Koh Tao Diving
Renowned as the best place to get scuba certified in Thailand, with the world’s cheapest diving prices, Koh Tao also offers some of the best diving in Thailand, all round.
Located 74 KM off Thailand’s eastern shore, in the Gulf of Thailand, this stunning 21 KM square Island is part of the fabled Chumphon Archipelago.
But with so many great diving schools in Koh Tao to choose from, which one should you sign up for a diving course with?
Where are the best places to stay in Koh Tao for divers? How about when the Diving Season in Koh Tao is?
We’ll cover all this and more. Ok Squad, let’s dive in!
Koh Tao Diving School Reviews:
Koh Tao dive schools are legendary, with the island having one of the highest rates of successfully passed diving courses in the world. The calm water conditions found here are ideal locations for beginners to learn to scuba dive.
This, combined with the fact that Koh Tao is the cheapest place to get scuba certified in the world, has resulted in many dive schools popping up all over the island. Below, we review 6 of our favourites.
Best Koh Tao Diving School to Get Scuba Certified
- Offer extended length diving courses.
- Additional training where necessary, free of charge.
- Small Group Sizes of 2 – 4.
- $ – One of Koh Tao’s Cheapest Dive Schools.
- Situated on Mae Head Beach.
Master Divers are universally acknowledged for their immensely professional attitude towards safety, customer service and scuba diving in Koh Tao.
With highly experienced staff, meticulously maintained, non-rented, diving equipment and the status of a 5 star Padi Dive School, Master Divers commands respect as a dive centre.
Best Koh Tao Diving School for Cheap Diving Courses
- $ – Offers the Cheapest Diving Courses on Koh Tao.
- Still rated as one of the best places on Koh Tao for diving experience!
- Also provide FREE ACCOMMODATION!
- Nestled in the heart of Sairee Beach.
Koh Tao is already the cheapest place in the world to get scuba certified, with unbeatable diving prices! Maybe that’s one of the main attractions of this island for you.
If that is the case, and you’re looking for the lowest diving prices you can possibly find, whilst still attending a great dive school, then Koh Tao Phoenix Divers is the best diving shop for you.
Best Koh Tao Diving School for Big Groups
- Takes groups of up to 12 divers.
- Ban’s Diving Resort is THE place for divers to socialise, with a range of great facilities and it’s own famed bar.
- Situated on Sairee Beach.
One of Koh Taos most experienced Dive Schools.
For those who are already comfortable diving and want to meet large groups of like-minded individuals to not just dive with, but also socialise with, Ban’s Diving Resort is the best diving school in Koh Tao for you!
They are the largest and most popular diving school – there is not a soul on the island who hasn’t heard of them.
Best Diving School in Koh Tao for Peace & Quiet
- Located on Saan Jao Beach, several KM from the crowds of Sairee and Mae Head beach.
- $ – 2nd cheapest dive school on koh tao.
- Small dive classes averaging 3 – 4
- Only visit uncrowded dive spots and match the weather to the right location each day.
Best Dive School in Koh Tao for Eco Diving
- Situated on Mae Head Beach – between the crowds of Sairee Beach and the peaceful Saan Jao Beach.
- Run by passionate staff with extensive backgrounds in marine conservation.
- Take part in numerous conservation programmes.
- They teach eco diving and marine conservation courses.
Best Luxury Diving Resort in Koh Tao
- Class sizes no bigger than 2!
- Located on Thian Og Bay, several KM from the crowds of Sairee Beach.
- Top quality scuba diving equipment used.
- Dive with this school and get a 10% on their luxury resort!
Things to do in Koh Tao!
Party Central meets Chill and Tranquil
No lie. Koh Tao: Has. It. All. If you seek backpacker jostling hostels, liver obliterating bar crawls and psychedelic light displays that’ll make you question what was in your drink, you’ll find it all on Sairee Beach. And then some.
AND YET: One need only move a short distance away from all of this, inwards to Sairee Village or down a few hundred meters south to Mae Head Beach and the atmosphere takes it down a half dozen knothches. Phew.
Here you actually stand a half decent chance of being able to hear the gentle sigh of the waves lapping up the beach, the chatter of the tropical birds in the jungle further back or maybe even your own thoughts:
“Wow…I’m so glad I came to scuba dive at Koh Tao! Thanks Diving Squad!! I’m going to tell everyone about you =D”.
Incredible Island & Amazing Viewpoints
Still not enough? Maybe you don’t really like people at all?? Fish are so much colourful and they never answer back. We understand.
If this is you, you can head down to Thian Og Bay, where there are only a small handful of dive centres, resorts and restaurants.
With spectacular views across the Gulf of Thailand towards iconic features such as Buddha Rock, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, it is a place of tranquil beauty, situated right amongst the incredible nature of Koh Tao.
Those who come here find it hard to believe the island is populated by any more than a few hundred people. It is more like being on The Beach than one of the party island centrals of Thailand.
For those who don’t mind a small daily commute, possible by taxi or moped, there are a range of other beaches and resorts scattered around Koh Tao, that are even quieter and more peaceful still.
Here’s the truth. Koh Tao is a visually stunning island. Behind the beaches and resorts, it is coated in vibrant rainforest, home to countless tropical birds, monkeys, bats and monitors.
There are a number of great viewpoints to be had for those who don’t mind a short trek. The most famous, John-Suwan Viewpoint offers incredible mile long panoramic views of Chalok Baan Kao Bay and Shark Bay.
Other great viewpoints include Chalok Bay Viewpoint and Nang Yuan viewpoint
Or perhaps love sick couples will prefer the Love Koh Tao viewpoint... a terraced cafe serving pink milkshakes that overlooks Tanote Bay on the islands east coast.
If that’s not enough, check out this article on 15 more things you can do in Koh Tao.
Diving Insurance in Koh Tao
Just like you have to get travel insurance to cover medical bills and accidents whilst abroad, you must also get scuba diving insurance in order to be covered for any accidents that occur on a dive.
There’s several reputable scuba diving insurance companies offering different packages – some include travel insurance as part of their main deal or an optional add on. You’ll find that some diving insurance companies offer other cool perks to – like coverage for damaged scuba gear, lost days of diving due to weather or illness, trip cancellation etc.
But which perks you get, what add ons are included and how much you pay for all this varies between the different scuba diving insurance companies and the various packages offered by each!
If you want to find out more, you can check out this epic page on the best diving insurance where we break down, compare and review the very best scuba diving insurance companies of all time so you don’t have to.
Best Months to Dive in Koh Tao
March – October, marks the entire diving season within Koh Tao.
July – September are considered the best months to dive in Koh Tao as during this time water visibility is at its greatest and waters are calm.
July – August = Tourist High Season in Koh Tao. This is when the most other divers will be present.
March – May = the best months to dive with Whale Sharks in Koh Tao. This is due to the large plankton blooms that occur in the water at this time, attracting Whale Sharks and other pelagics such as Manta Rays. This does reduce water visibility somewhat.
November – February is monsoon period in the Gulf of Thailand. With rain and choppy seas, water visibility is reduced and turbulent waters make conditions less than ideal for beginners.
Technically, good diving can still be had during the monsoon period in Koh Tao, however water conditions are less consistent and harder to predict, making this hit and miss.
At this time of year, it is better to dive in locations in Thailand’s Andaman sea such as Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lipe and Koh Lanta.
Best Places to Stay in Koh Tao for Divers
Some of the Koh Tao Dive schools are also resorts that provide a range of accommodation options – whether you are diving with them or not.
Those dive centres that do not have their own accommodation are usually happy to arrange a place to stay for divers through their website.
However, to skip commissioner fees it is cheaper to do this yourself. Below is a list of the best 6 places to stay in Koh Tao for Divers, taking into account all of your possible needs.
Sairee Beach vs Mae Head Beach: Sairee Beach and Mae Head Beach, despite having separate names, are technically part of the same beach, both being located mid way up Koh Tao’s Western Side, with Sairee Beach a little further up north.
You can walk from one to the other within about 5 minutes, and so for those attending diving schools at either beach, an accomodation option on the other is totally viable.
Cheapest Divers Accommodation in Koh Tao
- FREE accomodation for everyone who signs up with a diving course with Phoenix Divers!
- Phoenix Divers offer the cheapest diving packages in Koh Tao
- Located in Sairee village, the social hub of the island.
- AC Backpacker Hostels and couples bungalows available.
On site of all these cheap accommodation options there is also a dive pool, free wifi, restaurant and massage parlour to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
This is as cheap as koh tao accommodation gets – with a grand total price of nothing! It is also a great way to meet others from all over the world.
Best Place to Stay for Diver's Vibe in Koh Tao
- Found on Sairee Beach, party central of Koh Tao.
- Affiliated with Koh Tao’s biggest diving school
- Discounted accomodation rates on all those signing up for dive packages or fun dives with Ban’s diving school.
- Great social facilities including 2 communal pools, beachfront restaurant, spa and even it’s own famed bar!
On top of that, they’re situated on the beachfront, where daily games of volleyball take place, as well as snorkelling, swimming and cocktail drinking.
Behind this, in the stunning garden area, there is even a gazebo where guests can come together and unwind after a long day of diving!
To sweeten the deal even more, discounted accomodation rates are provided for all those taking diving courses or joining fun dives.
Best Luxury Resort for Divers in Koh Tao
- Luxorious rooms with private balconies, jaccuzis, room service and more.
- Resort is packed with creature comforts – a spa, critically acclaimed restaurant, wine cellar, to name a few.
- Found on Thian Og Bay on the south side of Koh Tao, away from the crowds of Sairee Beach.
Accompanied by the resorts stunning natural surroundings, Jamahkiri Resort is an all time favourite for nature lovers.
All of its rooms offer stunning ocean views and feature beautiful architecture combined with traditional Thai artwork and French sculptures.
Discounts are provided on all diving courses and packages for guests staying here, with special diving and accommodation combo deals being available.
Best Tranquil Accommodation for Divers in Koh Tao
- $$
- Located closer to nature than any other resort, at the beautiful pinnacle of Chalok Ban Kao.
- All accommodation has gorgoues ocean views below and total isolation from neighbours.
A range of romance and activity packages are available here including sunset toasts, candle lit dinners on the beach for two, abseiling and rock climbing, snorkelling, yoga and thai cooking classes.
View Point Resort also features a free-form turquoise pool that is surrounded by stone features.
The Cape Restaurant & bar here serves premium food and beverages, sources from the best suppliers, organic and with a selection of locally grown herbs.
Best Backpacker Hostel for Divers in Koh Tao
- $$
- Surrounded by your standard ragtag band of backpackers – in need of a shower, in search of a good time!
- On Sairree Beach, the thriving social scene of Koh Tao
They also have their own dive school, which is what makes this the best backpacker hostel for Divers on Koh Tao as you are sure to meet like minded souls here.
Two garden terraces and a rooftop make this mellowed out hostel the perfect place to watch the sunset…whilst enjoying the delicious Mexican food for which it is famous
Getting to Koh Tao
Getting to Koh Tao is as easy as one, two…four? No seriously, it’s really easy! Here’s what you need to do:
1 Quickest (and most expensive): Catch a flight to the island of Koh Samui. From here, head to the pier and catch a ferry to Koh Tao.
The two most popular ferries are Lomprayah Catamaran (slightly faster, smaller boats) and Seatran Discovery (best for those who get seasick).
Both take around one and a half hours to reach Koh Tao, with most boats leaving in the morning.
2) Next Quickest (and slightly cheaper): Catch a flight, bus or train to Koh Chumphon, on Thailand’s mainland.
Grab a bus or taxi to the pier and then get the Chumphon Koh Tao ferry to Koh Tao. This takes around 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Diving & Marine Conservation in Koh Tao
Take an Eco Diving Course
…such as Reef Monitoring or Marine Resources Management in which you will learn a range of exciting, practical activities for protecting and restoring the oceans.
These include underwater debri cleanup and coral reef creation.
The best dive school to do this with are Eco Koh Tao (LINK), but several other dive centres including Crystal Dive (LINK), who originally founded the former.
Get Involved in a Beach Clean Up
Plastic is a colossal issue in the sea. Because it is essentially indescribable it never breaks down.
Instead it floats through the water, releasing toxic chemicals, being consumed by and choking sea animals like turtles to death and swamping coral, which depletes its symbiotic algae of sunlight and so kills both the algae and the coral.
Many beaches in Thailand such as those on Koh Tao are sadly swamped by plastic and rubbish. Weekly beach clean ups are held by organizations such as Eco Koh Tao, Master Divers, and Crystal Dives.
If you want to take action, make a difference and turn this problem around, you can volunteer to help out at these beach clean ups.
Diving Squad Debriefing
Alright Squad! Splash some congratulatory water on your face. You have just completed this mammoth article on everything you need to know for diving in Koh Tao! Diving Squad out.
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