Sihanoukville's diving is spread across a chain of islands, with Koh Rong Samloem holding the greatest concentration of sites, followed by the more remote Koh Tang and Koh Prins. The terrain ranges from shallow boulder-strewn reefs and submerged pinnacles to deep walls, drift dives and wrecks. Beginners have plenty of sheltered, shallow options, while advanced divers can push to serious depths at sites like Lighthouse. Nudibranchs are a defining theme, with the Varicose Wart Slug, Jorunna Nudibranch and Blue Dragon observed consistently across sites. Green Sea Turtle and Bluespotted Fantail Ray add larger encounters to the mix.
6 areas
30Boat-access reef diving ranging from shallow nudibranch-rich shallows to deep drift sites at the island's southern tip.
9Remote Gulf of Thailand island with nine varied sites, from gentle shallow reefs to strong-current drift dives, reached by a multi-hour boat ride from Sihanoukville.
6Remote Cambodian archipelago with reefs, walls, pinnacles and a wreck, reaching forty metres depth, and occasional whale shark sightings between December and May.
Monthly water temperature across Sihanoukville's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperature stays warm year-round, rising slightly through the dry-season peak from around March into May before settling back through the wetter months. The best-months data points strongly to November through March as the prime window, with March and November standing out, when calmer seas allow reliable boat access to outer islands like Koh Tang and Koh Prins. Visibility is more variable during the monsoon months, and some exposed sites are best avoided when swell picks up.
21 operators
Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Accessible island near Sihanoukville with shallow reef and drift sites suited to beginners and intermediate divers.
Water temperature around Sihanoukville ranges from about 29°C in January to 31°C in April, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
With water around 29–31°C, a rash guard or 3mm shorty works in Sihanoukville year-round.
Fin maps 54 sites in Sihanoukville (52 scuba diving sites and 7 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both), organised into 6 areas.
Nudibranchs are the standout group, with the Varicose Wart Slug, Jorunna Nudibranch and Blue Dragon observed across a wide range of sites. Reef fish are well represented, including the Pink Skunk Clownfish, Copperband Butterflyfish, Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse and White Eyed Moray. Larger highlights include the Green Sea Turtle, Bluespotted Fantail Ray and Jenkins Ray, while Grouper and Rock Cod are reliably present on most reef dives.
Yes, a large share of the sites are rated for beginners, including shallow reef dives such as Nudibranch Heaven, East Reef, Vietnamese Bay and Barracuda Point. These sites feature gentle currents and modest depths, making them well suited to new or newly certified divers. Intermediate and advanced divers also have dedicated options, from drift dives at Back Door to the deep wall at Lighthouse.
Koh Rong Samloem has by far the most sites and covers the full range of skill levels, from shallow beginner reefs to the deep advanced dive at Lighthouse on its southern tip. Koh Tang and Koh Prins are smaller clusters with fewer sites but include notable diving such as the combined reef, wall and wreck at Condor Reef on Koh Prins. Koh Rong, Koh Tas and Koh Koun, and Koh Wai each offer a handful of additional sites for those looking to explore beyond the main island.
All sites in Sihanoukville are boat access only, which means joining a trip through one of the local dive operators. Operators including Scuba Nation Diving Centre Cambodia, Watersports Cambodia, The Dive Shop and Khmer Dive Group, among others, run regular trips to the archipelago. Travel time varies depending on which island cluster you are heading to, with outer areas like Koh Tang requiring a longer transfer.
