Koh Tao
The Ultimate Guide
For Diving In Koh Tao
THAILAND – Koh Tao
Koh Tao is one of the most popular dive destinations in the world and with good reason. Over 90 dive schools on the island featuring some of the most highly-trained instructors and operators. We help you choose the right dive school so that you can focus on when is the best day to go on the Pub Crawl. Any day?
Why Choose Koh Tao?
Koh Tao features world class diving for budget pricing. Dive sites are all very beginner friendly and feature schools of fish and whale sharks regularly.
KOH TAO ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMS
Best Of Tao + Sail Rock
Exclusive Diving only for Certified Divers on a Catamaran
Beginner Diving
Try diving for the first time or get your full scuba certificate.
Advanced Courses
Upgrade your certification and see more and go deeper.
Certified Fun Dive
Already have your certificate and want to enjoy a guided fun dive?
Divemaster Program
The first step to working in the most beautiful places in the world. Become a pro!
Special Trips & More
We're not just about diving, special day trips, adventures, & more!
too Lazy To Browse?
We Got You!
CREDIT CARDS/CASH
Cash is king but more establishments are accepting credit cards. Be prepared to pay a surchage.
TRANSPORT
The popular option is to rent a scooter if you are comfortable driving one. Taxi’s are also readily available.
PLUGS
220V plugs that fit either two flat connectors or the round ones. You’ll need an adapter for UK or AUS plugs.
LANGUAGE & MONEY
The native language spoken is Thai and the money is the Thai Baht. ATMS are readily available everywhere.
COMMON PHRASES
All phrases end in Khrap if you’re male and Ka if you are female.
Hello
Sawasdee (Khrap/Ka)
Thank You
Khop Khun (Khrap/Ka)
Yes/No
Chai/Mai Chai (Khrap/Ka)
Scuba Diving
Gaan Dam Naam Leuk
KOH TAO CONDITIONS
Rain can come anytime of year but Oct to Nov are monsoon season where it can really come down at times.
February to May is considered the best time Especially with the later half of that being whale shark season.
Have Questions or Ready To Book?
FAQs
If you’ve got a question, we’ve probably got an answer! But don’t be sad if your question isn’t here, we are available to help out or if you just want to write to us and tell us how funny we are.
Is Koh Tao safe?
Koh Tao is extremely safe. It has gotten a bad reputation and that is just a narrative that has been carried on in the media. It is like any tourist destination in which it is safe, but you do have to be mindful of your decisions just like you would at home.
Is Koh Tao a party island?
Koh Tao is a very popular island for backpackers but this doesn’t represent the whole island. There is a little bit of everything for everyone depending on what part of the island you are staying on.
How do you get around on the island?
The most popular option is to rent a scooter if you are comfortable driving otherwise taxi’s are available everywhere so jump in the back of the truck and let them do the work for you.
How to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok?
A few options,
a) you can take a long bus ride and boat over
b) you can fly down to Samui and boat over
c) you can fly down to Surat Thani and taxi and boat over.
How to get to Koh Tao from Krabi/Phuket/Phi Phi
A few options:
A) Fly into Samui and take a boat over
B) Bus across and boat over
What is the nearest airport to fly into?
The nearest airport is Samui airport which is considerably more expensive as it’s privately owned by Bangkok Airways. The other closest airport is Surat Thani airport.
What kind of marine life to expect?
The dive sites around Koh Tao contain so much diversity. You’ll often see bigeye trevally, barracudas, clown fish, eels, lion fish, sting rays and even whale sharks!
Is it a good place to do courses?
Koh Tao is a famous and popular destination for courses because of the close distance to many amazing dive sites and beginner friendly conditions.
Can you see whale sharks?
March to May is a very popular time for seeing whale sharks at dive sites like Southwest Pinnacle and Chumpon Pinnacle. Certified divers can check this sites out on our daily Best of Koh Tao trips.
Can I go diving if I'ver never tried it before?
You probably already know the answer: YES. There are programs like the Try Scuba Discover Day for those who just want to try it out and see how it feels or you can do your full Open Water Diver Course and become certified.
What's the difference between the agencies? PADI/SSI/RAID
Simple answer: they are all the same.
Longer answer: the agencies are just the ones who set the course structure and schedule and limitations but all the agencies have the exact same standards.
So at the end of the day it doesn’t matter which agency the dive center is with because your certificate will work worldwide.
Everyone usually calls it getting your PADI but this really doesn’t mean much and is just because PADI is one of the oldest agencies in the world so they did some really good marketing. Just because it’s older, doesn’t mean it’s better. 😉
How far in advance should I book?
We get it, commitment is hard. Normally we will do everything we can to get your booking in with one of our partners but to avoid disappointment it’s always better to get sorted before hand.
My question isn't here! I'm sad!
Please don’t be sad. I was pretty tired when I wrote all this so maybe I missed it. OR it’s more likely that your question is so brilliant and amazing that I could never think of it. Chat with us!
KOH TAO DIVE SITES
KOH TAO DIVE SITES
Koh Tao is a year-round diving destination. With very little current, the dive sites are appropriate for all levels of divers.
April to September are the best months to dive with visibility reaching over 30m. When the visibility is less there is still plenty to see.
Have Questions or Ready To Book?
YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS
Hear what some of our fans are saying about us:
Can't say enough great things about the team. Everyone who has helped me on the chats has always been so quick and kind. Felt like messaging a friend to make our booking. We will definitely be using GoDiving again in the future for any more diving trips we have planned. Can't wait for it.
Matilda
Sweden
It was surprising how easy the process was! Everything is so well automated but if you have questions, the crew seems to just always be online ready to help! We booked a diving course as well as some private tours with them and have been so happy with all of it. Communication was quick and helpful, online payment were easy!
Frank
Hong Kong
Amazing experience from start to finish. Took less than 10 minutes to get a response and make our dive package booking. Love the handy confirmation page they give you which has all the information for the reservation in one place.
Martin
Denmark
The team at GoDiving was so helpful when answering any questions we had. We were a bit nervous after having a bad experience but they helped create a plan to help us build our confidence and we became certified divers and love our new hobby so much!
Jody
Singapore
why choose Go diving?
QUALITY
We are different because we stand by every adventure we sell. They have been verified by us so we will always make sure you are getting an amazing experience.
PRICE
You'll never pay extra! All our prices are guaranteed. We know travel plans can change so we always include flexible cancellation or rescheduling policies.
SUPPORT
The team is available via email, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Fax. We are ready to answer questions you may have or if you're just bored and want to chat with us and say hi!
