Diving in Koh Tao, Thailand

[Bowmouth]

..but next time we're off we will try the west coast of Thailand....

Next time come to Phuket. You will not be disappointed. Not with the resorts, the beaches or the diving.

 

[mgmonk]

and we're off.........
(the dejavu kicks in)

 

[Bowmouth]

and we're off.........

I like to think of it more as a "natural extension of the last post"....

 

[mgmonk]

Oh... and not to forget that someone actually had a question here that asked about schools on Tao (oddly the question was not where is better to dive east vs west),

I think Devon gave about as thorough an answer as anyone could, but here are few more ideas to throw in the mix.

Chalok, on the south end of the island, has plenty of schools/resorts/shops/factories (call them whatever you want to).

Buddah View- Big, can be overwhelming or just right depending on your age and whether socializing is as much as part of the experience as the diving. Long list of experienced management and instructors. Prices are as "normal" as you'll find on the island without cutting corners. You might even find Ayesha and/or Wilco (mentioned above) hanging about there.

Koh Tao Resort- Large resort, but much smaller dive operation. Caters to a more... how should we say... mature (?) crowd. Very nice facilities and experienced crew. Prices are slightly higher than "normal" because groups are smaller and the operation is aimed outside the typical backpacker tourist box.

Sunshine Divers- Baan's (the, arguably, biggest on the island) smaller stepchild. Reasonable prices and a sound manager. Sort of a standard operation (more like Buddah View) with a smaller footprint (more like Koh Tao Resort). A hybrid, I guess.

Good luck, and don't feel pushed around if you're not happy. Ask the questions DevonDiver points out, and you'll be way ahead of the curve compared to the average backpacker stumbling on the island without a clue. At the same time, watch out for falling into the "too cool for school" trap and end up spending three extra hours going to 10 more shops just to save 300 baht. At the end of the day, you are on vacation. Show up informed and interested and you will suss out what's right for you fairly quickly.

Have fun. Safe Diving.

 

[mgmonk]

By the way, you planning on diving with her on the course or on your own (or....say it ain't so... NOT AT ALL)?

Just curious what your dive plans are, because, for sure, Tao is a very different place viewed from the eyes of an OW student as opposed to an experienced diver.

I know, I know, I just opened myself up to a whole walloping of Thai on Thai muay thai boxing matches starring East vs West. Oh well.

And in this corner... wearing the SpiderMan 5mil, he's the titan of the tides, the bastard of buoyancy, undefeated in dozens of endless debates......................

 

[DevonDiver]

At the same time, watch out for falling into the "too cool for school" trap and end up spending three extra hours going to 10 more shops just to save 300 baht.

This is also a very good point. I've seen people turn up on Tao and spend a very sweaty afternoon incessantly walking up and down Sairee trying to negotiate the lowest costs. In their quest to save 300 etc baht, they end up in some rubbish resort because all the nice rooms get booked out whilst they are mucking around.

If you get a "book quickly or you may be disappointed" message from several dive shops, then you should listen to it.....as room availability can be an issue...especially during peak periods or immediately following the FMP.

 

[lord khram]

CRYSTAL DIVE RESORT ON KOH TAO???? NOPE!

Just got back this morning to Chiang Mai (where my husband and I live as US expats) from Koh Tao. We wanted to get away and get in the water for a few days....

The good news is that Koh Tao is inexpensive. We stayed with Crystal Dive Resort. Don't be fooled by the "resort" word. It is cheap - about 300 baht/night with no A/C and 800 baht with A/C....which gives you a bed with a bottom sheet - a towel for a top sheet/blanket, no clean sheets or towels unless you make the switch - and no garbage collection or cleaning....and only COLD water showers...brush your teeth? All liquids from the bathroom go out the same hole in the floor.... Pretty rough - and obviously you get what you pay for. No problem - just want to get some FUN DIVES in? Go ELSEWHERE!!!! This place is a factory for new divers. The boat is older, VERY overcrowded (even the week BEFORE full moon), and the equipment is rough at best. Luckily we only needed tanks and weight b/c I would NOT have wanted to use their regs.....the O rings should have been changed last year - I also had tanks 1/2 full....etc. etc. We actually had 2 decent dives in 4 days....the name of the game here is get the dives in.....and get the new kids certified....what a bore. We didn't experience any other place, but I do NOT recommend this place unless you are totally on the CHEAP - need to get certified....and don't mind the crowd. Fun Divers....find somewhere where you can get out on a speed boat with a smaller group.....the newbies prevented us from moving on to another site once....and Crystal chose to take us to Japanese Garden where there is a "ship wreck"....ha! I dive boat that sunk two weeks ago & the DM couldn't even find it.....we had a nice sand dive and finished up in low viz over dead coral...

Oh - the swimming pool? Unless you're in class you won't be using it as 1-2 classes are in it all the time....it is not a pool to relax in after your boat dives....class is in session AGAIN.

BTW - before planning to stay/dive/swim/snorkel you may even want to check out another island....this is NOT the island for personal snorkeling or going for a swim off the beach....lots of oil/sludge near the piers and very shallow dead coral on Sairee Beach....you can make your way out to some snorkel spots but it is not an easy task.

The other side of the island may be great....but next time we're off we will try the west coast of Thailand....

Glad its not only me that has these type of problems.
Or is it just not many of us speak out about it?

 

[mase]

Taa Toh Lagoon dive resort is in Chalok baan kow. It is set out by itself on a beautiful bay and is not a zoo like Sairee beach or Mae Haad. Good instructors, fun people and small classes. Chalok Baan kow has restaurants and Bars and night life but much smaller then sairee. If you want to go to Mae Haad, it is only a short motor bike ride. Google Taa Toh dive resort. The resort is very simple, in Thailand they use the word "Resort" very liberally. The bungalows have a bed and a shower, some with hot water, others it's hit or miss. IMHO it is a wonderful place, if you are not too demanding.

 

[stiggy]

Its sad to hear that wannabe diving had a bad experience.

However for Aircon room near the beach for 800 bht you cant expect to much anywhere for that price.I travel extensively around Thailand and always expect to pay more.

As for Crystal yes it caters for the larger crowd and does this well,it offers diving to the masses and makes the whole experience affordable to those on a budget.I understand there Instructor training is comprehensive and well run to.

Most importantly from my experience with them they do this safely.

If you are looking at personal dive experiences then yes take a smaller boat or pay for a charter there is plenty of options for the experienced fun diver but you have to pay for it.


For good snorkeling swimming try the west coast of Koh Tao its beautiful and easily accessible in the right season. Alternatively north Sairee opposite Koh Nang yuan deeper water and good clean coral.

 

[mgmonk]

This is also a very good point. I've seen people turn up on Tao and spend a very sweaty afternoon incessantly walking up and down Sairee trying to negotiate the lowest costs.

Exactly. I mean, I live there and even I like to be lazy sometimes. Students (for the most part) are on vacation after all. What an awful way to get to know Koh Tao or any other island. Loosing 500 bahts worth of water in sweat to save half that on a course. Not worth it, and you'll end up grumpy at whatever shop you pin down.