If you're looking to learn to dive, there are few places more ideal than the small island of Koh Tao in Thailand. Situated on the east side of Thailand’s peninsula, Koh Tao offers an ideal spot for those looking to get into the exciting sport of scuba diving. It’s warm, still waters and abundant marine life make it ideal for beginners, as you are almost certain to have a great experience. The island is home to numerous dive shops, allowing you to get certified in both the PADI and the SSI programs at very affordable rates.
Once you’re done with your day’s diving, Koh Tao has a lot to offer. There are numerous bars and restaurants on along the beaches, with the most active nightlife area being Sairee Beach. With beautiful sunsets, great beaches, delicious food, and a fun, laid back atmosphere, Koh Tao doesn’t disappoint.
Now, it may seem intimidating to plan for taking diving classes on a small island on the other side of the planet, but this shouldn’t worry you. Here’s how it would look. You will fly into Bangkok, and stay around the city for a few days to get your bearings. You can then either fly to Koh Samui, and take a ferry to Koh Tao, or take a train or bus to the city of Chumphon. From Chumphon, you can catch several different ferries to Koh Tao. This might seem complicated, but if you simply show up at the main train station in Bangkok and say you want to go to Koh Tao, they can set you up with an all inclusive ticket for the night train, a bus to the pier, and your ferry. It really couldn’t be more simple.
Once you’ve arrived on the island, it’s time to find lodging. There are numerous bungalows and other lodging options all over the island. If you’re looking for active nightlife, you should stay at Sairee Beach. Mae Head is a little quieter if that is your preference. You can go back and forth between the two via taxi or rental motorbike, or even walk (takes about 25 minutes).
With that taken care of, it’s time to find a dive school and sign up for your open water course! There are many shops to choose from, so ask around and see which ones you might like to learn with. The course will take you four days, but you will almost certainly want to do some additional diving, so be sure to see if the shop offers discounts on further fun dives.
The course will be part classroom, and part in the water. The in water portions are amazing, since the waters of Koh Tao are teaming with marine life. I have never been surrounded by so much color and activity as I have when diving in Koh Tao. If you’ve never been diving before, you will be amazed at the feeling of floating among the coral and fish, feeling like a visitor to some alien planet. There is really nothing like it, and I can’t think of a better place to get this experience than on the island of Koh Tao.
