80 kilometers out from the mainland of Southern Thailand lies the beautiful Tropical Island of Koh Tao. From the moment that you set foot on the ferry pier after the boat trip across, the charm of this small desert island gets you.

Until the advent of tourism in the late 80's, fishing and coconut farming were virtually the only sources of income on Koh Tao. Both these industries remain today, although diving tourism has far outpaced these in terms of size. Koh Tao now has a reputation as a diving Mecca, and rightly so as it boasts over 20 dive sites, all within a 45-minute boat ride of the island.

The most popular beaches on Koh Tao are Mae Haad, which is also the main village, Sairee Beach on the west and Chalok Baan Kao in the south. Accommodation ranges from simple thatch roof cabana-style bungalows to air-con bungalows, however living is still quite basic and you should expect electricity to run only through the night, even in the more luxurious rooms.

All the beaches have a variety of restaurants, supermarkets and bars, Although nightlife relies on parties held on alternate nights by the few beach bars. Life is much more low-key than Samui, especially since most people are up early for diving!

Weather on Koh Tao is generally very, very agreeable with a temperature of around 25 degrees C. in the cool season (from November to February) to highs of 35 degrees plus in the hot dry season (from March to June). Although humid at times, the heat is never oppressive, cooled as Koh Tao is by the gentle sea breezes from The Gulf of Thailand.

ACCOMMODATION
Planet Scuba offers accommodation for divers. We have 3 options - bungalows with double bed amongst flower gardens in Mae Haad, beachfront Lodge rooms with twin beds in Mae Haad and Lodge rooms with twin beds amongst flower gardens in Sairee beach. All rooms' come supplied with sheets blankets and towels.

DIVING KOH TAO
World-class dive sites are as close as 10 minutes by boat from our dive school. These sites are the best in the Gulf of Thailand. The craggy, submerged rock faces are alive with sponges, anemones, soft and hard corals. Whale sharks are commonly seen in season, making for an unforgettable dive. Divers also have chance to spot manta rays and turtles while swimming amongst schools of pelagics, batfish and barracuda.