Solo dive in August - Koh Tao or somewhere else?

[Pearlman]

For a moment you had me confused - solo dive is different from solo dive trip. Aug-Sep is prime diving season in Indonesia which is south of the equator. Saying in case you are not just stuck on Thailand …

 

[Centrals]

Only a fool will suggest Koh Chang for diving in Aug(rainy season). The sites are very very ordinary and with a lot of snorkellers on the boat to certain area.
Pattaya? I had made two trips there and only managed to get my hair wet under the shower in my room. Couple of areas are too seedy except to those who are used to it eg. Kata Beach in Phuket. No such issue in Koh Tao.

 

[Centrals]

@yakitrak
Koh Lipe and Koh Tao are the only two places where you can easily make two dives before lunch.

 

[Centrals]

As @Centrals says Master Divers is now under new management and from their FB posts are just another training factory. I was going to give Hydronauts, a RAID operator, a try the next time I go.

I am travelling overland from Phuket to Bangkok in early Sep and will be in Chumphon for couple of days but do not have any time to divert to Koh Tao. Otherwise I will take a good look at Master Divers. I am only interested on Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi etc. on this trip.

 

[Edward3c]

I am travelling overland from Phuket to Bangkok in early Sep and will be in Chumphon for couple of days but do not have any time to divert to Koh Tao. Otherwise I will take a good look at Master Divers. I am only interested on Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi etc. on this trip.

Last time there I called in. The new owner gave me the grand marketing spiel, but what I saw didn’t live up to the hype. I said thanks, but went diving with DJL.

 

[yakitrak]

Thanks everyone for your responses! I am going ahead with Koh Tao, mainly because of the weather, and since I am travelling solo, I would not mind a bit of buzz, and meeting up with other divers. Based on the feedback here, I will contact DJL and Hyrdonauts. ChatGPT insists I contact Roctopus too! I do want to dive Sail Rock, so it may boil down to the dive shop that has that in its schedule on my days.

 

[Centrals]

Overnight sleeper to Chumphon(2nd class AC with berth is great but the AC is fierce).
Lomprayah has daily transfer from Chumphron railway station to Koh Tao(bus and ferry combined ticket) at 06:00. The office is right by the exit of the station.
So make sure the train arrive well ahead but not too early.
Food stalls are available at the platform.

Sail Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle are MUST.
Have a nice one.

 

[Edward3c]

Never used the train, but the Lomprayah VIP bus/ferry, 21:00 from BK gets into KT around 10:00.

You need THB20 cash on arrival to pay the port fee. Check if your hotel is sending a driver to meet at the ferry.

 

[ArskaDiver]

I agree Chumphon Pinnacle is awesome and even worth for repeat for a second day. Be careful for checking who goes to Sail Rock in your days at KT, as it may be less freaquently on the schedule of the operators due to distance.