I first went to Koh Tao a number of years ago when I wanted to train to become a divemaster. I carried out loads of research on the internet, and everywhere pointed in the direction of Koh Tao. Koh Tao was THE dive destination in Thailand, particularly if you wanted to become a divemaster or instructor. When I arrived however, it wasn’t quite what I expected. Here’s an overview of the good and bad of scuba diving from Thailand’s popular island – Koh Tao.

1. It’s cheap!

Diving from Koh Tao is probably the cheapest diving you will get in Thailand. The dive sites are all really close to the island so fuel costs are low, and there are so many dive operators on the island that competition is high. If you want to learn to dive while travelling Thailand, and you want the cheapest option – Koh Tao may be the island for you.

2. Whale Shark Sightings!

Each year, at a certain point in time, usually (though not always) around April, the dive sites off Koh Tao can attract the visitation of Whale Sharks. These enormous, graceful, and harmless creatures are breathtaking to watch, and on the wish list of most divers. The down side is that there is no way to predict when they are coming, and no guarantee you will see them. When you do, you will likely be sharing your experience with a mass of other divers, and whilst some of you may find the champagne bubbles of other divers exhilarating, some of you may find it a less than peaceful experience.

3. Great for partying and bonding with other divers

Koh Tao is on a par with a university campus – the topic of study – scuba diving. There is no shortage of beach parties, bars and excellent night life, where you and your friends can share a few drinks, bond over your latest marine life venture, and dance your hearts out until the early hours of the morning. There are also quieter spots on the island, so if partying isn’t your scene you will be able to find a more secluded resort in one of the less developed areas of the island.

1.  Not so much diversity

The Gulf of Thailand on the east coast of Thailand is not as diverse as the waters of the Similan Islands and Andaman Sea on the west.  Aside from the possible whalesharks, reef sharks, moray eels, puffer fish and plenty of titan trigger fish, in all honesty, in comparison to other dive locations, the marine life in the Gulf of Thailand is limited.  Those of you who are new to the underwater world will see loads of creatures to blow your mind away.  However, I’ve known more experienced divers to be really disappointed with the dive sites, and in some cases it has put people off diving in Thailand all together.  A crying shame, as diving over on the west coast is completely different.

2.  Busy Dive Sites

As Koh Tao is such a university campus for diving, there are loads of dive shops, and loads of divers.  Unless you find a dive operator who runs trips at different times to others you could be sharing the dive site (especially the popular ones) with a mass of other people. 

3.  Factory Style Teaching

If you’re learning to dive then I recommend you find a dive shop that guarantees small groups and a personalised service.  It may also be a good idea to meet your instructor first, and gage how professional you believe him/her to be.  I don’t want to tar all Koh Tao dive instructors/operations with the same brush, there are some excellent instructors there, however they do also have a reputation for being less than thorough, and somewhat more focussed on the partying element of your holiday than the learning to dive bit.  Just be sure to check it out beforehand, and go by your own feelings. 

If you want a good time, you want to learn to dive, you want the cheapest option, but you’re not so interested in the marine life, then Koh Tao could be perfect for you.  If you’re an experienced diver who has been to different top class sites around the world, and you’re looking for a taste of what Thailand has to offer on the marine life front – then Koh Tao is probably not for you – unless you want to take a chance on seeing whalesharks.