current conditions Koh Tao

[broadreach]

Heading down to Koh Tao tonight and just curious about current conditions - viz and water temps.
I'll appreciate if anyone who has been diving around Koh Tao in the last few days can post.

Thanks!

 

[richdrogpa]

Conditions are so so... It's been raining for the past two weeks, usually nights and early mornings. The last two days were nice and sunny but it rained overnight again, short downpour. It's been pretty quiet on the island recently.

Re. diving: Not bad. I certainly expected lot worse after so much rain... Visibility has been OK. I've been diving (Green, White & Red Rocks, Japanese Gardens, Twins) and snorkeling (Ao Leuk, Tanote, Hin Wong Bays). 10-15m visibility is pretty standard on all of these, sometimes more. Water temps are fine, too: 28-29C.

No idea what it looks like on Chumpon and Southwest Pinnacles. Not many boats are going there since it's been so quiet here. Maybe someone else can chime in

 

[scubascuba1984]

Pretty much agree with the above. The past couple of days the seas have been quite choppy. Chumpon had a wicked current yesterday morning as well as Red Rock and part of Jap Gardens. From what I have seen online the next few days are going to be quite windy. I am off to Southwest and Shark Island this morning if the sea isnt to rough. Ill let you know how it is

 

[mgmonk]

Based on previous winters here, it feels like the monsoon is already starting or fast approaching.

Windguru has this to offer:
WindGURU: Thailand - Koh Tao

Plenty of shops will still be going out, and the upside is that the dive sites are quiet (relative, of course).

Sounds like you may have been here before? If so, you know what to expect/not to expect RE marine life.

Safe travels.

 

[mgmonk]

Based on previous winters here, it feels like the monsoon is already starting or fast approaching.

Windguru has this to offer:
WindGURU: Thailand - Koh Tao

Plenty of shops will still be going out, and the upside is that the dive sites are quiet (relative, of course).

Sounds like you may have been here before? If so, you know what to expect/not to expect RE marine life.

Safe travels.

 

[broadreach]

Thanks guys.
I've been looking at wind guru as well but couldn't find Koh Tao on their list (I used Koh PhaNgan as a reference point).
It seems that I picked a bad week to come to Koh Tao. Oh well. It least it's cheap.
I'm trying to find a shop willing to go to Chumpon but so far no luck. Maybe next time.

 

[mgmonk]

Wish (for all of us) it was better news. Both sides are getting rammed by poor weather from what I hear. Hopefully the West Coast will emerge soon, but I think Tao is headed for its monsoon dip early and strong.

just my (non scientific) opinion

 

[limbo]

Mgmonk,

The Samui archipelago to which Koh Tao belongs has brilliant weather conditions as of yesterday, blue skies and the prediction for the next 7 days is similar. No early monsoon, at least not anymore and not for the time being.

 

[mgmonk]

good news. I'm in Chumporn right now, and headed back to the Rock this avo. I'm glad to hear that the glass is still half full.

It's grey and drizzly over here, on the mainland, but that doesn't always mean much.

I'm a bit skeptical based on the past 3 winters, but I very much hope I'm wrong.

 

[mgmonk]

hmph...
WindGURU: Thailand - Koh Tao

Now we all know that this isn't from the mouth of Poseidon, but it looks like (in short)...
High winds (9-20 mph) until Sunday,

Wind coming direct from the West (meaning very choppy waters in the West Coast of the island.. White Rock, Twins, further out SW and Chumporn) but a calm East Coast (Liem Tien, Tanote, Aow Luek, etc.)

Waves under a meter (that's good news)

Only sporadic rain (Mon/Tues), but cloud coverage more than 80% the whole week

I think I'll stick with my earlier assessment. The monsoon isn't here, but this is very much pre-monsoon tidings.

Then again, I'm on a computer in Chumporn and you're in Samui, so I'd trust your judgement over mine, anyway.