| Koh Tao (Turtle island) is a small island in the Gulf Of Thailand ( east coast), a popular diving destination with backpackers for many years. It is one of the cheapest dive destinations and accounts for a large percentage of the diving certifications awarded in SE Asia. Koh Tao has ample dive shops competing for business yet there is not the same cut throat attitude as found in Koh Phi-Phi. Koh Tao is a much more laid back place..... |
| I completed my PADI Divemaster training as an internship with Crystal Dive Resort
in Koh Tao and have them to thank for so much. My training
was very extensive with a top rate pool of instructors to gleam
knowledge from. Matt has gone on to become Crystals Course
Director, Chris an underwater videographer, Dom was last seen in
Mexico teaching cave diving... I only
have praise for what I learnt during my time with them, they gave me
the firm foundations I required when I become an instructor. |
| A diving day is split into a morning
and an afternoon trip. The morning trips start at approx. 7.30 am
when you double check that the dive masters have packed the correct kit
for you. The equipment and tanks are then taken to the pier and loaded
onto the boats by staff, whilst you take a leisurely stroll along the beach to
the pier. The tanks are12 litre aluminium and filled to 200
bar with international yoke valves- din converters are available for hire.
2 45 min dives at different sites with up to an hour surface
interval between dives. Returning to the pier in time for lunch. It
is then a quick turnaround for the boat with 2 afternoon dives in shallower
water more suitable for student divers. Night dives are available by request.
Visibility is an average 10-20 meters but can vary from 5-30 meters. Water temperature is aprox. 25-30 degrees C. Maximum depths are around 20 meters at the island sites but the better open water dive sites are 30+ meters. Being pinnacles however they are suitable for all levels of divers. |
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Whilst the diving around Ko Tao could not be labelled world class its cheap and there are some pleasant dives to be had. The best local dive by far is Chumpon Pinnacles, 45 minutes out to sea. This anemone covered pinnacle reaches from 30m to 6m and occasionally attracts some great pelagic fishes including Whale Sharks. I was lucky enough to wittiness 3 Whale Sharks together on one memorable dive here. The pinnacles are covered in a mass of anemones that conceal moray eels, skunk anemone fish, nudibranchs... In the deeper water there are huge resident grouper. This site is frequently very busy and a good dive plan is to stay below 18 meters for as long as is safe, due to the sheer number of open water students conducting their 3rd OW dive above this level. Another rewarding open water dive is South West Pinnacles where leopard sharks are occasionally spotted. Green Rock and White Rock are renowned for Triggerfish attacks, especially during breeding season. Titan and to a lesser degree yellow margin triggerfish have caused numerous injuries to divers. If your dive guide tells you to back off then do so or get ready for an underwater fight that can be both exhilarating, exhausting and sometimes painful..... White Rock is a good night dive where the Great Barracuda have adapted their hunting technique and utilize torch light. They are not dangerous but can make you jumpy when they sit just behind you waiting for a glint of supper... |
| Sail Rock
is offered as a 2 dive day trip including lunch. Some regard
this open water pinnacle site as the best diving in the gulf as there
is always a chance a Whale Shark or Manta might be seen!
Batfish, makeral, tuna, morays, sweetlips are common, guitarfish are
less common. The vertical chimney (swim thru) is a popular
attraction, sometimes attracting a que of divers - this site is
popular with divers from nearby islands Phangang and Samui. Ang Thong marine Park is also offered as a day trip but is often disappointing. Poor vis is common. |
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OTHER POINTS..... Ferries to Koh Tao are available from Chumpon, Samui / Phangang and Suratani The nearest recompression chamber is in Samui There are facilities for charging torches, cameras etc. in the resorts & dive shops There are fresh water dip tanks and a drying area at all dive shops Some guests have their own equipment but every shop offers hire equipment. Cameras and dive computers are also available for hire. PADI dive courses are offered everywhere.
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