BKK to Ko Tao

[DevonDiver]

When you book the diving, it is definitely worth confirming which dive sites are being visited. Koh Tao is predominantly a 'training factory' for OW students. That means a dive boat full of students will invariably head towards a 'tame' site.

Chumporn Pinnacle is definitely the site to see - maybe the only true 'world class' site at Tao. You'll probably want to visit there several times. Most dive centers visit there on morning dives (deepest dive first) and it can get a bit crowded. Master Divers and a few of the other shops used to send boats in the afternoon, when it was much less crowded. IMHO, the sharks are a little more frisky later in the day. A double-dive afternoon a Chumporn is a treat.

South-West Pinnacle, Shark Island (no sharks) are definitely worth visiting. Green Rock and White Rock are enjoyable.

If you've got a few dives already in your logbook, you probably won't be that impressed if you get taken to one of the 'training sites' . Japanese Gardens, is only worth a night dive. Twin Peaks can be crowded with buoyancy deprived herds of silt-kickers.

Trust me...a 20 year-old, hung-over, instructor who has 120 dives...dragging around 8 window licking, short diveboat riding students is something best avoided.

 

[QBit]

In my experience I would avoid the tourist shops on KSR altogether.

They have a habit of putting you in a substandard bus, (in which sometimes they can steal from your luggage) that stops far too often along the way at overprised food stalls along the highway.

These buses are for tourists, and the companies who try to get as much money out of you as possible by arranging ahead of time to overcharge the Farang.

You would get a much nicer bus for the same cost, and a calmer- possibly even quicker journey if you went to a Thai bus station in the south of Bangkok and bought your ticket there!

 

[lord khram]

In my experience I would avoid the tourist shops on KSR altogether.

They have a habit of putting you in a substandard bus, (in which sometimes they can steal from your luggage) that stops far too often along the way at overprised food stalls along the highway.

These buses are for tourists, and the companies who try to get as much money out of you as possible by arranging ahead of time to overcharge the Farang.

You would get a much nicer bus for the same cost, and a calmer- possibly even quicker journey if you went to a Thai bus station in the south of Bangkok and bought your ticket there!

Sounds like good advice to me, or even the Train is possibly another option.

 

[lord khram]

Trust me...a 20 year-old, hung-over, instructor who has 120 dives...dragging around 8 window licking, short diveboat riding students is something best avoided.

I cant believe you would get such an experience!!!!

WHAT IN THAILAND?:shocked2:

 

[Thai_Diver]

I cant believe you would get such an experience!!!!

WHAT IN THAILAND?:shocked2:

BORING KHRAM, BORING... :bored2:

 

[jdfmail]

Thanks again for the advice. To me, the train sounds like the best bet. I imagine that room and dive op are best to be delt with after arrival.

As for the sites, I am quite familiar as I have done several liveaboard trips.

 

[DevonDiver]

let us know how you get on

 

[lord khram]

BORING KHRAM, BORING... :bored2:

How rude!
You may find it boring, but nobody forces you to read these forums.
It may come as a surprise to you but we are all free to have our own opinions and experiences and post such on these forums.

 

[Thai_Diver]

You may find it boring, but nobody forces you to read these forums.
It may come as a surprise to you but we are all free to have our own opinions and experiences and post such on these forums.

How true! However, we are all aware of your 'opinions'. You've been posting the same ones for the past 18 months... That's why it's so very, very boring :bored2:

 

[stevenl]

Don't agree with you there.
LK has left the bashing behind lately and posted some very to the point, sometimes even funny, posts with positive, constructive remarks.