Dive area · Vietnam
Côn ĐảoVườn quốc gia Côn Đảo (khu bảo tồn biển)
Dive Côn Đảo between March and September for the healthiest reefs in Vietnam, quiet sites and a real chance of turtles; it is small-scale (few operators and boats), so book ahead, bring your certification card, and add a night of turtle-nesting watching on Bảy Cạnh island between June and September.
Map to the area
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Sites
5
4 for Open Water or below
Depth
3–28 m10–92 ft
Water
25–30°C77–86°F
through the year
Best months
Apr–Jun
Rules in force · 7Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
- Southern Vietnam ↗The Mekong's floating markets finish by about 09:00: to see one working, sleep in Cần Thơ or nearby and be on the boat by 05:30.
- Southern Vietnam ↗Phú Quốc's 30-day visa exemption applies only to direct international arrivals on the island; connecting via Saigon or Hanoi needs a normal visa or exemption.
At a glance
- Area
- Côn Đảo National Park marine zone, Côn Đảo archipelago
- Levels
- Try dive to Advanced
- Depth
- 3–28 m10–92 ft
- Visibility
- 3–25 m10–82 ft
- worst to best month
- Best months
- Apr–Jun
- Base
- Con Dao
The Côn Đảo islands lie 180 km off the Mekong coast. Most of the archipelago and the sea around it form a national park established in 1993, and fishing controls have kept its reefs in far better shape than those closer to the mainland. Green and hawksbill turtles nest on the outer islands, and a small, rarely seen dugong population grazes on the seagrass. The dive scene is tiny and the season short; the reward is reefs with nobody else on them.
Decide
Which sites suit your level, which months, and what you will see
At a glance
Fine for new divers
Why go
- The best-preserved coral in Vietnam, with hard coral gardens and big table corals.
- Turtles on many dives in season, and a chance to watch nesting at night.
- Very few divers: your boat may be the only one at the site.
Where to stay and eat: Con Dao.
Dive sites
| Site | Depth | Level | Current | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Đầm Tre bay | 3–12 m10–39 ft | Try dive | None | Sheltered bay for training and snorkelling; seagrass nearby. |
| Hòn Tre Lớn | 5–18 m16–59 ft | Open Water | Mild | Coral gardens and giant clams. |
| Hòn Bảy Cạnh (west side) | 5–20 m16–66 ft | Open Water | Mild | Reef off the main turtle-nesting island; table corals. |
| Hòn Tài | 5–22 m16–72 ft | Open Water | Mild | Hard coral slopes, turtles, schools of fusiliers. |
| Hòn Trứng | 8–28 m26–92 ft | Advanced | Moderate | Rocky pinnacles with soft coral and larger fish; exposed to swell. |
Levels are a guide: Snorkel — mask and fins from the surface; no certification; Try dive — uncertified first dive with an instructor, usually to 12 m or less; Open Water — entry certification; recreational limit about 18 m; Advanced — advanced certification; deeper than 18 m or some current; Experienced — advanced plus many logged dives; strong current, blue water, deep. Your guide decides on the day.
Season, visibility and water temperature
- JanAvoid3–8 m10–26 ft vis
25–26°C77–79°F - FebCaution5–12 m16–39 ft vis
25–27°C77–81°F - MarGo8–20 m26–66 ft vis
26–28°C79–82°F - AprBest10–25 m33–82 ft vis
27–29°C81–84°F - MayBest10–25 m33–82 ft vis
28–30°C82–86°F - JunBest10–20 m33–66 ft vis
28–30°C82–86°F - JulGo8–18 m26–59 ft vis
28–30°C82–86°F - AugGo8–18 m26–59 ft vis
28–30°C82–86°F - SepGo8–15 m26–49 ft vis
28–30°C82–86°F - OctCaution5–12 m16–39 ft vis
27–29°C81–84°F - NovAvoid3–8 m10–26 ft vis
26–28°C79–82°F - DecAvoid3–8 m10–26 ft vis
25–27°C77–81°F
- JanNorth-east monsoon; boats rarely go out
- FebSeason may start late in the month
- MarSeason opens; calmer seas
- MayTurtle nesting begins
- JulSouth-west winds; some sites exposed
- SepSeason ends late in the month
- OctWeather turning; few dives
- NovMonsoon; flights and ferries disrupted
- DecMonsoon
Marine life calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green and hawksbill turtles on divesMar–Sep | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Turtle nesting on Bảy Cạnh and Hòn CauMay–Oct · Peak roughly June–August. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Hatchling releasesJul–Oct | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Dugong (rare; seagrass beds)Mar–Sep · Seldom seen; never chase one. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Where the sites are, snorkelling, and how to get there
Site sketch map
- 1Hòn Tài · Dive site≈8.630, 106.7005–22 m · Open Water16–72 ft · Open WaterMap ↗
- 2Hòn Bảy Cạnh (west side) · Dive site≈8.650, 106.6905–20 m · Open Water16–66 ft · Open WaterMap ↗
- 3Hòn Trứng · Dive site≈8.680, 106.5408–28 m · Advanced26–92 ft · AdvancedMap ↗
- 4Hòn Tre Lớn · Dive site≈8.740, 106.6505–18 m · Open Water16–59 ft · Open WaterMap ↗
- 5Đầm Tre bay · Dive site≈8.730, 106.6203–12 m · Try dive10–39 ft · Try diveMap ↗
Snorkelling instead
Đầm Tre bay
Sheltered, shallow reef and seagrass; boat trips from the harbour.
Hòn Bảy Cạnh beaches
Snorkel off the beach on turtle-watch trips; clear on calm days.
Hòn Cau
Coral close to the surface; boat access only.
Getting there
From Ho Chi Minh City
Short flights to Côn Đảo airport (about 1 h); small planes with tight baggage limits.
1 h
Open the page →
From Vũng Tàu
High-speed ferry when the sea allows; cancelled often in the monsoon.
3.5–4.5 h
Open the page →
From Island base
Where to stay and how to get around Côn Đảo town.
Open the page →
Practical
Picking a safe operator, fees and rules, the chamber, and diving lightly
How to choose an operator
Côn Đảo has only a handful of dive operators, so there is little choice; the checks still apply, and booking ahead matters because boats run only with enough divers.
- 1Instructors and guides have current professional status with a recognised agency; ask and check online.
- 2The boat carries oxygen, first aid and a radio, and the crew have a plan for evacuation to the mainland.
- 3Gear is serviced and fits; bring your own mask and computer if you can, since spares are limited.
- 4Guides brief on park rules (no touching, no gloves) and on the current at each site.
- 5Your insurance covers diving and air evacuation from a remote island.
We do not rank or name dive shops. Reviews change with staff; these checks do not.
Marine park fees and prices
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| National park marine fee | ₫20,000–100,000 (≈ US$1–4) | person per day | Usually collected by the operator (check). |
| Two boat dives with gear | ₫2,500,000–3,800,000 (≈ US$100–150) | person | — |
| Overnight turtle-watch on Bảy Cạnh (park-run) | ₫1,500,000–3,000,000 (≈ US$60–120) | person | Boat, ranger and basic bed; limited places, book with the park office (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
- Protected zones
- Some core zones are closed to diving and fishing; your guide should know which (check).check
- No gloves, no touching
- Gloves are discouraged or banned; keep hands off coral and turtles.
- Turtle nesting beaches
- At night follow the ranger: no torches, no flash, keep back from nesting females.
Nearest hyperbaric chamber
Ask your operator — check
Safety
Remote location high
Swell at exposed sites medium
Responsible diving
- Keep well back from turtles underwater; never ride, touch or chase them.
- Do not use torches or phones on nesting beaches except under the ranger's instructions.
- Carry all plastic back; the islands struggle with waste.
- Buy nothing made of turtle shell or coral; it is illegal to export.
Questions people ask
Can I learn to dive in Côn Đảo?
Yes, but choice and dates are limited. Many people learn in Nha Trang and come to Côn Đảo certified.
How do I see turtles nesting?
Book the park's overnight trip to Bảy Cạnh island in the nesting season. Places are limited and weather can cancel the boat.
How long should I stay?
Three or four nights gives you two dive days with room for weather and the no-fly interval before your flight back.
Deep dive
Every source; conditions and fees change, so check before you go
Sources
- officialCôn Đảo National Park
- secondaryWikivoyage — Con Dao
- secondaryWikipedia — Côn Đảo National Park