Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TAKING THE PLUNGE: CHOOSING A DIVE SCHOOL ON KO TAO
It's no surprise that this underwater playground has become exceptionally popular with beginners. But before you
dive in (so to speak) it's important to look around at the various dive schools available.
When you alight at the pier in Mae Hat, swarms of touts will try to coax you into staying at their dive resort
with promises of a 'special price for you' (some touts even accost tourists on the boat ride over to the island). But
there are dozens of dive centres on Ko Tao, so it's best to arrive armed with the names of a few reputable schools
(such as the ones listed in this guide book). If you're not rushed for time, consider relaxing on the island for a
couple of days before making any decisions - you will undoubtedly bump into swarms of scubaphiles and in-
structors who will offer their advice and opinions.
Remember: the success of your diving experience will largely depend on how much you like your instructor.
Other factors to consider are the size of your diving group, the condition of your equipment and the condition of
the dive sites, to name a few.
For the most part, diving prices are somewhat standardised across the island, so there's no need to spend your
time hunting around for the best deal. A PADI ( www.padi.com ) Open Water certification course costs 9800B; an
SSI ( www.ssithailand.com ) Open Water certificate is slightly less (9000B) because you do not have to pay for in-
struction materials. An Advanced Open Water certification course will set you back 8500B, a rescue course is
9500B and the Divemaster program costs a cool 25,000B. Fun divers should expect to pay roughly 1000B per
dive, or around 7000B for a 10-dive package. These rates include all dive gear, boat, instructors/guides and
snacks. Discounts are usually given if you bring your own equipment. Be wary of dive centres that offer too many
price cuts - safety is paramount, and a shop giving out unusually good deals is probably cutting too many
corners.
Most dive schools will hook you up with cheap or even free accommodation. Almost all scuba centres offer
gratis fan rooms for anyone doing beginner coursework. Expect large crowds and booked-out beds throughout
December, January, June, July and August, and a monthly glut of wannabe divers after every Full Moon Party on
Ko Pha-Ngan.
Snorkelling
Snorkelling is a popular alternative to diving, and orchestrating your own snorkelling ad-
venture here is simple, since the bays on the east coast have small bungalow operations
offering equipment rental for between 100B and 200B per day.
Most snorkel enthusiasts opt for the do-it-yourself approach on Ko Tao, which involves
swimming out into the offshore bays or hiring a long-tail boat to putter around further out.
Guided tours are also available and can be booked at any local travel agency. Tours range
from 500B to 800B (usually including gear, lunch and a guide/boat captain) and stop at
various snorkelling hotspots around the island. Laem Thian is popular for its small sharks,
Shark Island has loads of fish (and ironically no sharks), Ao Hin Wong is known for its crystal-
line waters, and Light House Point , in the north, offers a dazzling array of colourful sea
anemones. Dive schools will usually allow snorkellers on their vessels for a comparable
price - but it's only worth snorkelling at the shallower sites such as Japanese Gardens.
Note that dive boats visit the shallower sites in the afternoons.
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