Koh Touch 1

Koh Touch 1 is a gentle shallow reef dive located near the bustling village of Koh Touch on Koh Rong island, Cambodia. With a maximum depth of just 7 metres, this site provides an ideal environment for beginners taking their first breaths underwater, as well as for snorkellers exploring the reef from the surface. The dive site sits just offshore from the main tourist beach of Koh Rong, making it one of the most accessible sites in the Cambodian island group. Boats reach the site in minutes from the village pier, and shore entries are possible during calm conditions. The proximity to the village means this is often the first site that new divers experience when visiting the islands. Beneath the surface, a patchwork of coral gardens spreads across a gently sloping sandy bottom. Hard coral colonies, including brain corals and massive Porites formations, anchor the reef structure, while smaller branching corals fill in the gaps to create a textured landscape. The shallow depth means excellent natural light penetration, making this site particularly photogenic in the morning hours. The reef fish community here is typical of Gulf of Thailand shallow reefs, with resident populations of butterflyfish, angelfish, and wrasses patrolling their territories among the coral heads. Pufferfish are regular visitors, their curious nature often bringing them close to divers. Schools of juvenile fish use the coral formations as nursery habitat, and patient observers may spot seahorses clinging to gorgonian fans in the shallower sections. Water temperature hovers around 29 degrees Celsius throughout much of the year, dropping slightly to 27 degrees during the cooler months of December and January. Visibility varies from 5 to 12 metres, with the clearest conditions occurring during the dry season from November to May. Koh Touch 1 is a cheerful, life-rich site that demonstrates how even the shallowest reefs in Cambodia can offer engaging dive experiences full of marine encounters.