Kampot River Mouth

Kep Reefs

Kep is famous throughout Cambodia for its blue swimmer crab, served fresh at the Kep crab market with green Kampot pepper — the region's signature dish. Kampot pepper, considered one of the world's finest, features in almost every local dish. The riverside restaurants in Kampot serve Khmer, Thai, and Western cuisine with river prawns, fish, and organic vegetables. Lok lak, fish amok, and morning glory stir-fry are Khmer staples. The expat community in Kampot has brought international cuisine including Italian pizza, French pastries, and vegetarian options. Durian, rambutan, and mangosteen are seasonal fruit highlights. The relaxed atmosphere makes dining a leisurely experience with river or ocean views.

Knai Bang Chatt

Verandah Hotel

Vine Retreat

Rikitikitavi Boutique Hotel

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.

Kep & Kampot

Dry season with calm seas, excellent visibility of 15-30 meters, and comfortable temperatures for extended diving.

Southwest monsoon bringing rougher seas, reduced visibility, and some dive sites may be inaccessible.

Transitional months with generally acceptable conditions and occasional rain showers.

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.

Dive Sites in Kep & Kampot

Kampot River Mouth

Kep Reefs