Koh Tao 'Explore and Experience'
£695
Category: Experience
Duration: 10 days
The course is mainly designed as a starting point for people visiting Thailand and it’s ideal for those ‘gappers’ who wish to have a structured start to their gap year. The trip incorporates entry level PADI training with a little time in Bangkok to meet people and adjust to life in Thailand.
Koh Tao 'Essentials'
£1,240
Category: Essentials
Duration: 2 weeks
Our ‘essentials’ programme on Koh Tao offers our customers the opportunity to acquire two world-recognised PADI qualifications. During your stay you will have plenty of opprtunities to explore the reefs and eco systems in the Gulf of Thailand and hopefully meet some like-minded divers and travellers along the way.
Koh Tao Divemaster 'Fast-Track'
£1,275
Category: DM Fast
Duration: 4 or 8 weeks
This programme offers you a fast and cost-effective way to turn pro and become a Divemaster. Based in Koh Tao, your training focuses on the prerequisite PADI courses up to Divemaster. You also get unlimited diving and a private apartment for the duration of your stay.
Koh Tao, Thailand - Destination Guide
- Location
- Diving Conditions
- Travel Advice
About an hour by boat heading North from Koh Phangan, Koh Tao is a dramatic mix of dense jungle and hilly terrain in its interior and granite outcrops and beaches along its coast. However, it has become best known for the abundance of excellent dive sites within a short distance of the island. It is a simple, friendly and fun island with an atmosphere that means people usually stay a lot longer than intended!
The dive sites vary in depth from just a few metres down to 40 metres. There is no tidal influence and there is little current at most of the sites. The water temperature is always warm, ranging from about 27°C to 31°C. Visibility varies, but on average is around 15 metres. On a good day it can be up to 25 metres.
Common marine life you will encounter includes: large schools of fish – Barracuda, Bat Fish, Trevally; Groupers; Angel Fish; Butterfly Fish; Parrot Fish; Anenome and Clown Fish; Wrasse; Trigger Fish; Moray Eels; Hawksbill Turtles; Blue Spotted Stingrays.
You may also be lucky enough to encounter pelagics (the big open ocean stuff!) like the Whale Shark, the world’s biggest fish, growing up to 8 metres in length. Grey Reef sharks are also regularly spotted (but don’t worry, none of these sharks like humans!).
April to October is the dive season in the Gulf of Thailand
| Visas | British passport holders arriving by air may enter Thailand for up to 30 days without obtaining a visa in advance of arrival. However, those arriving at overland crossings will only be given visa free entry valid for 15 days. If you intend to stay in Thailand for longer than the time endorsed on arrival, or you intend to work in the country, you must obtain an extension of stay or a valid visa. |
| Vaccinations | Please visit www.netdoctor.co.uk for more information or consult with your local GP for professional advice. |
| Getting there... | London to Bangkok (c.13 hours), Bangkok to Chumphon (internal train) followed by a Ferry from Chumphon to Koh Tao. |
| Weather / Climate | The year can be split into three seasons: a dry season, a hot season and a rainy season. Temperatures do not really alter much and it's typically 30°C most days. The dry season is December – February, the hot season is March - August and the rainy season is September to November. The seas are very rough and visibility is pretty poor during the rainy season. Diving conditions are good throughout the year (except for Oct - Dec). Common marine life includes large schools of fish – Barracuda, Bat Fish, Trevally; Groupers; Angel Fish; Butterfly Fish; Parrot Fish; Anenome and Clown Fish; Wrasse; Trigger Fish; Moray Eels; Hawksbill Turtles; Blue Spotted Stingrays and sometimes large pelagics like Whale Sharks! |
| Travel Advice | Click here for FCO Travel Advice for this country |
