Kep & Kampot – Cambodia Diving

About Kep & Kampot

Kep and Kampot represent Cambodia's quieter southern diving frontier, offering unique macro diving and brackish-water exploration in an area better known for its pepper plantations and crab markets. The Kep Reefs feature scattered rocky outcrops at 5 to 10 metres with seahorses, nudibranchs, and blue-spotted stingrays, accessible by shore diving from the Kep waterfront. The Kampot River Mouth provides a truly unusual diving experience in shallow mangrove channels with brackish-water species and extremely rare sawfish sightings — one of the few places in the world where this critically endangered species has been documented in diving conditions. The diving infrastructure is limited with only small local operators, but the unique species encounters and the charm of the Kep and Kampot towns make this region a rewarding addition to any Cambodia diving itinerary. The region is best combined with the Sihanoukville sites for a comprehensive southern Cambodia diving trip. Water temperatures remain warm at 28 to 31 degrees Celsius with visibility ranging from 2 to 12 metres due to the sediment-rich coastal environment. The region is accessible year-round but best during the dry season.

Highlights

• ✓Kep Reefs with shore diving access and abundant seahorses and nudibranchs
• ✓Kampot River Mouth – rare sawfish sightings in brackish mangrove habitat
• ✓Blue-spotted stingrays on sandy patches between rocky outcrops
• ✓Unique brackish-water species found nowhere else in Cambodia's diving
• ✓Shore diving convenience with no boat transfers required
• ✓Charming Kep crab market and Kampot pepper plantation visits

Getting There

Kep and Kampot are located in southern Cambodia, approximately 2.5 hours by road from Phnom Penh and 1.5 hours from Sihanoukville. The towns are connected by regular minivan services. Kep is a small coastal town with the dive sites accessible by shore or short boat rides. Kampot is located on the river and serves as the base for river mouth diving. Both towns are compact and walkable with tuk-tuk transport available.