How To Enjoy Koh Tao In Thailand
By Ian Smith
The three main things you need on Koh Tao apart from a good
diving school, are somewhere to stay, somewhere to eat, and
somewhere to party.
The first priority for anyone is getting a roof over your head,
and you can if push comes to shove find accommodation at the
pier when you arrive off one of the many ferries. You shouldn’t
do this at peak times, because you might end up on the beach, or
paying a lot more than you wanted to.
In terms of costings, you will find the following to be roughly
correct as of early 2007.
400 Baht will get you a room right on the beach, for two
people, per night, and for this you’ll get a fan, and a hole in
the floor!!
If you want better, which means things like A/C and perhaps a
fridge, you could pay up to 1200 Baht.
You could stay at Sairee beach, which is where the nightlife
and action is, but be prepared to be disturbed by noise if you
go to bed much before dawn!!
If you are a part animal, but like to sleep as well, then you
can stay near Mae Haad beach, which is only five minutes walk
away.
Chalok beach is quiet, and very nice too, but it will cost you
around 50 Baht for a taxi to get to where the action is, but
don’t hire a motor bike, because most of the injuries occur on
bikes with drunk tourists in the dark, and negotiate your taxi
fare before the journey.
In terms of food, then obviously there is a huge amount of Thai
food available, it’s not expensive at all, and the seafood is
great, and in abundance.
A lot of the fish is barbecued, and you can pay from 25 Baht
for a simple breakfast through to 400 Baht for a decent meal
out.
Barbecue fish is one of the local favourites.
Try the Thipimarn restaurant on the north of the island, it is
a cut above some other restaurants, and it has the most
wonderful view of the sunset.
When you want an evening in the bars, then check out a dive
shop, and they will tell you where the action is that evening
Please don’t go swimming after drinking, it is one of the main
causes of death amongst visitors to Koh Tao.
Also remember that one of the diving safety tips you will read
is avoiding dehydration, and that is exactly what over
indulgence in alcohol causes.
Safety is a key issue on Koh Tao, so remember the advice on
alcohol, and swimming after drinking, and finally be careful of
the taxi drivers, they can turn nasty, so agree a price before
boarding, and finally don’t hire, drive, or go as a passenger on
a motorbike, especially in the dark.
Finally remember to pick up the free tourist magazine Ko Tao
Info, which will give you what you need to know
Diving On Koh Tao In Thailand
By Andy Perrin
Scuba diving is by far the biggest attraction on Ko Tao, and it
is easy, fun, and you will see a lot of fish, perhaps even
turtles, stingrays, barracuda, reef sharks, and even a whale
shark if you get lucky
You will get good diving weather on Koh Tao apart from
November, when the sea is choppy, and visibility is poorer than
normal. The visibility can be over 40 metres during the rest of
the year.
You will find a lot of dive operators on the island, and some
of them offer accommodation. Just beware that when you read the
accommodation is free, it’s not really, because they will offer
discounts if you stay somewhere else.
In 2006 you will pay in the region of 10,000 bht for a PADI
open water certificate, and this should include the new PADI
training manual, proper professional instruction, rental
equipment, boat dives etc. This may include insurance and basic
accommodation, but shop around, and remember the methods of
instruction may differ enormously.
A few hints include avoiding shops that use swimming pools to
teach you in. You’ll find it cold, boring, and unhygienic,
bearing in mind this is a very popular diving island, and they
will have literally hundreds of students .
Choose one that will take you to a private beach so you will
see fish and coral right away, it is a lot more interesting, and
you will probably get more dives!!
It’s also a good idea to find a dive shop that has its own
private pier, so you won’t have to climb over other boats at the
pier, although you won’t be carrying your dive gear, that should
be carried by a Dive Master Trainee. In addition you ought to
ask how many students there will be in your group, because there
should not be more than a small handful, if they tell you there
will be more than ten then look elsewhere. You want personal
tuition for something as important as this, and you want your
course to be really enjoyable.
If you are looking for specific dive shops, this list whilst by
no means exhaustive, is at least a starting point.
1. Coral Grand . Located in a much quieter area than the other
dive shops, at the far end of the beach, the hotel is more
upmarket than most on the island although the 'free' rooms are
still basic. Operates 2 dive boats plus a speed boat.
2. Divepoint . Located in Mae Haad on the waterfront. Divepoint
has probably the nicest dive boat on the island, big enough that
you won't have to carry your gear to and from it. PADI and SSI.
3. Easy Divers. Fantastic Dive Shop with really experienced
instructors. Professional and fun with great accommodation.
Based right in the heart of Ko Tao.
4. IDC Ko Tao. Instructor development courses (IDC's) run every
month by English PADI Course Director Matt Bolton.
5. Phoenix Divers. Right on Sairee Beach, has good boats, new
gear and multilingual often western staff.
6. Stingray Divers. Very modern dive resort overlooking Chalok
Ban Khao Bay.
Hope this information helps you to have great diving experience
on Koh Tao
Diving On Koh Tao In Thailand
By Andy Perrin
Scuba diving is by far the biggest attraction on Ko Tao, and it
is easy, fun, and you will see a lot of fish, perhaps even
turtles, stingrays, barracuda, reef sharks, and even a whale
shark if you get lucky
You will get good diving weather on Koh Tao apart from
November, when the sea is choppy, and visibility is poorer than
normal. The visibility can be over 40 metres during the rest of
the year.
You will find a lot of dive operators on the island, and some
of them offer accommodation. Just beware that when you read the
accommodation is free, it’s not really, because they will offer
discounts if you stay somewhere else.
In 2006 you will pay in the region of 10,000 bht for a PADI
open water certificate, and this should include the new PADI
training manual, proper professional instruction, rental
equipment, boat dives etc. This may include insurance and basic
accommodation, but shop around, and remember the methods of
instruction may differ enormously.
A few hints include avoiding shops that use swimming pools to
teach you in. You’ll find it cold, boring, and unhygienic,
bearing in mind this is a very popular diving island, and they
will have literally hundreds of students .
Choose one that will take you to a private beach so you will
see fish and coral right away, it is a lot more interesting, and
you will probably get more dives!!
It’s also a good idea to find a dive shop that has its own
private pier, so you won’t have to climb over other boats at the
pier, although you won’t be carrying your dive gear, that should
be carried by a Dive Master Trainee. In addition you ought to
ask how many students there will be in your group, because there
should not be more than a small handful, if they tell you there
will be more than ten then look elsewhere. You want personal
tuition for something as important as this, and you want your
course to be really enjoyable.
If you are looking for specific dive shops, this list whilst by
no means exhaustive, is at least a starting point.
1. Coral Grand . Located in a much quieter area than the other
dive shops, at the far end of the beach, the hotel is more
upmarket than most on the island although the 'free' rooms are
still basic. Operates 2 dive boats plus a speed boat.
2. Divepoint . Located in Mae Haad on the waterfront. Divepoint
has probably the nicest dive boat on the island, big enough that
you won't have to carry your gear to and from it. PADI and SSI.
3. Easy Divers. Fantastic Dive Shop with really experienced
instructors. Professional and fun with great accommodation.
Based right in the heart of Ko Tao.
4. IDC Ko Tao. Instructor development courses (IDC's) run every
month by English PADI Course Director Matt Bolton.
5. Phoenix Divers. Right on Sairee Beach, has good boats, new
gear and multilingual often western staff.
6. Stingray Divers. Very modern dive resort overlooking Chalok
Ban Khao Bay.
Hope this information helps you to have great diving experience
on Koh Tao
About the Author: Andy Perrin reckons you can have more fun in
out of the way undeveloped places than you ever can in 5*
luxury, so check out
http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/Far-East-Hotels/Thailand/Koh-Tao/
and see what he means.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=92936&ca=Travel
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