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Just
over 10 years ago buffalo carts and tiny boats were used as the main
form of transportation. The first diving operations came from Samui
with the divers staying the night in primitive huts.
Only 2 years later a couple of very basic dive centers started
operating on Koh Tao. Equipment was limited, wetsuits were not
available for customers and only small local fishing boats were used
to take divers to the sites.
Finding popular sites was a combination of lining up fix points on the
horizon and dragging dive masters on ropes behind the boat, hoping
they would recognize the sites from the surface.
Since this time Koh Tao has exploded on the diving circuit and
it now has the reputation of being the main training center for dive
students in South East Asia.
Many
international diving agencies are represented on this small island,
including PADI, SSI, IANTD, BSAC & NAUI. (So intense has the market
growth been in the past decade that PADI and SSI now send their
representatives to the island to monitor the quality and to help
keeping all their members informed about changes
with
the industry)
All course levels are available from beginner to professional,
including special courses like UW- photography and technical diving (nitrox)
for the more adventurous, so if you just fancy a few days of fun
diving or wish to go on with your underwater career, it's all here.
Actually Koh Tao has become the leading area in Thailand for
Instructor Develop-ment Centers (IDC). IDC's are held at the larger
dive resorts or shops with courses running every two months .
Equipment
quality has also improved with shops using the latest models including
Scubapro, Suunto, US Divers, Technisub and Seac Sub. There are repair
shops for divers traveling with their own equipment and who may need a
service. There is also a selection of retail centers for those who
wish to purchase some scuba gear. Safety is now at a very high level
with a mono recompression chamber and a DMT O2 & evacuation station
located on Koh Tao and a bigger chamber on Samui only 90 minutes away
by speedboat. Most of the reputable shops have staff that are fully
trained first aiders and oxygen providers with oxygen on the boats and
in their facilities. Some shops even offer full diving insurances to
have that extra peace of mind.
If you don't fancy diving don't forget that snorkeling is
available through most dive centers, if you prefer it more private try
a longtail trip around the island or just swim or kayak along Koh
Tao's beautiful coast line. Sunlovers, remember our beaches are nearly
always empty as the divers are either in the classroom, on the
diveboat or underwater, wherever they are, they are not on the
beaches.
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