Cheap PADI courses, great dive locations (Koh Tao)

Member Name: Pablo_Sevilla

Product:	Koh Tao
Date:	27/05/09 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent diving

Disadvantages: Not much else to do but dive.

Koh Tao is a small island only a dozen or so kilometres in circumference located in the Gulf of Thailand only a coupe of hours to the 'party islands' of Koh Pa Ngang and Koh Samui to the south. And whilst those islands are all about the partying Koh Tao is more about the diving.

Koh Tao has a deserved shining reputation for diving spots. It's one of the cheapest and best places to learn how to dive and get your PADI Open Water certificate for £250/$350 for the 4 day course including accommodation.
Many of the dive schools are run solely by westerners and speak most European languages.

Other than the dive schools the island has some decent but not spectacular beaches and good bars and resturants. Internet cafes and 7/11 stores are all over the island. Although the party scene is smaller than neighbouring Ko Samui there is still some fun to be had, though the general atmosphere is more low key.

If you go to Koh Tao without any interest in diving then you may well feel left out as it often feels the dive centres have a monopoly on the accommodation and you can feel pressured by them to take at least one dive. The island's small size and lack of caves or forest means there is not that much else to do but dive.
Motorbikes can be rented for about 200 bhat per day but it isn't really worth it if you are just here to dive.

I'd highly recommend it for divers, it's a great place to learn. For everyone else, give it a miss and pick another island (there are plenty to choose from in Thailand!).

Summary: Great diving locations, but lacks other activities due to it's small size...