All About Koh Tao

🐢 All about Koh Tao! Dive sites, snorkeling, climbing, and travel tips for your perfect island escape. 🌊

Koh Tao is a small island in the Gulf of Thailand, 40 km north of Koh Phangan. It covers 21 sq km and has around 2,000 permanent residents. The name means "Turtle Island".

Koh Tao is one of the best places in the world to learn scuba diving. Courses start at around 9,000 THB (~260 USD) for a 4-day PADI Open Water certification. More than 100 dive schools operate on the island, and underwater visibility is 10 to 20 meters for most of the year.

The main beach and dive hub is Sairee Beach on the west coast. Mae Haad on the southwest has the pier and most of the budget accommodation. For snorkeling without a boat, Shark Bay on the southeast tip is a short walk from the road.

Koh Tao is also the closest island to Koh Phangan. Multiple daily ferries take 1 to 2 hours, making it easy to base yourself here for diving and travel over for the Full Moon Party.