Koh Tao Thailand

63

By carib102

Koh Tao Island Paradise

Koh Tao in Thailand is one of the most beautiful of the Thai islands.  In Thai the word ‘Koh’ means Island and the word ‘Tao’ means Turtle, so literally translated Koh Tao is Turtle Island.  It was named this because in the past the waters surrounding the island were loaded with turtles.  Visitors these days will likely be disappointed though if they come to Koh Tao looking for turtles, because most of them have left for less populated and busy areas.

Even so, Koh Tao is still a very popular destination for divers, looking not for turtles, but for the crystal clear waters that are full of other marine life and brightly colored corals.  You will also find a fairly large number of backpackers frequenting Koh Tao these days as they try to get away from what they perceive as the commercialization of their once popular haunts Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.

Getting to Koh Tao is certainly a bit more involved than getting to Samui or Koh Phangan.  There is no airport on the island so the only way to arrive is by boat.  Fortunately for those coming from Bangkok, you can fly to Koh Samui (there is a beautiful airport on the island) or the mainland towns of Chumphon or Surat Thani.  All three locations have daily ferries and speedboats going to Koh Tao, with the quickest trip being the catamaran service from Chumphon.  Please be aware that in Thailand schedules are not always followed closely, so departures could be delayed and some days the ferry may not go at all, especially during the rainy season when traveling by boat can be quite an adventure.

As mentioned earlier, Koh Tao is one of the premier places to go in Thailand for scuba divers and there is no lack of great dive locations and dive shops on the island.  It makes no difference if you are a master diver or if you haven’t even done your first die yet, Koh Tao is an ideal island to enjoy adventurous scuba diving.  Many of the local dive sites are considered to be the best in the world and you’ll find many of the divers on the island have come specifically to experience these world class dive sites.

If you are coming to Koh Tao for the first time or if you want to come and learn how to dive you will find plenty of dive shops ready to teach you.  In the past pricing was vastly different from shop to shop, however in recent years they have been working together to standardize pricing, so try to find a quality dive shop where you feel comfortable with the dive master.  You can start as a beginner and get your PADI Open Water certification quite easily on Koh Tao, but be warned that after you have xperienced your first dive you could become addicted.  Those already Open Water certified can also pursue specialized courses and even get a Master Diver certification if they wish.

Other popular activities on the island are snorkeling of course, as well as Thai massage and meditation, yoga and Tai Chi classes.  Another popular pastime is simply lying on a secluded beach surrounded by coconut palms.  Both Sai Daeng Beach and Mango Beach are excellent for this pursuit.  This is definitely a great place to learn how to relax and get into the flow of nature.

If you enjoy island life, nature, the sea, scuba diving or all of the above then I would highly recommend you give Koh Tao a try for your next holiday, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

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