Koh Tao
Known for being the class room for scuba diving in Thailand, this location is often overlooked by seasoned scuba divers.
Check out the main page for Koh Tao here!
Content:
Where is Koh Tao?
Koh Tao is an island in the Gulf of Thailand, surrounded by other islands, Koh Tao is the only one really known for scuba diving. Although some scuba divers will explore Koh Pga ngan for the famous " sail rock" dive site. This is also reachable from Koh Tao.
The water of Koh Tao are generally quite calm, and with a plethora of interesting and "easy" dive sites, training and getting certified as scuba diver is a very popular way to spend time here, as a tourist.
Why go there?
Koh Tao offers approximately 20-30 dive sites, depending on who you ask. Just off the west beach, you'll find shallow coral gardens sheltered by smaller islands, making them ideal for beginners or scuba diving students.
For us more experienced scuba divers, there are also some intriguing sites like Chumphon Point and South Point, and of course, a bit further away: Sail Rock, a renowned pinnacle located between Koh Tao and Koh Pha Ngan to the south.
Even technical divers will find plenty to keep them engaged, with several dives exceeding 50 meters in depth, featuring ship and airplane wrecks to explore.
All in all, there's something for everyone, which has made Koh Tao a renowned destination among scuba divers for decades!
When to go?
The ideal period to visit Koh Tao, or more specifically, the Gulf of Thailand, is from May to October. During the months of November to April, the Gulf of Thailand experiences reduced visibility and fewer opportunities to explore the more remote dive sites.
Additionally, during the summer months, there is a significantly higher likelihood of encountering whale sharks, which are fairly prevalent in this area.
Who & How to go there?
Koh Tao:
Depending from where you come from, you can either get to Koh Tao from Chumphon or Surathani.
From Bangkok, you can take a bus, train, or car to Chumphon and arrange a package deal with the boatride included to Koh Tao or Koh Pha Ngan.
Departures are daily and costs vary by transportation method.
(Boat transfer from Chumphon to Koh Tao is 700 Baht)
Flying: Koh Samui is the nearest Airport. You can fly directly from Bangkok or Phuket, depending where you come from. From Koh Samui I would make my way as soon as possible to either Koh Tao or Pha Ngan, since Koh Samui has no dive sites.
Koh Pha Ngan:
To get to Koh Pha Ngan, you can grab a ferry from Koh Tao or Koh Samui. Ferries leave from Chumphon and Surathani in the south ans usually tend to all or most islands before heading to their final destination.
Flying: Koh Samui is your port of entry by airplane from Bangkok or Phuket. From there, take a ferry to Koh Pha Ngan and a taxi from the pier for 400-500 Baht to Chaloklum town.
The Future of scuba diving in Koh Tao and Koh Pga Ngan.
Koh Tao is and will probably always be a hot spot for diving. At least as long as tourists will visit. Younger people, backpacking will hopefully always be a steady reliable source for scuba diving to thrive.
Although Thailand has said that they are committed to reducing the amount of backpacking tourists, by increasing cost for traveling, I haven't seen much change so far.
