Anchorage· Koh Tao· Thailand
Ao Mamuang (Mango Bay) Moorings
10° 7.4′ N · 99° 50.1′ E · approximate
A steep-sided, jungle-wrapped bay at Tao's northern tip, mostly reached by boat, with a sandy bottom and a large shallow coral garden of mushroom, table and staghorn corals.
Practical
Position approximate: the OpenStreetMap coordinate for the bay (Mango Bay / Ao Muang), not a surveyed mooring. The SE Asia Pilot does not describe this bay. Crystal Dive: 2–15 m, sandy bottom and big coral garden, used for try-dives and Open Water courses. Wikipedia: accessible only by boat (and now a rough jungle road from Sairee), max 16 m. Koh Tao's orange public moorings are free; each is designed for up to three moderate-weight vessels in reasonable weather, and dive boats may tie to your stern for a couple of hours while diving (SE Asia Pilot). Where mooring lines are laid, assume coral or artificial reef beneath; anchoring is a last resort and damaging coral can bring prosecution and fines. Expect dive and snorkel boats from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. North-facing: calm in the SW monsoon and settled weather, open to the N and NE (Nov–Feb surges). A lighthouse stands on the headland east of the bay (OpenStreetMap). Wikivoyage: a 2-hour jungle hike leads here from the road; access roads may need a dirt bike or 4x4.
Best for
Quiet overnight on a mooring in SW-monsoon weather
Season
SW monsoon and settled weather (Mar–Oct); exposed to N and NE