Diving in Koh Tao

[seattlepaul1975]

Hello all....my wife and I are doing our "delayed" honeymoon to Thailand in March. Planning on being in Koh Tao for 2 days...with one of the days for Diving. We are in the process now of getting our open water done here in Seattle and will have our SSI OW completed by the time we are in Thailand.

Wanted to get some advice and suggestions on best places to dive from (shops) and dive sites to go to.

Any suggestions would be great...we are going to be in Koh Tao around the 2nd week of March.

Thanks!!!!

 

[DevonDiver]

Check out Master Divers - very professional outfit, you won't be disappointed. Ayesha, one of the owners, is here on Scubaboard regularly.

Stay well clear of the giant 'sausage factory' diving schools - they are totally orientated towards mass open-water classes, not quality diving.

The best dives sites to visit are undeniably:

Chumporn Pinnacle
Southwest Pinnacle

Both of these are deeper sites, so AOW qualification and/or some experience are a distinct benefit. There's a couple of wrecks to visit also.

Most of the sites around Koh Tao are full of trainee divers. They are shallow and calm - ideal for novices (which is one reason why KT is so popular as a dive training location). The main sites (White Rock, Japanese Gardens etc) tend to be a "little" over-dived... which impacts on the marine life and corals. They're still a treat for a novice diver though. Stick with a smaller dive operation who'll schedule to avoid the crowds and you'll have a great time.

 

[ayeshacantrell]

Thanks DD - we have already been intouch with each other and look forward to welcoming SP in March !

 

[touristdiver]

Stay well clear of the giant 'sausage factory' diving schools - they are totally orientated towards mass open-water classes, not quality diving.

I dove with one of the biggest, Big Blue Divers. I was really happy with their service to experienced divers like me. Got +70 minute dives with group of DMs or above.

btw. Even if you choose a smaller operator (like new heaven divers that I would also recommend based on experience) they will also go to same dive sites at about the same time as someone else so the sea will be full of divers no matter what you do.

Chumphon pinnacle was the best (whalesharks!) but sail rock was pretty good too. Better than sw pinnacle anyways.

 

[ayeshacantrell]

Not all schools keep the same time and schedule and some try their best to avoid the crowds where the can - for example if you visit chumphon in a morning when everyone else is there then you will see alot of divers - go in the afternoon and its often that you have the site to yourself....

 

[richdrogpa]

Yeah, definitely second the Master Divers. I dove them last year, did my Rescue SSI certification with them, too. They are both experienced dive outfit and lots of fun, too... You have chosen well!!!

 

[seattlepaul1975]

@richdrogpa.....thanks....we are all booked up with them! Super excited.

 

[Griffo]

Only just saw this thread. You'll have a great time with with MD, top outfit - one of the best run dive shops i've seen anywhere. I also prefer their smaller boat - I swear that during an SI you'd see some of the larger boats rock up and take 30 mins from the time the first diver hit the water to the last.

The diving in Koh Tao is perfect for newer divers, the water is warm, the beer is cheap, the food is awesome (apart from the touristy places in Sairee). In fact i'm trying to remember why I came home...

MD also have a heap of tips on their website about general Koh Tao stuff.