Located a two-hour ride by a jet ferry from Koh Samui, lies the island of Koh Tao. Not much is known about this island by the average tourist, nor does it feature prominently on any tour operator’s itinerary. However, this island is venerated to almost cultish proportions as the Scuba Diving capital of Thailand. I experienced first-hand the delights and wonders of this island paradise when I was recently invited by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to be a part of the “Spotlight Koh Tao 2023” festivities.
– Gurjit Singh Ahuja
Every year, lakhs of Indians throng Thailand, from the never-sleeping megapolis of Bangkok to the beaches of Pattaya, Hua Hin, Krabi, Phuket, and Koh Samui or the cool environs of Chiang Mai. The average Indian visitor to Thailand is comfortable with the sun, sea, sand, shopping, entertainment, and cultural glimpses and values that these cities offer.
So, when the name Koh Tao popped up, I had to look it up on Google to find out where I was headed and what did it have in store for me. Koh Tao or “Turtle Island’’ is a 21 sq km island on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand and is a part of the Surat Thani Province, with a very small native population that survives primarily on fishing and tourism.
Koh Tao is not an average tourist destination. Just to get here, an international traveller has to change at least two to three flights and then catch a ferry with all their luggage in tow. Visitors come to Koh Tao with a purpose and a focus, and at the epicentre of it all lies, “Scuba Diving.” Yes! Koh Tao is the scuba diving capital of Thailand and in 2019, before the pandemic, Koh Tao received 6,00,000 visitors.
Tourism in Koh Tao primarily revolves around scuba diving. So, whether you want to learn the basics, be PADI certified, upgrade your skills for open waters, learn ‘Free Diving’, or perhaps train and qualify to become a Certified Instructor, you can choose from almost 64 certified scuba diving schools on the island.
As soon as you disembark from your ferry at the cruise terminal in Koh Tao, you see and feel the essence of this island. It’s not fancy, it’s not loud, and yes, definitely not gimmicky. In April, it was hot and humid but bearable. Thanks to the windy conditions, the sweat got wicked away fast to cool the body temperatures simultaneously. The sky was blue and the sea water was aquamarine.
My home base on the island was Ban’s Diving Resort, a labour of love and dedication of Virat Asavachin, popularly called Mister Ban, and his enterprising wife Khun Rumleuk. The couple is credited jointly as the Thai pioneers who established scuba diving in Koh Tao and founded their business here 30 years ago. Today, ‘Ban’s Diving Resort’ is the largest Thai-owned diving establishment on the island and is run like clockwork, by Khun Rumleuk after the passing of Mister Ban.
Throughout the island, you see a balance between man and nature. The emphasis is on striking an ecological balance without any overindulgence. The rooms at Bans Diving Resort are modern, functional, comfortable, and air-conditioned, with attached toilets and bathrooms. Emphasis on conservation can be seen; water conservation is encouraged, LED lights and Sensor switches save electricity, the use of solar energy panels adds to the energy needs, the locally available building material is used wherever possible and yes, the resort harvests its supply of rainwater.
The resort’s many pools act as training grounds for initial diving lessons before the divers head to sea. It is a well-stocked dive shop that has world-class diving equipment and brands available for rent and purchase. The resort’s two-storied restaurant is located bang on the Sairee Beach and offers panoramic sea views, the daily breakfast served at the terrace dining hall is a perfect way to start your day in Koh Tao, not to mention the delicious and lavish spread of both local and international options.
The Sairee Beach is the longest and liveliest, almost two kilometres long. It is the most popular beach in Koh Tao as the sea here is shallow and that makes it popular among families. The Walking Street runs parallel to Sairee Beach, lined with massage parlours, accommodation options, diving schools, scuba gear shops, restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops, and this is where the action is.
An evening with friends at Charcoal Bay on the walking street was a great choice. I loved their cocktails and grilled delicacies. Also, the terrace dining experience in ‘Baracudda’ at Ban’s is highly recommended. Great food, great ambiance, and great service and ‘huge servings.’
Koh Tao has a great European visitor base and many love Indian food. The cuisine is now making inroads into the world of gastronomy given its spicy complexity of flavours, combined with its richness of textures. We were happy to find Butter Chicken, Dal Makhani, Masala Chole, Naan, and Masala Chai at “High on Chai,” an Indian restaurant at Koh Tao. So, all aspiring scuba divers from India have no problem finding vegetarian or non-vegetarian Indian food in Koh Tao.
COVID-19 was a below-the-belt hit for the travel industry, and Koh Tao was no exception. China was the biggest inbound market pre-COVID for Koh Tao and the impact of the absence of this market was felt throughout the entirety of Koh Tao. So, in 2022 to kick off travel revival and promote Responsible Tourism and conservation efforts in Koh Tao, the first ‘Spotlight Koh Tao’ initiative was launched in 2022 under the stewardship of Khun Rumleuk who is also the President of the Koh Tao Tourism Association. Almost 100 local entrepreneurs and stakeholders are a part of this non-profit association.
2023 was the second year of this initiative. This year, the ‘Spotlight Koh Tao-2023’ was held in co-operation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand from April 07-09, 2023 in line with its ‘Reborn the Nature’ project and to drive forward its promotion of Responsible Tourism and Meaningful Travel experiences. The inaugural parade of almost 400 strong was led by Tanes Petsuwan, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing, Asia and the South Pacific, Khun Rumluek, the senior officials of local administration, and eminent community members of Koh Tao.
In the first three months of 2023, Koh Tao received 1,29,000 visitors. It’s time now for young and adventurous Indian travellers seeking the unusual and exciting to pack their bags for Koh Tao.
Rumluek Assavachin, President, Koh Tao Tourism Association
“This year, we added two more activities, the Koh Tao Greenmarket, and a mini adventure and dive expo, showcasing environmentally friendly products and activities offered by diving operators, tour boats and diving equipment shops. Koh Tao Tourism Association is committed to promoting environmentally and socially responsible tourism towards sustainability on the island. Initiatives like fish aggregation were aimed at reducing the conflict between fishermen and divers. Tree plantation on the island is encouraged and also the importance of water harvesting and conservation initiatives is highlighted within the island community.”
Tanes Petsuwan, TAT Deputy Governor, International Marketing, Asia and South Pacific
“Spotlight Koh Tao-2023’ this year was held in co-operation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand in line with its ‘Reborn the Nature’ initiative and is a pilot project. Spotlight Koh Tao is a local initiative and TAT just acts as a consultant and advisor. The message to be sent out is that the island does not change for the visitors. Visitors need to adapt, honour, and respect the eco-sensitivity of the island. Today, out of the 64 certified diving schools on the island, 80 per cent are Thai owned and operate with expert British and German instructors. Koh Tao is a niche destination; it is not a mass market and not suitable for a big MICE event or a destination wedding. The resources and infrastructure do not permit that.”
