresh seafood head over to Aow Salad, the biggest fishing village, and experience a slice of authentic Thai life, as well as tasty treats. Ao Yai has some delicious seafood restaurants’ too.

Koh Kood is not a party island but there are a few bars mainly in Klong Chao. 

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Other Activities

Visit Taphao, Klong Chao, Bang Bao, Ngamkho, Take an Klong Hin, Ao Noi, Sai Daeng, and Phrao beaches and enjoy snorkelling in the sparkling waters. Kayaks are available for hire and a few resorts offer banana or doughnut boat trips and water skiing.  The island is not so high but taking a gentle hike through unspoilt rainforests and up to the viewpoints is worth it.

The island is home to monkeys and wild boar so keep your eyes open for the local wildlife. The impressive three-tiered Klong Chao Waterfall is worth a visit for a cooling dip or a refreshing swim. There are two more waterfalls on the island; Klong Yai Kee and Huang Num Keaw and both are smaller than Klong Chao.

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Family Friendly

The conditions and topography make this a superb place for kids to dive. There’s plenty of snorkelling too.  While there are no particular family orientated attractions, the waterfalls are fun.With no loud clubs, the entire family are sure to sleep well too.

Elephant Trekking & Abuse

Please do not support Elephant torture and abuse by riding Elephants (or supporting Elephant performance) in Asia;

• In Thai culture, the Phajaan or ‘the crush', is the torture method elephants undergo to become a part of the tourism industry. Essentially this involves cruel physical and mental abuse over long periods of time to make the Elephants submissive - starting as a calf
• Asian Elephant's spines cannot support the weight of people. Carrying people on their backs all day often leads to permanent spinal injuries.
• There is responsible Elephant tourism in Thailand - a good rule to remember is that if a tourist outfit offers anything other than getting to spend time with elephants, it is not friendly to them.
• Remember; any outfit that offers riding, circuses or paintings means they have undergone horrific abuse in order to train the Elephants

You can help these magnificent animals by making your travel companions aware of what lies behind this industry. The main problem is a lack of awareness - most people have no idea! 

Dive Report is committed to raising awareness to the abuse suffered by Elephants used in the tourist industry. If you want to know more you can find out more here, here, here and here. Also see a PETA documentary video here.

Tips!

Banks and ATMs are yet to arrive on Koh Kood so make sure you have enough cash. The last ferry to Koh Kood leaves at 2pm, so if you arrive after this make sure you have a room booked for an overnight stay in Trat.

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