Diving in Koh Tao, Thailand
- Thread starter Rito
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Hi Rito,
you should go to Big Blue Diving ( Big Blue Diving - Koh Tao - Thailand - Home ). Have been there, they are quite professional and very friendly. Did refresher, AOW, Nitrox and Deep specuality there.
Say Hi to Tim (friend from highschool) and Emma.
you should go to Big Blue Diving ( Big Blue Diving - Koh Tao - Thailand - Home ). Have been there, they are quite professional and very friendly. Did refresher, AOW, Nitrox and Deep specuality there.
Say Hi to Tim (friend from highschool) and Emma.
ToPpS
Contributor
- Messages
- 112
- Reaction score
- 1
- # of dives
- 25 - 49
Koh Tao, What a magic, magic place! I'm so Jealous!
My friends and myself trained through Crystal Dive Resort. We all completed our OW, AOW and Nitrox there in December last year. All in all I completed 12 dives during my week on the island.
They run a great school there. lecture rooms, dive shop, restaurant/bar, pool and lodging. Plus you're right on the beach and a quick walk to the main Mae head piers.
Another friend has just returned from Koh Tao. Said that there was a Whale shark sighting while he was there. He dived with Easy divers.
There is also Ban's who cater for people who still want the creature comforts of home. Very nice!
My friends and myself trained through Crystal Dive Resort. We all completed our OW, AOW and Nitrox there in December last year. All in all I completed 12 dives during my week on the island.
They run a great school there. lecture rooms, dive shop, restaurant/bar, pool and lodging. Plus you're right on the beach and a quick walk to the main Mae head piers.
Another friend has just returned from Koh Tao. Said that there was a Whale shark sighting while he was there. He dived with Easy divers.
There is also Ban's who cater for people who still want the creature comforts of home. Very nice!
DevonDiver
N/A
I posted this on a similar thread running currently...
With over 50 dive centers operating on Koh Tao, you have a wealth of choices available. The quality of instruction and experience you will enjoy can vary drammatically depending on the care you take to choose.
Different centers have different pros and cons. Some specialise in certain languages (like the German center mentioned by a previous poster). There are shops that serve predominantly scandinavians. japanese etc etc. Centers that specialise in languages...or attempt to cater for many languages may hire less experienced instructors (instructors hired for their language, rather than their skill and experience as scuba teachers).
There are also large and small centers on the island. Small centers may have smaller groups for diving (which is nice), but the quality and customer service of the smaller centers varies considerably. The large dive centers tend to have larger groups of divers/bigger boats etc..so you may get less personal attention - but the upside is that they tend to have more uniform quality standards. Another benefit (depending on your tastes) is that they offer more chance to meet new people, make friends and party.
Another issue is where you want to stay on Koh Tao. The most popular beach area is 'Sairee Beach' and many resorts and dive centers are located along this beachfront strip...along with the main bars, restaurants and clubs. The Mae Haad area is much quieter (especially at night) and cheaper rooms are more readily available. However, you need to get a 5 minute taxi ride to get to the main entertainments.
For the best price/deal on diving and accommodation ....do not book in advance and certainly do not use a booking office in Bangkok (you pay for the middle-man).
If you are not flying via Samui...then just go to any tour operator in Bangkok (most are at Koh San Road) and book a 'Joint Ticket'. The best option on a Joint Ticket is overnight sleeper train (air-con) and then Lompraya Ferry. Take some food and drinks for the train. You are well looked after on the trip and not much can go wrong.
Once you arrive at Koh Tao (and on the ferry) you will be approached by a horde of touts trying to earn commission for booking accomodation and dive courses. Ignore them! Go check out some dive companies...haggle over prices...and ask whether they can offer free accommodation within the course price (some will..depending on season and how busy they are). If you have the energy to shop around, then you can get a good deal.
Be aware that the island gets full immediately after the infamous 'Full Moon Party' at Koh Pangan...so you get less discounts then and may have problems sourcing decent accommodation. The number of people booked onto dive courses is also higher then. Obviously, the 'Full Moon Party' is over the full moon period...so check online when that will be!
The week preceding, and over, the Full Moon Party is normally the quietest and this is a good time to arrive if you have that flexibility in your schedule. You can get better deals and more personal attention on courses.
Another tip for getting a better price is to 'hint' that you might be considering taking the Advanced Open Water course following your Open Water. Be non-commital, but doing this increases your 'value' as a customer. Also, tell them you are very nervous (even if you aren't)...as they will be more inclined to put you with the most experienced instructor.
When considering dive schools....ask these important questions...
1. How experienced is your instructor? (years teaching, number of certifications)
2. Which dive sites will be used for the course? (some schools cut costs by visiting the less interesting, but shorter ranged sites)
3. How many other divers can you expect to be sharing the course and dive boat with?
4. Does the dive boat have emergency oxygen, first aid kit and currently certified first aid trained staff.
If you are happy with these answers....then ask to see their diving equipment. Good schools use well-maintained, clean kit. If the kit looks like it has been dragged behind a bus from Bangkok to Beijing, then steer clear!
Then ask if you can meet your potential diving instructor (if you haven't been introduced already). Ask yourself what vibe you get from him/her? If they look like they spent the last week smoking pot, drinking and dancing...then they probably have...avoid them! If they act like they don't care...then they probably don't! If they are boastful, then they are probably inexperienced.
If they are friendly, professional, informative, establish good rapport with you and develop a sense of trust...then they are probably a good choice.
Chat to them about diving...where they have been (diving) in the world? When did they qualify as a DIVER..and when did they qualify as an INSTRUCTOR (there are some very inexperienced people working as dive pros!). What is there qualification as an Instructor? (it goes, in order,... Open Water Instructor....Master Scuba Diver Trainer...IDC Staff Instructor). The higher the qualification (along with years teaching and number of certifications) indicates (but not guarantees) more capability.
From my personal experience (working for 2 years on Koh Tao as an instructor), I would recommend the following schools...
Mae Haad - Crystal Dive Center (big school...well managed, nice operations).
Mae Haad - Master Divers (small school, long-standing, personal attention).
Sairee Beach - Seashell Resort (small school, good management, personal attention and nice rooms).
Sairee Beach - Davy Jones Locker (medium sized school, very professional)
They all have websites...drop them (and others) an enquiry email and see how they respond. Don't ask for prices...or you may reduce you ability to haggle when you arrive. If you do talk prices or wish to book in advance...do it directly with the school concerned and aim to get a discount and/or free room.
If you have any further questions, feel free to PM me. Have a great time on Koh Tao... I miss that place a lot!
With over 50 dive centers operating on Koh Tao, you have a wealth of choices available. The quality of instruction and experience you will enjoy can vary drammatically depending on the care you take to choose.
Different centers have different pros and cons. Some specialise in certain languages (like the German center mentioned by a previous poster). There are shops that serve predominantly scandinavians. japanese etc etc. Centers that specialise in languages...or attempt to cater for many languages may hire less experienced instructors (instructors hired for their language, rather than their skill and experience as scuba teachers).
There are also large and small centers on the island. Small centers may have smaller groups for diving (which is nice), but the quality and customer service of the smaller centers varies considerably. The large dive centers tend to have larger groups of divers/bigger boats etc..so you may get less personal attention - but the upside is that they tend to have more uniform quality standards. Another benefit (depending on your tastes) is that they offer more chance to meet new people, make friends and party.
Another issue is where you want to stay on Koh Tao. The most popular beach area is 'Sairee Beach' and many resorts and dive centers are located along this beachfront strip...along with the main bars, restaurants and clubs. The Mae Haad area is much quieter (especially at night) and cheaper rooms are more readily available. However, you need to get a 5 minute taxi ride to get to the main entertainments.
For the best price/deal on diving and accommodation ....do not book in advance and certainly do not use a booking office in Bangkok (you pay for the middle-man).
If you are not flying via Samui...then just go to any tour operator in Bangkok (most are at Koh San Road) and book a 'Joint Ticket'. The best option on a Joint Ticket is overnight sleeper train (air-con) and then Lompraya Ferry. Take some food and drinks for the train. You are well looked after on the trip and not much can go wrong.
Once you arrive at Koh Tao (and on the ferry) you will be approached by a horde of touts trying to earn commission for booking accomodation and dive courses. Ignore them! Go check out some dive companies...haggle over prices...and ask whether they can offer free accommodation within the course price (some will..depending on season and how busy they are). If you have the energy to shop around, then you can get a good deal.
Be aware that the island gets full immediately after the infamous 'Full Moon Party' at Koh Pangan...so you get less discounts then and may have problems sourcing decent accommodation. The number of people booked onto dive courses is also higher then. Obviously, the 'Full Moon Party' is over the full moon period...so check online when that will be!
The week preceding, and over, the Full Moon Party is normally the quietest and this is a good time to arrive if you have that flexibility in your schedule. You can get better deals and more personal attention on courses.
Another tip for getting a better price is to 'hint' that you might be considering taking the Advanced Open Water course following your Open Water. Be non-commital, but doing this increases your 'value' as a customer. Also, tell them you are very nervous (even if you aren't)...as they will be more inclined to put you with the most experienced instructor.
When considering dive schools....ask these important questions...
1. How experienced is your instructor? (years teaching, number of certifications)
2. Which dive sites will be used for the course? (some schools cut costs by visiting the less interesting, but shorter ranged sites)
3. How many other divers can you expect to be sharing the course and dive boat with?
4. Does the dive boat have emergency oxygen, first aid kit and currently certified first aid trained staff.
If you are happy with these answers....then ask to see their diving equipment. Good schools use well-maintained, clean kit. If the kit looks like it has been dragged behind a bus from Bangkok to Beijing, then steer clear!
Then ask if you can meet your potential diving instructor (if you haven't been introduced already). Ask yourself what vibe you get from him/her? If they look like they spent the last week smoking pot, drinking and dancing...then they probably have...avoid them! If they act like they don't care...then they probably don't! If they are boastful, then they are probably inexperienced.
If they are friendly, professional, informative, establish good rapport with you and develop a sense of trust...then they are probably a good choice.
Chat to them about diving...where they have been (diving) in the world? When did they qualify as a DIVER..and when did they qualify as an INSTRUCTOR (there are some very inexperienced people working as dive pros!). What is there qualification as an Instructor? (it goes, in order,... Open Water Instructor....Master Scuba Diver Trainer...IDC Staff Instructor). The higher the qualification (along with years teaching and number of certifications) indicates (but not guarantees) more capability.
From my personal experience (working for 2 years on Koh Tao as an instructor), I would recommend the following schools...
Mae Haad - Crystal Dive Center (big school...well managed, nice operations).
Mae Haad - Master Divers (small school, long-standing, personal attention).
Sairee Beach - Seashell Resort (small school, good management, personal attention and nice rooms).
Sairee Beach - Davy Jones Locker (medium sized school, very professional)
They all have websites...drop them (and others) an enquiry email and see how they respond. Don't ask for prices...or you may reduce you ability to haggle when you arrive. If you do talk prices or wish to book in advance...do it directly with the school concerned and aim to get a discount and/or free room.
If you have any further questions, feel free to PM me. Have a great time on Koh Tao... I miss that place a lot!
ToPpS
Contributor
- Messages
- 112
- Reaction score
- 1
- # of dives
- 25 - 49
Yip that is a pretty comprehensive write up there by DevonDiver.
The Mae Haad area is quiet and if you don't mind a 10min walk... Sairee Beach is not that far away.
It's a small island but just be careful that you don't end up staying there forever....
The Mae Haad area is quiet and if you don't mind a 10min walk... Sairee Beach is not that far away.
It's a small island but just be careful that you don't end up staying there forever....
bjexpat
Registered
My 10 daughter and her friend got there OW with Ayesha Cantrell ayeshaandwilco@gmail.com who was fantastic. They ran a smaller, more personalized operation.
Learn To Dive On Koh Tao with Ayesha and Wilco Learn To Dive On Koh Tao
Learn To Dive On Koh Tao with Ayesha and Wilco Learn To Dive On Koh Tao
DevonDiver
N/A
The Mae Haad area is quiet and if you don't mind a 10min walk... Sairee Beach is not that far away.
It's a small island but just be careful that you don't end up staying there forever....
Yes...there are a lot of people who stay there waaaay longer than they ever planned to
The walk along Sairee to Mae Haad is great...especially after a couple of vodka-mango buckets at 3am!
Thumbs up for Ayesha....a great instructor!Ko Tao is excellent. What a comprehensive list, Devon!
I agree on Davy Jones Locker. Good school with good people.
I would also recommend Sairee beach to anyone. It has everything you need in terms of entertainment, food, all ranges of accommodation.. Enjoy your stay in Ko Tao!
I agree on Davy Jones Locker. Good school with good people.
I would also recommend Sairee beach to anyone. It has everything you need in terms of entertainment, food, all ranges of accommodation.. Enjoy your stay in Ko Tao!
wannabediving
New
CRYSTAL DIVE RESORT ON KOH TAO???? NOPE!
Just got back this morning to Chiang Mai (where my husband and I live as US expats) from Koh Tao. We wanted to get away and get in the water for a few days....
The good news is that Koh Tao is inexpensive. We stayed with Crystal Dive Resort. Don't be fooled by the "resort" word. It is cheap - about 300 baht/night with no A/C and 800 baht with A/C....which gives you a bed with a bottom sheet - a towel for a top sheet/blanket, no clean sheets or towels unless you make the switch - and no garbage collection or cleaning....and only COLD water showers...brush your teeth? All liquids from the bathroom go out the same hole in the floor.... Pretty rough - and obviously you get what you pay for. No problem - just want to get some FUN DIVES in? Go ELSEWHERE!!!! This place is a factory for new divers. The boat is older, VERY overcrowded (even the week BEFORE full moon), and the equipment is rough at best. Luckily we only needed tanks and weight b/c I would NOT have wanted to use their regs.....the O rings should have been changed last year - I also had tanks 1/2 full....etc. etc. We actually had 2 decent dives in 4 days....the name of the game here is get the dives in.....and get the new kids certified....what a bore. We didn't experience any other place, but I do NOT recommend this place unless you are totally on the CHEAP - need to get certified....and don't mind the crowd. Fun Divers....find somewhere where you can get out on a speed boat with a smaller group.....the newbies prevented us from moving on to another site once....and Crystal chose to take us to Japanese Garden where there is a "ship wreck"....ha! I dive boat that sunk two weeks ago & the DM couldn't even find it.....we had a nice sand dive and finished up in low viz over dead coral...
Oh - the swimming pool? Unless you're in class you won't be using it as 1-2 classes are in it all the time....it is not a pool to relax in after your boat dives....class is in session AGAIN.
BTW - before planning to stay/dive/swim/snorkel you may even want to check out another island....this is NOT the island for personal snorkeling or going for a swim off the beach....lots of oil/sludge near the piers and very shallow dead coral on Sairee Beach....you can make your way out to some snorkel spots but it is not an easy task.
The other side of the island may be great....but next time we're off we will try the west coast of Thailand....
Just got back this morning to Chiang Mai (where my husband and I live as US expats) from Koh Tao. We wanted to get away and get in the water for a few days....
The good news is that Koh Tao is inexpensive. We stayed with Crystal Dive Resort. Don't be fooled by the "resort" word. It is cheap - about 300 baht/night with no A/C and 800 baht with A/C....which gives you a bed with a bottom sheet - a towel for a top sheet/blanket, no clean sheets or towels unless you make the switch - and no garbage collection or cleaning....and only COLD water showers...brush your teeth? All liquids from the bathroom go out the same hole in the floor.... Pretty rough - and obviously you get what you pay for. No problem - just want to get some FUN DIVES in? Go ELSEWHERE!!!! This place is a factory for new divers. The boat is older, VERY overcrowded (even the week BEFORE full moon), and the equipment is rough at best. Luckily we only needed tanks and weight b/c I would NOT have wanted to use their regs.....the O rings should have been changed last year - I also had tanks 1/2 full....etc. etc. We actually had 2 decent dives in 4 days....the name of the game here is get the dives in.....and get the new kids certified....what a bore. We didn't experience any other place, but I do NOT recommend this place unless you are totally on the CHEAP - need to get certified....and don't mind the crowd. Fun Divers....find somewhere where you can get out on a speed boat with a smaller group.....the newbies prevented us from moving on to another site once....and Crystal chose to take us to Japanese Garden where there is a "ship wreck"....ha! I dive boat that sunk two weeks ago & the DM couldn't even find it.....we had a nice sand dive and finished up in low viz over dead coral...
Oh - the swimming pool? Unless you're in class you won't be using it as 1-2 classes are in it all the time....it is not a pool to relax in after your boat dives....class is in session AGAIN.
BTW - before planning to stay/dive/swim/snorkel you may even want to check out another island....this is NOT the island for personal snorkeling or going for a swim off the beach....lots of oil/sludge near the piers and very shallow dead coral on Sairee Beach....you can make your way out to some snorkel spots but it is not an easy task.
The other side of the island may be great....but next time we're off we will try the west coast of Thailand....
Similar threads
