Koh Rin

Koh Rin is a cluster of small islands south of Pattaya and widely rated the area's best diving. Its sites — North Rock, the main island and South Rock — feature underwater canyons, swim-throughs and boulder terrain, with clearer water than the near islands. The marine life is the richest around: moray eels, lionfish, squirrelfish, nudibranchs, schools of snapper and jacks, and even the occasional bamboo shark. It is mostly an intermediate dive, with a shallow bay by the main island that is excellent for snorkeling, and it is reached on a day dive trip rather than a casual hop.

เกาะริน · one of Pattaya’s far islands

The best diving in the Pattaya area — canyons and swim-throughs, intermediate-friendly. Koh Rin Bay by the main island is shallow and great for snorkelers.

Marine life

Moray eels, lionfish, squirrelfish, nudibranchs, schools of snapper and jacks, and occasional bamboo sharks.

The beach

Primarily a dive-and-snorkel destination rather than a beach island.

Best for

Certified divers, and keen snorkelers chasing clearer water and bigger marine life.

Reach Koh Rin on a day dive or snorkel trip from Bali Hai, roughly one to one-and-a-half hours by boat depending on the vessel and the sea. Book through a Pattaya dive centre.

• Book a day dive trip through a Pattaya dive centre
• Intermediate sites — but the main-island bay is great for snorkeling
• Longer boat ride; take motion-sickness tablets if prone
• Go in the dry season for the clearest water

Most of these are reached on a boat trip from Bali Hai Pier. For the diving, see scuba diving; deciding between islands, see Koh Larn vs Ko Samet vs Ko Si Chang.