Turtle Island

Posted by admin on January 16th, 2009 filed in Tourist tips, sightseeing

Situated on a huge rocky outcropping, Koh Tao is much tinier than Samui and features crystal clear waters. This exotic island provides an outstanding playground for snorkelling enthusiasts as well as for divers. Huge crowds of tourists are attracted by the island’s numerous protected bays offering mind-boggling underwater exploration.  

Until the 1930s Koh Tao remained uninhabited, when it served as a penal colony for a short period. Later, locals from the nearby located islands moved to Turtle Island to fish and farm, then, in the 1980s tourism started to develop. In the 1990s the diving boom began and Tao Island rapidly became one of Thailand’s most popular destinations for inexpensive dive courses. The inshore reef unfortunately suffered significant damage due to the increasing tourism industry. Both the islanders and local authorities fortunately have become more environmentally aware over the past decade.

A comprehensive selection of courses is on offer from beginners’ dives to professional level qualifications. The three to four day ‘Open water certificate’ is the most popular diving course that costs about 10, 000 baht.  It is the dive training’s first level that qualifies persons to dive to depths of 18 metres. Progressing to more advanced rescue training and certificates is an option after the open water course.

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 The Dive Master level is essential for those who are planning to pursue a diving. This course includes several months of theory and practice. In addition, some of the island’s schools offer several specialty activities such as nitrox diving and underwater photography. Koh Tao diving guide

Koh Tao features no less than 25 diving playgrounds with average depths of 14 to 18 metres. The deeper offshore spots reach depths of about 30 metres.