Scuba Diver Ocean Planet Issue 06/2016 | Page 21

THAILAND, THE “LAND of a Thousand
Smiles” is blessed with a huge variety of diving
opportunities. There are many miles of jawdropping white sand tropical beaches and dive
sites including fringing reefs, deep drop-offs,
wrecks, caves, pinnacles and seamounts way
out in the blue. The first backpackers discovered
Koh Tao in the early 80s and as word spread, so
did its popularity. It wasn’t long before Koh Tao
became a diving “go-to” destination. Not only
is this lush little piece of paradise blessed with
crystal clear water and coral reefs shallow enough

for beginners to explore, it is also one of the
world’s most popular places to get your
dive certification.
Koh Tao has managed to hold onto its authentic
island feel and retain its unique culture, despite
the thousands of annual visitors. The authorities
have got the balance just right, with top resorts
and high-class restaurants overlooking the
sea tucked away on hillsides, making way for
traditional local culture, in the form of long-tail
boats and festivals, to inhabit the majority of the
island and beaches.

01 The view from

John-Suwan
© Oliver Jarvis