The Steps

The Steps is a beginner-friendly dive site near Koh Rong Samloem off Sihanoukville, Cambodia, named for a series of natural rock ledges that descend like a staircase into deeper water. Each step creates a flat terrace where coral growth has established, forming a tiered underwater garden that is easy to navigate. The shallow steps host colorful hard corals and anemones with their resident clownfish, while the deeper terraces support larger coral formations and attract bigger fish. Schools of batfish are a signature sight here, hovering in formation near the steps and approaching divers with characteristic curiosity. Nudibranchs are abundant on every level, and blue-spotted stingrays rest in the sandy areas between steps. The site's natural staircase structure makes it exceptionally well-suited for training dives and for photographers who can work their way down through progressively different marine habitats.