Diving and snorkeling

The Amazing life in the sea

Around Koh Tao is clear-blue, warm water and an amazing ocean-life. It’s no surprise that this area has become one of Asia’s most popular destination for scuba-divers from all of the world.

There are scuba-classes available at reasonable prices compared to other countrys.  A lot of scuba-stores with all levels of education is just around the corner. Make sure to compare the prices between the stores, that usually pays off in the end. We recommend Divepoint in Mae Haad.
If you prefer snorkeling there’s a lot of nice reefs to explore. Why not take a trip with your family and look at the turtles and Whale Sharks?

Most places for scuba and snorkeling is just a short boat-trip away while the most beautiful and most advanced places is about two hours away, for example Ang Thong National Marine Park and Sail Rock. Most company’s offer a living for you when you have a diving-class or “Scuba-diving trip”.

we recommend the following places for scuba-diving and snorkeling:

A very popular spot south-west of Koh Tao. You will find amazing fishes and a lot of underwater mountains to swim around. The mountain-tops are about five meters under the surface and the water is about 30 meters deep and if you are lucky, you might see some Whale Sharks.

Located northwest of Koh Tao and is with Southwest Pinnacle is a popular dive site. With around 5-25 meters visibility under the water, you can, if you are lucky, hit on a reef shark. A mountain begins approximately 14 meters below the water surface and extends down to a full 30 meters. A great diving experience! If you manage not to hit on a reef shark, you should not be disappointed, the marine life at Chumphon Pinnacle is awesome else too. Many different kinds of fish you’ve only seen at home in the aquarium will surely swim around you. Chumpon Pinnacle is also renowned dive sites where there is a big chance to see Whale Shark.

Twin Rocks is located on the western side of the neighboring island of Koh Nang Yuan. The two big hills as the site consists of Twin Rocks has given its name. They start at eight and 16 meters deep, and this can all dive, regardless of previous experience. It makes the place a perfect day trip for the whole family. At Twin Rocks, you may encounter little Nemo, the clownfish from Finding Nemo, butterfly fish and maybe a passing turtle. The white eyed morays are right deep down that takes you all the way, you can visit them too.

White Rock is located just southeast of the Twin Rocks. Here it is popular to dive both daytime and evenings. The depth is up to 22 meters and is therefore divers of all levels. Fish of all different varieties and colors flocking here, including butterfly fish and parrot fish. A hot tip for night dives are a flashlight around the head to avoid swimming in a rock wall or meet on an angry little shrimp.

Green Rock is located on Koh Nang Yuan’s northeastern coast and here the mountains a very funny shape, with large boulders standing on each other. Already a meter below the water surface takes bumlingarna to and extends full 28 meters below the surface. Here is the diving is best for those who have appears ence previously. If you are a beginner you should not be discouraged from Green Rock, but it may be wise to stick to the shallower parts. Lots of cool fish, including parrot fish, is found here.

At the Japanese Garden, located east of Koh Nang Yuan, the diving is best for beginners when the depth is around 2-14 meters. Japanese Garden is also a good excursion for snorkelers, because it is shallow. Here you are guaranteed to encounter a variety of fun and funky fish. Even amounts of coral shaped in different ways is to look at here. The visibility under water ranges between 5-15 meters and if you had planned to visit Japanese Garden is best in April and May.

Shark Island is located just southeast of Sai Daeng Beach on the island’s southern coast. Here you can manage to encounter both leopard sharks and reef sharks. At Shark Island dive all equally well, regardless of previous experience you have. It may be what led to Shark Island has become a popular dive site.

A small island that is part of Ang Thong National Marine Park. Koh Wao is located west of Koh Tao’s neighboring islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. Here is the depth of around 6-20 meters and you do not need to be a professional to dive here. Watch the turtles or swim with fish per hour. Health of butterfly fish and other colorful characters who belong in Koh Waos water!

Koh Yippon Koh Waos little brother. Also here is the depth of around 6-20 meters. While enjoying Koh Yippons all the beautiful coral reef, you encounter a turtle quietly swimming past. Fish hour you will also find this and maybe something as fun as ekorrfiskar. Here’s a great day trip with caves to swim into the mountain or to swim through. Visibility is not always the best but what does that when there is so much more exciting to try out.

What does it cost?
If you have never dived before, it may be fun to test dive for pleasure. For a half-day costs a provdyk around 2,000 baht and then you do a dive at 12 meters depth. Want to take a diving certificate cost an Open Water course about 9800 Baht.

There are snorkeling tours around Koh Tao if you feel to keep you on the water. Snorkel tours cost 650 baht per person for a large boat and 550 Baht if you want to go out with longtail boat. The price includes transfers to and from your hotel, snorkeling equipment and lunch. On the boat are also included water, coffee / tea and fresh fruit. The day begins at 08:30 when you are picked up at your hotel and you are back at around 16.00. The boat then takes you to Shark Island, Ao Leuk Beach, Hin Wong Bay and you can then choose between Koh Nang Yuan or Japanese Garden before it’s time to go home again. Day tours can be booked at any recreation that are scattered around the island’s beaches.

At Hin Wong Bay on Koh Tao’s northeast coast is the snorkeling is very good. During June-August winds blowing in the right direction, the water is calm and the snorkeling gets even better. Even divers come to visit Hin Wong Bay, with a depth of around 20 meters where you can encounter turtles and nice corals.

On Koh Tao’s northern coast, Mango Bay, one of the best spots around the island for snorkeling. Given that it is not as deep here, not more than ten meters, you’ll see clearly all the colorful fish and violently shaped coral.

At Sairee Beach, the longest and most popular beach on the island, it is very easy to snorkel. If you go out about 100 meters from the beach, you will find the reef and its fish.

Koh Tao is never a problem to find a diving company to go training with, or book an excursion off. It is easy to understand that Koh Tao is the world’s largest diving school with about 46 diving companies on the island. At Sairee Beach is including the New Way Diving where Will Nel works. During his four years he has been in Thailand and Koh Tao, he can dive inside and out to. He says that they are the only diving service company on the island that embarks already at 06:00 in the morning. As it is they, with their small groups, looking at the dive sites first of all. Inside the Sairee Village you will find Siam Scuba Dive Center where Jean-Jacques works. Dykföretagens prices on the island are right equivalent, but because they are so many in the same place can be a good idea to compare prices and what is included before you book anything well. Diving companies are at most beaches on the island.