Impressions of Koh Tao

Pix and impressions of Koh Tao

Here are some pix and impressions of Koh Tao, where I currently am, giving moral support during a PADI IE (Dive Instructor Exam http://www.idcthailand.net/inexam.html) for my candidates.
My candidates passed their Classroom and Open Water presentations today successful, which only leaves their Confined Water Presentation tomorrow and they'll be PADI OWSI's (Open Water Scuba Instructors)!

I visit Koh Tao several times per year and it has grown on me over the last couple of years. During a typical visit for an IE, I stay 3 days and two nights. I always stay in Mae Haad, the main town where also the harbour is located and the ferries arrive/depart.

Koh Tao has grown over the year and a lot of construction is and has been going on and currently some high end resorts are opening their doors. It's a very nice and relaxed island where diving takes up the majority of activities and in general there's a very young crowd on Koh Tao, however that's slightly changing, note slightly!!!!



Here's picture of the Seatran ferry at the pier on Koh Samui. There are several companies running ferries between Samui and Koh Tao, the two main ones Seatran, which leaves from a custom build concrete pier near big Buddha and the other company is Lomprayah, which runs next to temple grounds in Maenam.

I prefer Seatran, not only because they depart/arrive almost next to my house but mainly because they have more comfortable seating arrangements for the one hour and 15 minutes ride. The ferries stop in Koh Phangan, either way. The cabin's are air conditioned and video's are shown, but one hardly gets to see the end of the movie, since they last longer than the trip!

This is a picture from Haat Sairee (Sairee beach). A nice and wide beach but only in this spot, at the Mae Haad side, there's no coral at the beach, so one can easily swim and fool around in the water here. Further down the beach, snorkeling it's excellent for snorkeling with all the coral and fish, within a few meters from the beach.

A monument opposite the beach with a very nice scenery and a small wooden bridge.

Mango Bay, a bay at the north western part of Koh Tao, outstanding for snorkeling trips and a lovely view of the mountains that litter all over Koh Tao (Koh Tao is also known as 'The Rock') . Mango Bay is also a well known, shallow dive site.

The water at Mango Bay, very clear, loads of coral and tons of small coral fish. This photo has been taken from a boat and it shows the clarity of the water and you can make out the coral and some fish.

If you visit Koh Samui, it's a worthwhile and nice side trip to Koh Tao, either for a day or for a couple of days. Koh Tao supports now good accommodation in various price ranges and loads of very, very good restaurants, for each budget.

Hope you enjoy the pix,

Camille