The Complete Guide to Diving in Koh Tao
Travellers in Thailand like to inscribe their targets properly. Complicated island paradises are boiled down to one or two simple words or associations. Koh Phi Phi? The beach. Koh Phangan? The Full Moon Party. Koh Tao? Diving.
Some of them are pretty well deserved. After all, Koh Tao ( "Turtle Iceland") is second only to Cairns, Australia, when it comes, the annual number of diving certifications. to take travelers flock from all over Southeast Asia, their first breaths underwater. in the coral reefs fringing Turtle Iceland And it's easy to see why: The rates are cheap, the dive sites are abundant, the island is beautiful, and the lifestyle is easy
Prospective divers to the island heading spoiled for choice when it comes going to dive. Schools, instructors and dive sites. But competition is good for business is hard (there are more than 50 dive schools on this small island!), So it is definitely to have a few things in mind helps when making such a large investment of time and travel budget.
PADI or SSI
There are more than 50 dive training systems, but in Koh Tao, the choice almost always comes down to two: PADI or SSI. Each organization develops its own teaching materials, sets its own standards and award their own certifications. But the differences are minimal. No matter what you go with Brevet away, you will use the same equipment can be found in the same fish, and dive in a position to the same resorts. Certifications are interchangeable and recognized worldwide. No matter what organization you choose to certify with, the most important factors in the quality of the course is your diving school and your instructor. But there are small differences you will want to consider:
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) - PADI's leading training organization in the world, with more than 6,000 dive shops and resorts worldwide. If you find comfort in numbers, then with the agency nearly one million certificates per year could just for you! The big advantage for diving with PADI comes at a professional level. For trainers and instructors, PADI offers more employment opportunities and PADI instructors can work independently (during a SSI Instructor through an SSI-registered business must inform). So if you dream for good in Thailand remain the backpacker crowds to teach, and you want to be faithful to an agency, PADI is the best choice.
SSI (Scuba Schools International) - This group has more than 2,500 authorized dealers around the world. For divers on Koh Tao, the advantage is to do an SSI certification until best for your baht. An SSI rate will usually cost almost 10% less than a PADI course. If you are specifically for its status as one of the world's cheapest places to Koh Tao come to certify to these additional Baht can make a big difference.
What is the course like?
The typical diving course is completed in three days. There are videos to see book chapters to read, take tests, and, of course, to do dives! It might sound intimidating, but the course is designed for students aged 12 Scientists should not be intimidated
Here is a rough sketch of what will look like your course.
Day 1: Class work in the morning abilities to learn about basics equipment, and the effects of diving on the body. Afternoon in the pool or in shallow dive sites do skills spent
. Day 2: Morning will review questions in the classroom finishing and taking some test output. In the afternoon open water dives 1 and 2. Some skills will be carried out during dives
. Day 3: You will go boat one morning and complete open water dives 3 and 4. In the afternoon, you will be the final test. Congratulations! You are now an Open Water Diver.
After three days of hard work and fun, you will receive a certification card that you. Anywhere in the world with a buddy, independent of a professional to allow to dive depth of 18 meters
How much will it cost?
A PADI Course 9,800 Baht usually run, including accommodation for three nights ", although often at smaller schools can negotiate up to 9,000 baht. An SSI rate will not go over 000 Baht with accommodation. If you have a to arrange their own accommodation, you can wrangle a PADI course for 8500 or SSI for 7500 ( . Note: There are 36 baht to the dollar ).
many schools is a videographer come on dives 3 and 4 and make a 10-20-minute music video style movie of the day. at night, the class will gather to see it. Depending on how many copies are sold, you can get a take home for anywhere 1500-2500 baht. If you would prefer to be behind the lens, rent most diving schools underwater cameras for around 1,500 baht.
for divers who already have their Open water course completed, fun dives cost about 700-1000 baht per each how many dives you do and if you your own equipment. Those want with time and money constraints, it is to visit a priority of at least one leading from Koh Tao dive sites.
Which school should I choose?
Koh Tao is not a mecca for diving for nothing: there are almost 50 diving schools on this 13-square-mile rock! This decision is the largest when it comes to determining the quality of your diving course. schools fall for the most part in several categories:
Big schools: Block, Big Blue, Buddha View, Crystal
These schools are ideal for someone who is going through confident under water (ie no additional individual care need) and wants friends and meet people in a large group setting. These schools have teachers feasible for almost any language. However, groups may be too large for comfort a little, and locks in particular accepts no open water student to one of the leading dive sites around the island
Medium Schools .: New Way, Scuba Junction, have Simple Life
medium diving schools the best in the rule of both worlds. They have a number of teachers and groups will make large enough friends, but they are not as prone to overfilling or rushing through the course
Small Schools . Sairee Hut, Roctopus
These schools are great to arrange accommodation and great offers at special needs. For example, you might be able to negotiate discounted fun dives post-course. The extra attention to the teachers that small schools and groups should be allowed for keys that are easily spoiled times with attention who feel insecure about position or underwater.
When a school and a teacher picking, consider these factors:.
- they have a teacher who speaks your language
- How many students are in the group
- When they leave in the morning? ? These eager beavers who want to be the first on the dive site might not be up in time for New Way 06:00 departure against, while revelers might prefer Roctopus of relaxed dive times.
- Will my course include a visit to one of the top dive sites Koh Tao (see list below)? Some of the major schools not send open water divers are.
- If the device is up to date and in my size? Schools in Koh Tao have a good balance for the equipment area and maintenance, but it never hurts to ask.
- As qualified teachers? Some students may appreciate the enthusiasm and up-to-date training a new teacher, while others find comfort in a teacher with tons of skills and experience.
- Do you like the teachers?
What are the not miss Dive Sites?
Chumphon
Chumphon typical dive 3 of the open water course visited. The Pinnacles are covered in colorful anemones and surrounded by large shoals of mackerels, batfish and baraccuda. Happy divers discover giant barracuda, scorpion fish and even whale sharks. For those to dive fun hoping Chumphon is almost always in the morning visited boats.
South West
Southwest is an alternative site for dive 3 of the open water course. This fun site is also designed in the Anemone and Clownfish with carpet that accompany them. This is another great site for barracuda and grouper. Southwest is almost always in the morning visited boats.
The wreck of Sattakut
The former US Navy ship was sunk in June, there Koh Tao make newest dive site. have marine animals such as sharks and one puffer already begun to make a house here. Most schools you need to be an Advanced Open Water Diver to dive here or do it as part of this course.
Shark Iceland
Named for its resemblance to a dorsal fin, this site is often less densely populated than the listed due to its location other top of on the west side Koh Tao. Highlights include a variety of different corals home nudibranchs, rays and moray eels. On the other hand Shark Iceland may have a killer power and very aggressive trigger.
Sailrock
Sail Rock is an ocean pinnacle between Koh Tao and Koh Pha Ngan. The site takes about two hours from Koh Tao to achieve. Occasionally you are lucky and get complete dives 3 and 4 of the open water here for an extra fee, although in general, this is a specialty travel is everywhere costing 2500-3500 baht. A handful of schools are taking trips to Sail Rock, but most go only once a week, so if you are interested, you start the day you arrive to investigate.
The twins
White Rock
White Rock one of the most frequently visited dive sites 
Green Skirt
Green Rock is located north of Koh Nang Yuan. The outstanding feature of this site is its many "swim through", which are caves or cut through the divers still can happen. They are ideal for buoyancy to practice and shy to find life in the sea. This is also a popular breeding ground for aggressive trigger fish, so do not worry a piece fin to lose!
learning in Koh Tao be approached with caution, since it can lead to a very serious addiction after diving hobby and lifestyle! Many a dive Virgin ferry arrived with plans is to allow to stay and certify a few days, just find yourself months later to call the island home and work to become an instructor.
Diving is a life skill, you can around the globe with you. From the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to the Blue Holes of the Bahamas, from the wreckage of Micronesia to the whale sharks in Mexico, diving allows you to explore more of the world than you ever knew it possible. Enjoy it
For more information on traveling to Thailand and diving, check out these resources:
learning how to Scuba Dive
How much is a holiday in Thailand cost
the best places ? to dive
Alexandra Baackes is an avid scuba diver and ~~ POS = TRUNC videographer and an onshore writers and designers. She blogs about travel, diving and living in Southeast Asia at Alex in Hiking. You can her on Twitter talking about fast food cravings and wanderlust in @WanderlandAlex.
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