Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Diving
If you've never been diving before, Ko Tao is
the
place to lose your scuba virginity. The
shallow bays scalloping the island are perfect for newbie divers to take their first stab at
scuba; the waters are crystal clear, there are loads of neon reefs and the temperatures feel
like bathwater. The best dive sites are found at offshore pinnacles within a 20km radius
of the island, but seasoned scubaholics almost always prefer the top-notch sites along the
Andaman coast. The local marine wildlife includes groupers, moray eels, batfish, banner-
fish, barracudas, titan triggerfish, angelfish, clownfish (Nemos), stingrays, reef sharks
and frequent visits by mighty whale sharks.
Onshore, over 40 dive centres are ready to saddle you up with gear and teach you the
ropes in a 3½-day Open Water certification course. The island issues more scuba certific-
ations than anywhere else in the world.
The intense competition among scuba schools means that certification prices are un-
beatably low and the standards of service top-notch; dozens of dive shops vie for your
baht, so be sure to shop around.
Among the best operators on the island are the dive schools that all do their bit to help
keep Ko Tao a pristine place:
LEARNING THE LOCAL LINGO
Due to the steady influx of international visitors, English is spoken just about everywhere; however, the locals
on scuba-savvy Ko Tao regularly incorporate diving sign-language symbols into common parlance - especially
at the bars.
Here are a few gestures to get you started:
I'm OK
Make a fist and tap the top of your head twice.
Cool
Bring together the tips of your index finger and thumb forming an 'O'.
I'm finished/I'm ready to go
Hold your hand tight like a karate chop and quickly swing it back and forth per-
pendicular to your neck.
ACE Marine Expeditions
OFFLINE MAP
(
www.divephotothai.com
)
The luxe choice. Go out on this James Bond-worthy speedboat and
get to sites in a fraction of the time. The ingenious 'Whaleshark Watch' program keeps
up-to-the-moment tabs on where sightings are taking place - they'll whisk you out to
where the creatures are so you're chances of seeing them are greatly increased.
DIVING
