Koh Tao

[Nick Kay]

(Posted on behalf of the lucky son of friends of ours)

Hi

I am an extreme beginner when it comes to diving, but would love to do a PADI Open Water course in Koh Tao. I hear it is beautiful and the best place in Thailand to dive.

However, there are a lot of schools on offer and was wondering if anyone has had any experience on this island of a good diving school.

My main issues are safety, travel to and from the island, and would preferably like to dive with people of my own age (18-20).

If you can offer me any help with this I would be extremely grateful.

I have so far heard back from Crystal Dive Resort and the Big Blue Dive Resort, do these ring any bells?

Thanks so much for your help.

Kind Regards

Michael Harris

[iani]

I think you'll find the Similan's are the best place to dive in Thailand but for an OW course I'd think Koh Tao will be just fine. I haven't been to Koh Tao but I did live on Phuket for a couple of years, all I would say is don't look for the cheapest course, enjoy whatever you choose.

Ian


(Posted on behalf of the lucky son of friends of ours)

Hi

I am an extreme beginner when it comes to diving, but would love to do a PADI Open Water course in Koh Tao. I hear it is beautiful and the best place in Thailand to dive.

However, there are a lot of schools on offer and was wondering if anyone has had any experience on this island of a good diving school.

My main issues are safety, travel to and from the island, and would preferably like to dive with people of my own age (18-20).

If you can offer me any help with this I would be extremely grateful.

I have so far heard back from Crystal Dive Resort and the Big Blue Dive Resort, do these ring any bells?

Thanks so much for your help.
Kind Regards

Michael Harris

[sbeasley]

I did my PADI open water and Advanced with Masterdivers in Koh Tao and found them very good. They can also sort you out with accommodation.

Koh Tao is also a lovely islnad for a holiday.

[stevenl]

Koh Tao is a nice island, however, the diving is not that nice there.

It is well know because of the open water courses done en masse. There are lots of diving schools there. If you decide to do your Open Water Course on Koh Tao, don't book in advance, simply go there and check out a couple of places. Make sure the groups are small, and if they do use DM's make sure they use certified DM's and not DMT's.

[Iain Johnson]

HI,

I dived around Koh Tao in 2000 with Captain Caveman.

We stayed in Koh Samui and travelled over each day.

I had completed all my training back home and did my first open water in Koh Toa.

As I was a BSAC trainee the actually contacted BSAC and check out my limits etc as I had not been in open water before.

This made me feel confident with them as the checked everything out first, some other were happy just to take you along and never ask much about qualifications.

There are many centres there and I just shopped around until I found a good price and somone I felt happy with.

Nothing beats a face to face chat.

It was fantastic.

Wish I was Coming with you.

Iain Johnson:D

[NeutralBouancy]

Hi Thread.
I use to work as a Dive Instructor in Koh PP, and Thailand is a nice place to learn to dive. Koh Tao is a very nice and beatiful island, but to my experiance the diving is less so. But for Open Water it's perfect, unless your a natural born diver, you'll be more occupied doing skills then absorbing the beauty of underwater life. Thailands west coast has the best diving and there is plenty more fish and life to look at.
Regardless of where in Thailand you chose to do it, people tend to be with in your prefered age group, generally.
As some people already said, do shop around, talk to intructors and do not go for cheapest, go for small groups ( this most importent ) Instructor - student ratio should be at max 1:4 but my groups average 2 student which I found perfect. If you find anyone willing to go for 5 day course, do so. You get more time practising skills, and that'll make you more confident and relaxed when doing Open Water Dives, also you do the skills required faster so you can go on with the exploring the underwater part of every dive.
i.e. you get more value for money.

Good luck,
say hi to Thailand for me, you lucky ....

Mici

leave only bubbles
take only memories
and try to stay of the corals ;)

[Nick Kay]

Thanks to all that replied

My friends' son is now off on his "around the world in 80 days" (or less) tour

Lucky b*****d - will be learning to dive in Koh Tao before ending up in Australia for more diving :( (not envious honestly)