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Thailand
As the most popular destination in South East Asia, the Kingdom of Thailand has a lot going for it. Although initially famous for its beautiful beaches and islands, the fascinating Thai culture and its traditions more than shine through as you head away from the very touristy areas. Bangkok is the country’s capital and largest city and has remained very ‘Thai’ perhaps because, unlike all of its neighbours, it was never colonised by Europe, although it is ‘Westernised’!
The Thai people are known for their hospitality and generosity, 95% of them being practicing Theravada Buddhists. Thailand is around the same size as France and borders Malaysia to the south, Burma to the west and Laos and Cambodia to the East. It can offer you a varied travelling experience as you hop from culture to beaches to partying to total tranquillity- whatever you are looking for!
Koh Tao
Koh Tao is a sheltered island located in the Gulf of Thailand, which makes it the perfect place for diving during any part of the year. Most dive sites are a short boat ride from the island; however, there are some great sites a little further away where you will see the larger species of fish. If weather conditions are poor on one side of the island, then it’s possible to travel to the other side, where conditions are likely to be better – this is one of the biggest benefits of doing your course on Koh Tao, as diving can nearly always go ahead regardless of the weather.
Koh Tao itself has a good level of infrastructure (including banks, internet cafes, transport and shops/restaurants); however it still manages to maintain a lot of its authentic Thai charm, unlike its 2 closest neighbours Koh Samui and Koh Phangnan, which are far more developed.
With these modern conveniences, the idyllic location and some of the best diving in South East Asia, Koh Tao is the place you should be doing your scuba diving course.
Climate
Thailand enjoys the typical tropical climate, so be prepared for a bit of heat and humidity! Annually, temperatures (on average) range between 28°and 35°C. There are local deviations in the weather, but in generally it follows this three season pattern. The November to February cool season coincides with the peak tourist seasons – temperatures aren’t exactly cool (though they are compared to other times…!) and there isn’t much rain. Next is the March to June hot season – high temperatures that can push the mercury up to a scorching 40°C.
The rainy season runs from July to October and is what it says! You’ll still get reasonable temperatures, and the rain is not continuous by any means, more like heavy showers in the afternoon. It’s in September that the monsoon really gets going…you’ll be able to see those rains coming!
Getting There
You will need to arrange to fly into Bangkok International Airport, where you will be collected and taken to your accommodation for your Bangkok stopover. A number of international airlines fly direct to Bangkok, such as Thai Airways and Qantas/British Airways. There are many cheap options for indirect flights, including Emirates, Qatar Airways and many European airlines.
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