Con Dao – Vietnam Diving

About Con Dao

Con Dao is Vietnam's premier remote diving destination, a pristine archipelago of sixteen islands located approximately 185 kilometres off the southern coast in the South China Sea. Formerly a notorious prison island, Con Dao has been transformed into a national park protecting both terrestrial and marine ecosystems of exceptional quality. The diving here is among the best in Vietnam, with dramatic walls draped in gorgonians and soft corals, deep drop-offs patrolled by pelagic species, and one of the country's most significant sea turtle nesting sites. Bay Canh Island delivers world-class wall diving with grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and schooling barracuda, while Hon Tai offers thrilling deep drop-offs where dogtooth tuna and giant trevally hunt along the edge. The seasonal arrival of hammerhead sharks from November to February adds a pelagic dimension rarely found elsewhere in Vietnamese waters. The Dugong and Sea Turtle Sanctuary protects critical seagrass meadows where green turtles feed year-round and dugongs make occasional appearances. Ong Dung Beach provides excellent house reef diving and outstanding night dive opportunities. The remote Pinnacle site, an isolated underwater seamount, draws hammerheads, manta rays, and tuna schools in one of Southeast Asia's most exciting big-animal dive sites. Con Dao's isolation ensures pristine conditions and an uncrowded, exclusive diving experience that ranks among the finest in the entire region.

Highlights

• ✓Bay Canh Island – dramatic gorgonian walls with grey reef sharks and eagle rays
• ✓The Pinnacle – isolated seamount with seasonal hammerheads, manta rays, and tuna schools
• ✓Hon Tai – deep drop-off with dogtooth tuna, giant trevally, and seasonal hammerheads (Nov-Feb)
• ✓Dugong and Sea Turtle Sanctuary – green turtles year-round with rare dugong encounters
• ✓Ong Dung Beach – outstanding house reef and night diving with turtles and cuttlefish
• ✓Con Dao National Park – protected pristine marine environment with minimal diver traffic

Getting There

Con Dao is accessed by air from Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 45 minutes) or from Can Tho via Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways. Flights are limited and should be booked well in advance, especially during peak season. A high-speed ferry also operates from Tran De port near Soc Trang, taking approximately two and a half hours across the South China Sea, though this service is weather-dependent and may be cancelled during rough conditions. Once on Con Dao, the main town of Con Son is compact and easily explored on foot or by motorbike. Dive sites are reached by speedboat or longtail from the Con Son harbour, with travel times ranging from fifteen minutes to one hour depending on the site. The island's isolation means medical facilities are limited, making dive insurance with emergency evacuation coverage essential.