Any good scuba diving on Ko Samui, Thailand?
For my upcoming trip to Thailand, are there any good scuba diving spots on Ko Samui? We'll be there in March of 2013.
Best Answer
Haven't been there myself, but drawing from Wikitravel's Ko Samui guide and my copy of LP: Thailand's Islands & Beaches (published July 2010), here's some information:
Wikitravel:
The usual panoply of watersports are available, including plenty of dive shops, but most diving is done either in the nearby Ang Thong Marine National Park or Ko Tao as the visibility around Samui's sandy beaches tends to be poor. You can book diving day trips at dive shops, most of which are based in Chaweng. The dive boats tend to leave from the pier at Bophut and Bang Ruk.
Lonely Planet tends to agree:
If you're serious about diving, head to Ko Tao and base yourself there for the duration of your diving adventure. If you're short on time and don't want to leave Samui, there are plenty of operators who will take you to the same dive sites (at a greater fee, of course). Try to book with a company that has their own boat (or leases a boat)—it's slightly more expensive, but you'll be glad you did it. [...]
Certification courses tend to be twice as expensive on Ko Samui as they are on Ko Tao, largely due to extral petrol, since tiny Tao is significantly closer to the preferred diving locations.
LP mentions Ang Thong too, but not in "Diving" section but "Other water activities":
For those interested in snorkelling and kayaking, book a daytrip to the stunning Ang Thong Marine Park.
However, slighty contradicting itself, the "Do" section on Wikitravel also says:
The sea visibility in some places around Ko Samui is almost very good (distances of up to 10-30 meters). One can enjoy splendid sights of underwater mountains, coral gardens, undersea rock formations, hard and soft coral and whale sharks when in season.
...and goes on to recommend Samran Pinnacles (for experienced divers) and Ko Kra & Ko Losin.
So, if "almost very good" is good enough, check out the places around Ko Samui. :) Otherwise, if your schedule allows, head to Ko Tao for scuba diving.
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Is Koh Samui good for scuba diving?
Offering a number of beautiful diving sites, Koh Samui is indeed the place to experience scuba diving at its best. A hub of unique marine life, pristine clear water and beautiful corals, Koh Samui needs to be on your bucket list this year.Does Thailand have good scuba diving?
Thailand diving highlights Hosting divers in both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand from over 1200 miles of coastline, this scuba destination is a great fit for divers of any level. Scuba diving in Thailand is popular due to the opportunity to dive with whale sharks and manta rays.Are there sharks in Ko Samui?
Leopard sharks and whale sharks are occasional visitors to the site, which is home to large schools of snapper, yellowtail barracuda and fusiliers. If you are interested in critters then scorpionfish, stonefish and other bottom dwellers can be found here too.Which one is a famous island for scuba diving in Thailand?
Similan Islands This is one of the reasons as to why these islands are home to some of the best dive sites in Thailand, and some might argue they are the most stunning in the entire world.Best Scuba Dive - Discovery Divers, Koh Samui. Thailand
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Answer 2
I've been to both Island and if you are into scuba diving, you should definitely stay in Ko Tao. It is full of diving resorts and divers everywhere. The vibe is much different than Ko Samui which is more mainstream.
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