Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [512]
MONEY
As a general rule, there are 24-hour ATMs at every 7-Eleven on the island. We also found five ATMs orbiting the ferry docks at Mae Hat. There is a money-exchange window at Mae Hat’s pier and a second location near Choppers in Sairee. There are several banks near the post office in Mae Hat, at the far end of town along the island’s main inland road.
POST
Post Office (0 7745 6170; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-noon Sat) A 10- to 15-minute walk from the pier; at the corner of Ko Tao’s main inner-island road and Mae Hat Boulevard.
TOURIST INFORMATION & TRAVEL AGENCIES
There’s no government-run TAT office on Ko Tao. Transport and accommodation bookings can be made at any of the numerous travel agencies, all of which take a commission on services rendered.
Dangers & Annoyances
There’s nothing more annoying than enrolling in a diving course with your friends and then having to drop out because you scraped your knee in a motorcycle accident. The roads on Ko Tao are horrendous, save the main drag connecting Sairee Beach to Chalok Ban Kao. While hiring a moped is extremely convenient, this is not the place to learn how to drive. The island is rife with abrupt hills and sudden sand pits along gravel trails. Even if you escape unscathed from a riding experience, scamming bike shops may claim that you damaged your rental and will try to extort you for some serious bling.
Activities
DIVING
Never been diving before? Ko Tao is the place to lose your scuba virginity. The island issues more scuba certifications than in any other place around the world, which means that prices are low and quality is high as dozens of dive shops vie for your baht. The shallow bays that scallop the island are the perfect spot for newbie divers to take their first stab at scuba. On shore, over 40 dive centres are ready to saddle you up with some gear and teach you the ropes in a three-and-a-half-day Open Water course. We know, we know, homework on a holiday sucks, but the intense competition among scuba schools means that certification prices are unbeatably low, and the standards of service are top notch.
It’s no surprise that this underwater playground has become exceptionally popular with beginners; the waters are crystal clear, there are loads of neon reefs and temperatures feel like bathwater. The best dive sites are found at offshore pinnacles within a 20km radius of the island (see boxed text, Click here), but seasoned scubaholics will probably prefer the top-notch sites along the Andaman Coast. The local marine wildlife includes grouper, moray eels, batfish, bannerfish, barracuda, titan triggerfish, angelfish, clownfish (Nemos), stingrays, reef sharks and frequent visits by the almighty whale sharks.
When you alight at the pier in Mae Hat, swarms of touts will try to coax you into staying at their dive resort with promises of a ‘special price for you’. There are dozens of dive centres on the island, so it’s best to arrive armed with the names of a few reputable dive schools. If you aren’t rushed for time, consider relaxing on the island for a couple of days before making any diving decisions – you will undoubtedly bump into swarms of divers and instructors who will gladly offer their advice and opinions. Remember: the success of your diving experience (especially if you are learning how to dive) will largely depend on how much you like your instructor. There are other factors to consider as well, like the size of your diving group, the condition of your equipment and the condition of the dive sites, to name a few.
For the most part, diving prices are standardised across the island, so there’s no need to spend your time hunting around for the best deal. A PADI (www.padi.com) Open Water course costs 9800B; an SSI (www.ssithailand.com) Open Water course is slightly less at 9000B, because you do not have to pay for instructional materials. An Advanced certificate