PLAN2DIVE - Key Persons
Koh Tao is one of the must do stops on the South East Asia route. The clear, tranquil waters offer an ideal location for learning to dive. Within all of these courses are great accommodation packages offering discounts on budget accommodation during the course or discounts on the more luxurious bungalows. You'll also find that, although Koh Tao is focused on diving, there are many other interests from trekkingto waterskiing to make your Koh Tao experience unforgettable.
Today, Koh Tao is one of Thailand's major dive destinations. The island is widely recognized as one of the top dive education centers world-wide and, while remaining an absolute paradise, has expanded to cater for all types of tastes and budgets. Although scuba diving remains the primary focus of most local businesses you will find that Koh Tao offers far more than just diving, a whole range of activities to keep even the most avid non-diver enjoying soaking up the atmosphere of Koh Tao.
Koh Tao means turtle island, because, in the past, the waters were rich with sea turtles. A small island, a little more than 21 square km, located about 70km east of the coastline between Suratthani and Chumpon in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Tao remained uninhabited until recently.
Initially, there was only the occasional fisherman from neighbouring islands seeking shelter from a storm. On June 18, 1899, His Majesty the King Chulalongkorn visited Koh Tao marking a huge boulder at Jor Por Ror Bay. This site is revered and respected, and marks the island as having been claimed under royal patronage. From 1933 until being abandoned in 1947 the island was used as a political prison. Later, the first pioneers began to arrive from neighbouring Koh Phangan, and began a very simple, tough life, harvesting coconuts, fishing and growing vegetables.