Koh Tao or Koh Samui?? Help!
- Thread starter Zynyx
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I deal in facts guys. Please don't try an make anyone believe the Gulf of Thailand is better than the Andaman, that would be a falsehood.
I have worked in SE Asia, so I don't make spurious comments. I do like my diving.
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I've spent quite a lot of time diving both East (Gulf) and West (Andaman) and although I would say the diving in the West is better overall there is still some very nice diving on the East, Chumporn Pinnacle and Sail rock are two very nice dives. The diving around Koh Tao is easier in the main which is good if you've not been diving for a while or are new to diving. Koh Tao has a good mix of relaxation and partying. I've always had a great time when in Koh Tao and will likely visit again one day. Hope you have a great time. Good luck.
Just noticed you're thinking of going at Christmas, West Coast will likely have better diving conditions at that time, although hellishly busy. Koh Tao is probably best around March/April to September/October and West is best around November to March/April. Weather might be a little unsettled in December. Hopefully a "local" can comment more definitively on December weather conditions on Koh Tao.
Just noticed you're thinking of going at Christmas, West Coast will likely have better diving conditions at that time, although hellishly busy. Koh Tao is probably best around March/April to September/October and West is best around November to March/April. Weather might be a little unsettled in December. Hopefully a "local" can comment more definitively on December weather conditions on Koh Tao.
Last year (2011) December was bad at the end of the month. 6m visibility and 26 degrees which lasted for 3 weeks. The rest of the year the conditions were fine.
I did dive both the Andaman and the Gulf. When divers ask me where to go diving during the rest of their holiday: go to KhaoLak and dive the Similans. My favourite is Richelieu Rock.
But the TS asked about 2 Gulf destinations and as usual the westcoast based divers will post how much greener their grass is. Which is not answering in Gulf related questions.....
I did dive both the Andaman and the Gulf. When divers ask me where to go diving during the rest of their holiday: go to KhaoLak and dive the Similans. My favourite is Richelieu Rock.
But the TS asked about 2 Gulf destinations and as usual the westcoast based divers will post how much greener their grass is. Which is not answering in Gulf related questions.....
Forum threads are generally about opinion and information. Occasionally they answer the question, most times tangents will occur. Simply suggesting 'neither' as an option, is not a tangent; nor is suggestion diving a different side of Thailand to dive. If perhaps I had suggested going to the Phillipines that would have been a bit too much.
If want to be dazzled by diving in Thailand I would choose the west coast to dive. Same as I would choose Sipadan over the Perhentians in Malaysia, or deep south as opposed to north in Egypt.
The OP will most likely fly into Bangkok or Phuket, why not have more options to dive in the south of Thailand, which was his general question as well.
Sail Rock and Chumpon Pinnacle are top destinations in the Gulf.
As already pointed out, the OP asked about dive destinations in the Gulf and completely dissing the Gulf in the words that you used is not the way to go about it.
As you point out, the Philippines or Indonesia could also be suggested but as already noticed, that's not what the OP asked for.
As already pointed out, the OP asked about dive destinations in the Gulf and completely dissing the Gulf in the words that you used is not the way to go about it.
As you point out, the Philippines or Indonesia could also be suggested but as already noticed, that's not what the OP asked for.
Perhaps. But lets be honest, yourself and others in this thread work in the area, so will not present an unbiased view. Also so far no-one has mentioned a 3rd dive site worth visiting after Chumphon and Sail Rock, I could name a dozen on the west coast easily.
I'm not denying my view of the Gulf is negative, but I prefer to give advice without sugar coating. Personally I had a great time on Samui and Phanghan when I did the full moon party (many moons ago
) but I've always found the west coast to be better for diving and for fun.
DevonDiver
N/A
My perspective:
Gulf of Thailand/Koh Tao:
Pros - Simple, convenient diving. Very suitable for beginners. Sail Rock and Chumporn Pinnacle are world class dives (the only ones IMHO, unless you're talking technical diving). Very cheap prices for courses. Koh Tao specifically is very diver orientated, very laid back and 'funky'. Not too commercialized, like many places in Thailand.
Cons - Volume of divers is huge, which has driven marine life from most of the sites and damaged corals substantially. Most of the sites are 'training sites' and are literally swamped with divers. Many, many low-quality dive centers and 'sausage-factory' mega-centers. Avoid those like the plague..
West Coast:
Pros - More world-class sites. More change of pelagics. Better macro life. Less crowded dive boats/sites.
Cons - Many areas are heavily commercialized for tourism. Typically more travel to reach sites from shore. A lot of the 'reputation' stems from sites that are typically only visited by liveaboards.
Gulf of Thailand/Koh Tao:
Pros - Simple, convenient diving. Very suitable for beginners. Sail Rock and Chumporn Pinnacle are world class dives (the only ones IMHO, unless you're talking technical diving). Very cheap prices for courses. Koh Tao specifically is very diver orientated, very laid back and 'funky'. Not too commercialized, like many places in Thailand.
Cons - Volume of divers is huge, which has driven marine life from most of the sites and damaged corals substantially. Most of the sites are 'training sites' and are literally swamped with divers. Many, many low-quality dive centers and 'sausage-factory' mega-centers. Avoid those like the plague..
West Coast:
Pros - More world-class sites. More change of pelagics. Better macro life. Less crowded dive boats/sites.
Cons - Many areas are heavily commercialized for tourism. Typically more travel to reach sites from shore. A lot of the 'reputation' stems from sites that are typically only visited by liveaboards.
stevenl
Contributor
Agree the west coast is (much) better for diving. Regarding the fun thing: that really is personal, and depends very much on what people are looking for.
Koh Tao not commercialised? I think there is no place in Thailand with per visitor less Thai. Agree though that the vibe is different from e.g. Phuket or Ao Nang, much more comparable to Koh Lipe, also on the west coats and much less commercialsed.
I agree with the pro/cons described by Devon Diver.
But it's worth having a closer look at the diving population. Diving has become a bucketlist item on the backpackers list. That is quite a big group. These people arrive, do their Open Water and take the Next Boat Out.90% will not even do a fundive after their course, they get back from dive 4 and leave on the 2pm ferry.
Then there is the other group. People with an interest in diving. People that visit this forum trying to find out more. People that continue diving.Instructing these people in further courses is fun and rewarding and there's a big choice idivesites that meet the requirements for each course. Course-wise, Koh Tao has everything a course could ask for.
There is a lot more than Chumphon Pinnacle and SailRock. Next time have a look at Samran pinnacle. Have look at the undocumented southern part of Green Rock. Dive the HTMS Pangan. Garanteed no bucketlist divers on these sites.
One diveshop that can take you there has already been mentioned here. And there are quite some passionate DMs who are willing to show you the real beauty of the Gulf, away from the crowds.
But it's worth having a closer look at the diving population. Diving has become a bucketlist item on the backpackers list. That is quite a big group. These people arrive, do their Open Water and take the Next Boat Out.90% will not even do a fundive after their course, they get back from dive 4 and leave on the 2pm ferry.
Then there is the other group. People with an interest in diving. People that visit this forum trying to find out more. People that continue diving.Instructing these people in further courses is fun and rewarding and there's a big choice idivesites that meet the requirements for each course. Course-wise, Koh Tao has everything a course could ask for.
There is a lot more than Chumphon Pinnacle and SailRock. Next time have a look at Samran pinnacle. Have look at the undocumented southern part of Green Rock. Dive the HTMS Pangan. Garanteed no bucketlist divers on these sites.
One diveshop that can take you there has already been mentioned here. And there are quite some passionate DMs who are willing to show you the real beauty of the Gulf, away from the crowds.
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