The waters off of Sihanouk Ville and the nearby islands offer some wonderful scuba diving opportunities. Coral encrusted rocky reefs surround many of the local islands, supporting abundant hard and soft corals, sponges, anemones and an assortment of fish life including sing rays, moray eels, dolphins and even whales. Experienced divers report that the variety and concentration of marine life along the reefs is some of the best they've seen. Top notch dive sites can be found around the islands such as Koh Rung Samloem and Koh Kon within a two hour boat trip of town, making for an easy day trip, but the very best sites around Koh Tang, Koh Prins, Condor Reef are 4-6 hours out. To help arrange your diving excursion, there are now a several dive centers in Sihanoukville, including authorized PADI dive centers. Most can organize, outfit and lead almost any sort of diving excursion from snorkeling trips and introductory scuba dives for beginners to fully outfitted multi-day scuba expeditions for experienced divers. Sihanoukville dive centers offer many services including daily dive trips and specialized trips, introductory dives, PADI dive courses, advanced dive courses, scuba equipment and more.

The waters off Sihanouk Ville are warm (consistently between 27-31C) and though visibility can be quite variable during the height of the monsoon season due to weather and runoff, in the diving season from October to June it ranges from 10-25 meters even at nearby islands such as Koh Rung Samloem - better at more distant sites like Koh Tang. Most of the dive sites are comparatively shallow (around 15 meters) and gentle currents around the islands allow drift diving over the reefs and outcroppings. Though a guide can take you to some of the best diving spots there is a lot to be discovered as much of the area has yet to be thoroughly explored. Most of the islands have uninhabited sandy beaches where divers can picnic, swim and relax between dives. The follow are some of the more popular diving islands.

Koh Rung Samloem - Koh Rung Samloem is the nicest island within daytrip distance, taking about 2 hours one way. It harbors a small fishing village, three major beaches and several minor beaches almost entirely uninhabited, including some very nice, sheltered beaches on the north side near Koh Kon. Rocky reefs around both islands host a variety of marine life in both shallow waters and at depths up to 18 meters. Like all of the nearby islands, the best diving and visibility is on the west side. Species sightings include cobia, puffer fish, moray eels, octopus, rays, crabs, nudibranch, cuttlefish, scorpion fish, lion fish, barracuda, yellow goatfish, parrotfish and more.

Koh Kon - Koh Kon (‘Baby Island’) is, as the name implies, a small island sitting just off the north tip of Koh Rung Samloem. Rocky, coral encrusted outcrops on the west and south sides of the island provide home to a variety of corals and marine life including anemones, box fish, parrot fish, yellow goat fish, snappers, stingrays, moray eels and cat sharks. Visibility is moderate, averaging around 10 meters, though better on some days.

Koh Tang, Koh Prins, Poulou Wai - Some of the best scuba diving waters in the area lie 4-8 hours to the southwest, around Koh Tang, Koh Prins and Poulo Wai. The distance normally requires at least a night's stay. The area has rocky reefs, depths of 15-40m and much better visibility than reefs closer to shore ranging from 10-30 meters and usually around 15 meters. Koh Prins has two shipwrecks to the northwest at 30-40m. Koh Tang is a favorite destination of many divers. The island played a major role in the 'Mayaguez Incident' and still shows the scarring of the May 1975 battle between American and Khmer Rouge forces (see page 6.) The surrounding waters offer several reefs and outcroppings displaying a particularly colorful variety of hard and soft corals, an abundance of other marine life, and particularly good visibility.

Scuba Outfitters / Dive Centers

Chez Claude Claude has provided scuba and fishing trips since 1994. He offers high quality, high-end services scuba and adventure trips.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-824870

The Dive Shop Full service PADI Dive Center offering dive trips and all PADI courses - introductory Discover Scuba, PADI Open Water Courses, Advanced Open Water, Rescue and Dive Master. Fun dives, live aboards, overnights, custom tours, island accommodations. Equipment rental and sales. All new Mares equipment. Located on the road to Serendipity Beach near the Golden Lions. Tel: +(855) (0)12-1615517, +(855) (0)16-214007
E-mail: info@DiveShopCambodia.com 
Website: www.DiveShopCambodia.com

EcoSea Dive  Cambodia's only year-round dive center offering authorized PADI and SSI Dive Courses at affordable prices in many languages. EcoSea provides daily fun dives, adventure live aboards, and $10 snorkeling on our very safe, custom dive boat. Beachside accommodation for divers and snorkelers on Koh Rung Samloem. Two office locations: town center 225 Ekareach near Serendipity Ochheuteal beach & the Golden Lions.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-654104, +(855) (0)12-606646 (Japanese spoken)
E-mail: ecoseadive@gmail.com
Website: www.ecoseadive.com 

Scuba Nation PADI 5 Star Dive Center Cambodia’s only PADI 5-Star Dive Center, offering daily trips and live-aboards to the islands plus dive courses in English, German, Dutch and French. All with food, PADI diver insurance and the only custom made dive boat in Cambodia. Offices at Mohachai Guesthouse near Serendipity Beach, and in Phnom Penh at #18Eo, Sothearos.
Contact Gerard and Vicky at +(855) (0)12-604680 / +(855) (0)12-715785
E-mail: scubanation@yahoo.com 
Website: www.divecambodia.com