Thailand Guide
Southern Thailand: the Gulf coast
Ko Tao
Some of the best dive sites in Thailand are found off Ko Tao, the last and most remote island of the Samui archipelago. The largest dive-training centre in Southeast Asia, it's blessed with outstandingly clear, safe and relatively deep water close in to shore, can be dived year-round and hosts a kaleidoscopic array of coral species plus whale sharks, barracudas, leatherback turtles and pilot whales.
Ko Tao, or "Turtle Island", is so named because its outline resembles a turtle nose-diving towards Ko Pha Ngan, 40km to the south. The rugged shell of the turtle - the east coast - is crenellated with secluded coves, while on its western side, the turtle's underbelly is a long curve of classic beach, Hat Sai Ree, facing Ko Nang Yuan, a beautiful Y-shaped group of islands offshore. The 21 square kilometres of granite in between is topped by dense forest and dotted with huge boulders that look as if they await some Easter Island sculptor.
With around 120 sets of bungalows for visitors, there's just about enough to cope during the peak seasons of December to March and August, when weather conditions are generally most favourable. The northeast monsoon blows heaviest in November (the worst month for diving), but can bring rain at any time between October and January, and sometimes causes high waves and strong currents. January is often breezy, March and April are very hot, and between June and October the southwest monsoon brings strong winds and rain, with a lot of debris blown onto the windward coasts. Underwater visibility is best from April to July, in September (usually best of all) and October.
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