Koh Tao, a small island which formerly welcomed numerous turtles in its very clear waters; Tao means turtle.
Of a surface area of only square 21 km and situated about 70 kilometres away from the mainland between Suratthani and Chumphon, a slight "outside limit" impression...

Small tropical paradise, but also that of the diving amateurs, scuba as well as breath holding or snorkeling ones, because near to more than about twenty dive sites, among the best of the archipelago (and Thailand!).

You will be able to easily go there in 2.30 boat hours from Chumphon and 3 hours from Samui, with a stop of half an hour in Koh Phan-Ngan, by normal boat. Faster connections are assured by speedboats, count about 1 hour less.

The Samui dive schools also bring their divers to Koh Tao.

From 1933, the island was used as a jail for the political prisoners, and in 1947 the Prime Minister of that time, Khun A-Paiwong, pleaded for the royal forgiveness of all the prisoners. When accepted, the island was deserted...

But the same year, Khun Ueam of the nearby island of Koh Phan-Ngan and his brother, by trying their fishing boat, joined the turtles island, after a long boat journey at that time, they decided to take their families to it and to live there. There they cultivated fruits and vegetables which were of use to their kitchen and in that way was born Koh Tao's first generation of inhabitants!

Interesting dive sites all around and possibility to rent bungalows on the islet.

You can go there by hiring a "long tail" (typical Thai fishing boat) for about 100 baht from 1 to 2 people.

Koh Tao has a wide variety of bungalows, from the simple hut for 150 baht per night, public toilet and generally no electricity to bungalows with ventilator and shower/bathroom inside for 400 baht.
If you want air conditioning, count about the double.

Prices vary according to seasons, as everywhere in Thailand, high seasons are from December till March and from July to August.

BOOK ONLINE YOUR DREAM HOTEL/BUNGALOW ON KOH TAO »»»

To move on the island there are three solutions offered to you, to hire a motorbike or a mountain bike (for the most athletics), to ride the local taxis (motorbike or jeep) or then traditional boats-taxi which connect the various beaches among them, a nice means.

Koh Tao is provided with numerous dive schools, maybe the highest density of Thailand.

There is only since about ten years that the first divers who came from Koh Samui discovered the magnificent underwater world sheltering a large variety of flora and fauna (Hawksbill turtles, large numbers of tropical reef fishes, Barracudas, Parrotfishes, Moray Eels, Blue spotted Rays, Groupers and sometimes it's also possible to observe large pelagics such as Reef, Leopard Sharks and Its Majesty, the huge Whaleshark!). Quickly the island became a renowned stopover in the Southeast Asia.

So atmosphere on the island is very "dive oriented", one exchanges his/her impressions with a Dane, another one discusses with a Briton about his/her previous experiences, plenty of nice meetings in perspective for the persons fascinated by this amazing watersport.

You will be able to attend the PADI courses from beginner to professional levels and also to hire (or buy) the best available equipment without any problem.

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