Fabulous Koh Samui Hotels
By Nancy Eben
Travel to Thailand and include Koh Samui Island to your plan. The moment one arrives here, the place casts a spell on you, with its beautiful palm fringed beaches in the traditional villages and the relaxed atmosphere. Koh Samui is the third largest Thai Island, home to some of the well-known beaches like Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, Big Buddha, Choeng Mon, Hua Thanon and Maenam. This island is famous for its natural beauty and charm, and importantly a place where one can enjoy their holiday their way, from a relaxed one, to a laid back or an active and fast paced.
This place is for the beach lovers with the beautiful white sand beaches, clean, clear water, thriving tropical gardens and gentle ocean breezes. Koi Samui Island today is a familiar name in Europe, Australia to the USA. The first tourist arrival started in 1971 and since then the place is charming its visitors, though the current pace of development has made it a more commercial but the sleepy magic still exits and it is certainly a paradise out here. Visitor’s to Samui are rewarded with an ideal tropical retreat away from the traffic and hustle bustle of city life, alluring white-sand beaches, a sapphire-blue sea, with loads of tempting Thai cuisine. To add the people are unusually warm and friendly. The best and most developed beaches are at Chaweng and Lamai, which offer a wide range of Koh Samui hotels, restaurants and nightspots to suit every taste and budget.
Make the most of your holiday as Samui offers a number of places to see and things to do. Kick-start by visiting the island’s natural attractions the coral beds at Laem Sed and Tong Takien, the Hin Lat and Na Muang waterfalls and the phallic rock formations at the southern end of Lamai bay, which are just a few to name. If one has time on hand, beyond the main island there are other places worth exploring. Koh Phangan is world famous for its monthly Full Moon Parties, then Koh Tao offers with one of the best diving locations in Thailand and the Ang Thong National Marine Park is worth visiting.
Of the many things, the accommodation facilities at the Island are tempting. Koh Samui has a wide range of hotels in Koh Samui. There are five-star resorts available to bungalows on the beach. Moreover, this place is just perfect, if one is looking for a place without really big hotels, resorts and discotheques, but great beaches, places to eat, bars and even a couple of fine nightclubs. For no reason who come here once, want to come back again.
Nancy Eben is an associate editor of http://www.stayresthailand.com/. The website offers exclusive information of thailand and hotels in Koh Samui. We also provide online hotel reservation of koh samui hotels. We appreciate your feedback and queries at info@stayresthailand.com
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Holidays to Koh Samui
By Aravind Ramesh
Just one hours flight from Bangkok, off the east coast of Thailand lays this beautiful island. Not as lively as some of the other Thai resorts, Koh Samui is an ideal island for a peaceful and relaxing holiday.
On holidays to Koh Samui the glorious beaches and clear waters are ideal for swimming and there are a lot of superb bars and local restaurants as well. Combine your beach holidays to Koh Samui with a stay in the bustling city of Bangkok or relax on another Thai beach.
The third-largest island in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Samui dominates an idyllic 80-isle archipelago. On holidays to Koh Samui, although the irresistible tide of tourism has rolled in, the alluring expanses of soft white sand beaches still beckon.
On holidays to Koh Samui, inland, as far as the eye can see, graceful coconut palms take the sun like forests of slightly swaying green parasols. Coconuts fall from the sky here-mind your head!-and keep the economy ticking over. Ko Samui’s coconuts, according to experts, are Thailand’s best, and some two million of them are shipped to the mainland every month (Aside from food and drink, the bountiful palms provide thatch for roofing, fibre for rope or matting, and coconut oil for candles, soap and food products.)
You will see when on your holidays to Koh Samui when the islanders are not harvesting the coconuts, they’re busy cultivating rice in the paddies, out at sea fishing or-more likely nowadays-exploiting the tourist business.
Ko Samui was “discovered” belatedly because of its relative remoteness. It lies some 560 km (350 miles) south of Bangkok, and about 80 km (50 miles) east of the provincial capital of Surat Thani. It’s closer to Malaysia than to Bangkok. When they built the island’s airport, the distance from the metropolis suddenly became manageable and the curtain rose on the era of mainline tourism. Holidays to Koh Samui are becoming more and more popular with people returning year after year.
On your holidays to Koh Samui you will find that Thai food can be so spicy that it’s tempting to gulp a glass of cold water to put out the fire. Resist that urge! A few mouthfuls of plain boiled rice will prove much more effective. Actually, chilli peppers are only one of the ingredients that characterize Thai cuisine; the others are as varied and original as lemon grass, coconut milk, garlic, ginger and mint.
On your holidays to Koh Samui Island, cuisine is often built around the luscious local seafood. Some restaurants specialize in foreign cuisines – French, Italian, Spanish or all-purpose “international”. Street stalls are full of delicious surprises, as well as refreshing fruits, exotic and familiar.
On your holidays to Koh Samui why not travel out and about? Only 14 km (9 miles) north of Ko Samui, the island of Ko Pha Ngan has some perfect beaches and refreshing waterfalls. The principal port is Thong Sala, but many excursion boats go to the village of Hat Rin, on the southeast coast, which is notorious for its uninhibited party atmosphere. Also on your holidays to Koh Samui visit Ko Tao which is as yet an unspoiled island with spectacular coral reefs. It’s a two-hour trip from Ko Pha Ngan by express boat.
The most sensational sights are protected under the umbrella of the Ang Thong Marine National Park. These 40 islands, northwest of Ko Samui, have all the ingredients of tropical dreamscapes-crystal-clear seas, crescent beaches, coral reefs, rain forests, caves and limestone formations. Day trips from Ko Samui hit the high spots, or you might want to get off and stay forever.
More information about holidays to Koh Samui [http://globaltravelstourbridge.co.uk/] can be found out at the website of Global Travel Stourbridge.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aravind_Ramesh
Things to Do in and Around Koh Samui
By Matthew Tedstone
Koh Samui is only behind Phuket in terms of popularity and visitor numbers for Thai resorts. And there is good reason for that, despite years of chronic over-development the island retains much of its natural beauty and picture postcard beaches. Travel to and from the island is easy with regular international and domestic flights direct to the island as well as regular ferry crossings from Surat Thani.
There is a huge choice of accommodation around the island to suit varying budgets, although the trend is to develop more and more upscale resorts. The main beach is Chaweng, which is a long stretch of beautiful white sand. Chaweng town is very built up with resorts stretching most of the length of the beach and shops, bars and restaurants line the streets behind. Quieter beaches can be found along the north of the island. Bophut has a more rustic, family atmosphere, although the beaches aren’t so good.
There is a lot to do to occupy yourself in Samui, whether you choose to hire a car, bike or use local transportation. (WARNING – If you chose to hire any equipment be it a car, motorbike, jet ski etc do your research beforehand and only use reputable hirers. There are known to be many scams operating in Thailand where the hirer will try to charge you an extortionate amount to repair minor scratches that you probably didn’t put there. Such situations have been known to turn nasty. Do a Google search to read more about this).
So here’s a rundown of the main activities:
Visiting temples – One of the highlights of most people’s visits to Thailand is visiting a few temples, and Samui is no exception. The most famous is Big Buddha at Big Buddha beach. A short climb to the top of the temple offers some good views out to sea. There are also some rather gimmicky fortune telling machines and you can buy a brick to contribute towards the construction of new temple buildings. Another well known temple is Wat Khunaram which contains the mummified body of a local monk. Located along the southern stretch of the ring road, this is worth a quick stop off.
Hin Ta – Hin Yai – This is a rather quirky stop off, a few miles south of Chaweng beach. The ring road runs along the edge of a rocky cliff and you come to a small turn-off which is signposted. This takes you down into a small village and car park, with a few tourist souvenir shops. Then you follow a short path out to some rocks and a tiny bit of beach. Standing out like a sore thumb are two rocks (Hin Ta and Hin Yai, literally Grandfather Rock and Grandmother Rock) which are shaped like male and female “private parts”!
Animal attractions – In the far south-east corner of the island are located the Tiger Zoo and Aquarium, which are a good way to spend a few hours, especially if you have kids. Both are quite interesting and have some shows throughout the day. These are part of the Samui Orchid Resort. Na Tian Butterfly garden offers good photo opportunities for lovers of butterflies and orchids, not everyone’s cup of tea however! There is also a Crocodile Farm near the airport.
There are regular monkey shows in the monkey theatre, across the ring road from Bophut beach. The monkeys give demonstrations of how they are used to gather coconuts and there is also an elephant show. Monkeys are also a regular sight on the constant stream of motorbikes travelling along Samui’s roads (fortunately only as passengers!). Elephant rides are available at various spots around the island, usually in the interior as this offers ideal trekking ground.
Natural attractions and tours – The most popular waterfalls on the island are Na Muang 1 and 2. These are very easily accessed, if not the most spectacular. Na Muang 1 is the lower of the two and is located next to a small car park, no walking required. Na Muang 2 is a bit higher up and requires a walk. There are many natural viewpoints around the island which offer good photo opportunities out to sea, especially at sunset. One of the best known is a stop off just north of Hin Ta – Hin Yai, around the Lamai beach area. The interior of Samui offers some good trekking routes if that is your thing.
Beaches are, of course, the main attraction of Samui. As I said earlier, Chaweng is the main beach, it is the longest and the sand and sea are superior to the rest of the island. It is also the most developed with plenty of shops, pharmacies, food and rowdy night spots. Lamai neighbours Chaweng and is somewhat quieter. A popular and more relaxed spot on the north of the island is Bophut beach. It is a more family orientated beach with a more rustic village with a few shops and restaurants. Off the island – There are the usual choice of watersport activities including jetskis, banana boats etc, mainly off Chaweng.
Ferries operate from Bophut pier to nearby Koh Pha Ngan. This is the island famous for the Full Moon Parties and you can arrange a night’s stay on Koh Pha Ngan through the agencies on Samui. You can also get to Koh Tao which is renowned as a diver’s paradise. The beautiful Ang Thong National Marine park is accessed from here and is well worth a day trip. You can also camp overnight, but there is no accommodation in the park. I have some photos of this spectacular location on my website.
Miscellaneous – There is a Muay Thai stadium in Chaweng town if that’s your thing. There are also a few sporty activities such as go-karting and shooting ranges. If you’re brave enough to hire a car, a drive around the island’s ring road is an interesting way to spend a day.
All in all, Samui has plenty to offer all tastes and budgets. Although remember this is now an international destination and prices are generally higher than the rest of Thailand and it is overly developed in parts. Despite this it retains much of its natural beauty that keeps people going back time after time.
Matthew’s Travel Website, http://www.matthewt.co.uk
My blog, http://matthewted.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Tedstone
Thailand Islands — The Five Reasons that Make Koh Phangan the Perfect Choice
By Ella Evans
The islands of southern Thailand are widely known as “Island Paradise”. Their picturesque beaches, moderate tropical climate and unique, extremely relaxing lifestyle account for this reputation. Travelers from all over the world come to these southern Thailand islands to experience the famous transition to another dimension, as they gradually absorb the overwhelming serenity and ephemeral separation from the dynamic and straining modern life style.
In the eyes of the inexperienced traveler at the very first stages of planning his or her trip to Thailand, all “paradise islands” may look exactly the same: all the islands are tropical (in the classic sense and climate wise), picturesque and serene. But in fact, a more thorough perspective would reveal that each island, just like every individual traveler, has its own set of unique qualities. The cost of stay in some islands can turn out to be a surprisingly expensive experience, while visiting other islands can be quite a bargain; some islands are dramatically peaceful while others are loaded with exciting nightlife activities; some islands provide the perfect conditions for divers while others are ideal for backpackers.
After years of intensive research, and after exploring every dark corner on every island in southern Thailand, my final conclusion is that Koh Phangan is no doubt and by far the perfect choice for the perfect vacation. Koh Phangan is the perfect choice because it has this unique ability to adopt itself to the likes and needs of every individual traveler in the limits of being an island (except from providing the ultimate urban environment. But nobody visits the Thai islands to relive his urban daily lifestyle). Here are the five elements that make Koh Phangan the ultimate vacation choice:
1. The best value for your money. Until recently, Koh Phangan had a strong reputation of a backpackers’ island. As a result, the island’s costs of living had been adjusted to the target audience. Food and accommodation on the island cost surprisingly low, so that even a backpacker with a budget of 30$ per day can provide himself or herself with a reasonable, almost western life standard on the island, which includes air conditioned rooms and delicious cuisine. During the last several years, when more spoiled tourists discovered this island, local entrepreneurs began to invest in luxury accommodation. Nevertheless, the best quality accommodation in Koh Phangan is still cheaper, on average, compared to the same standard accommodation offered on other islands.
2. The rare opportunity to experience the “old school” island paradise. Even the sworn lovers of Thailand will agree, that the days when the “paradise islands” were the place in which one can sit on a lonely beach and share his or her thoughts with a single coconut tree, are a thing of the past. Still, in Koh Phangan one can find some “reservations” of remote picturesque beaches with only a limited choice of accommodation, such as Haad Thong Reng, Haad Yao and Haad Sadet. Some of these forgotten venues feature about three dozens bungalows hidden in the midst of the jungle. These “old school” beaches make you fell like merging with a “real” paradise, created by true nature and not by wise and experienced tourism industry entrepreneurs.
3. Breathtaking diving sites. The Gulf of Thailand is considered to be an excellent diving area, due to its clear lucid water and the huge variety of underwater life. Until recently, the consensual opinion stated that the only place for “real” scuba divers in the Gulf of Thailand is Koh Tao Island, next to Koh Phangan. Nowadays, more and more divers are choosing Koh Phangan as a launching ground for their preferable diving sites: a small island Koh Ma, connected to Koh Phangan by a sand bar; the neighboring beaches Haad Salad, Haad Yao & Haad Chaophao, offering a hugevariety of tropical fish and coral reefs; and Ang Thong National Marine Park – a group of 42 islands, protected as a National Park.
4. The Full Moon Party. The full moon party, held in Koh Phangan since 1989, attracts thousands of travelers every month coming from all corners of the globe. Even if you are not the classic partygoer – the full moon party could be a unique and unforgettable opportunity to join thousands of joyful, exhilarated people dancing together in the most beautiful place in the world to the sounds of the best music.
5. To experience radically unique travel activities. Koh Phangan is quite a small sized island (about 170 km2), but it offers a widest variety of activities. You can come on a Sunday, as a backpacker to Sunrise Beach, become a professional diver on Monday in Koh Ma and turn into a seasoned partygoer on Tuesday as you take part in the exhilarating full moon party. If you’re able to wake up on Wednesday morning, you can meet local people in the fishermen’s village Chaloklum learn and experience their traditional way of life. Additionally, you can join forces with your sportsperson alter ego and go trekking on Thursday; and on Friday you’ll have the unique opportunity to pretend being a Mowgli riding an elephant’s back in Phangan Safari. On Saturday, you can try living as a sheikh in a luxury resort with a spa…and maybe get the chance to write a novel on the seven most unforgettable days of your life.
Independent researcher, MA in anthropology, and travel enthusiast Ella Evans has spend more than a decade exploring Thailand focusing on the Southern Islands. The fruits of her labor can be found in the Koh Phangan Experience Website: a comprehensive travel guide to Koh Phangan, Thailand, which includes information articles, tips, advice and a message board. To visit Koh Phangan Experience Guide, click here: http://kohphangan.eternaltravel.net/
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Fun Above & Below The Waves At Koh Samui
By Johny K
The sea is great place to spend time enjoying the region’s tropical beauty and marine life. Samui is becoming a water sports Mecca, with a range of options for those who want to get wet. The warm seas that surround Koh Samui have long played an integral role in the island’s allure, with few visitors able to resist the temptation of the waters that gently lap Samui’s beaches. Right now, there have never been so many ways for people to take a dip around Samui. Here are just a few of the most popular options for water babes who need an H2O fix during their time in paradise.
One of the most popular water sports worldwide is scuba diving and the Gulf of Thailand, with a rich diversity of marine life and favourable year-round conditions, is now firmly set as one of the world’s premier dive holiday destinations. Whilst the teeming seas are an important part of the area’s popularity, another key selling point is the huge variety of dive sites to visit. Koh Samui has it’s own ‘house’ reefs that are suitable for novices, whilst more challenging dives await experienced divers at nearby Sail Rock or in the National Marine Park. For the clearest waters and most choice though, local dive operators also offer day trips to the stunning island of Koh Tao, where more than a dozen quality dive sites await discovery. Whether you’re a hardened diver seeking some exciting dive experiences, or a nervous novice, keen to take your first breaths in this amazing environment, there is a diving option for everyone off Samui.
If going under the waves doesn’t appeal, there are other ways to immerse yourself in to the deep blue world, the most popular of which is snorkeling. Many reefs lie directly off Samui and most visitors can’t resist the urge to don a mask and snorkel and have a look at what lies beneath. As with diving, your snorkeling possibilities are by no means restricted to the immediate area. One of the more popular tours incorporating snorkeling is an adventure trip to the Ang Thong National Marine Park. This also includes a few hours kayaking amongst the park’s striking collection of fifty limestone rock islands and formations, as well as a chance to see the ‘golden bowl’, a hidden lake that is completely encircled with majestic cliffs and was the inspiration behind Alex Garland’s best selling novel: The Beach.
If it’s the marine life you’d like to focus on then take a day tour to Koh Tao, where the clear waters and splendid array of shallow and bountiful reefs make for some of the best snorkelling anywhere in the world. Day trips also usually include a visit to famous Koh Nangyuan, an exquisite trio of verdant jungle islands connected by stunning, white sandbar beaches. Few visitors to Nangyuan are left disappointed and the views below the waters certainly match the breathtaking beauty above.
Back above the water, for more of an adrenaline rush, Koh Samui is now also home to one of the most exciting water sports of modern times: kiteboarding. Kiteboarding Asia is a company that has been on the island for five years and now also boasts three centers in Phuket, Hua Hin and Chumpon. Often called the new windsurfing, the sport also incorporates aspects of both wakeboarding and surfing to provide a truly thrilling experience.
These are the main but by no means the only seafaring options off Koh Samui, There are plenty of other water sports available such as jet skiing, taking a ride on a banana boat, hiring Kayaks to explore the beaches and rocky coves or renting Hobie cats and other craft for a spot of self-skippering. Add in other popular activities such as leisurely sunset dinner cruises, fishing trips that allow you to catch and barbecue your own supper, or perhaps even chartering a junk for a luxurious jaunt around the Thai Gulf and you’ll soon find that it’s possible to spend every day of your holiday either on, in or under the beautiful waters around Samui.
Johny is currently living on Samui Thailand and is working on a number of travel websites. If you are looking for a great Samui hotel then do visiting http://www.mysamuiholiday.com. Read more about Koh Samui in his Samui Guide.
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Diving in Koh Samui – Thailand
By Max Dan
Koh Samui is the 3rd biggest island in Thailand island, littered with coconut trees, forests and rough rocks of granite inching into the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Siam. Samui is 21km long and 25km wide.
Today Koh Samui is a favored spot for divers searching for advanced western amenities in the Gulf than what is found on Koh Tao, the primary diving place in this region.
5 Star hotels and luxury villa accommodation is easily available all over the island. 4 international hospitals and golf course are also found along with lots of Spa cures from conventional Thai massages to curing fast and hot stone remedies. Many hotels hire international renowned chefs and the choice of international dishes is vast as well as tasty. All leading fast food chains are available here.
Diving in Samui is varied; basically boat diving and nearly possible all year round. The time taken to reach the dive sites lies between 45 mins (Speedboat to Sail Rock) to 3.5 hrs (slower displacement boats/tour boat) according to the destination and boat type, whether speed or tour boat.
Depths lie between low reefs between 10-18m to deeper Pinnacles 40m deep. But majority of the dives are not conducted deeper than 30m and depending on diver’s experience.
The majority of dive trips offer two or three dives which are more or less daytrips based on to the destination and travel time.
One of the undoubtedly most famous dive sites in the Koh Samui Archipelago is SAIL ROCK, situated 45 kms to the north of Samui, in the middle of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. This rock summit has an ice-berg shape that comes up from 40m to 15 m over the surface of the ocean. Sail Rock has big trails of pelagic’s precipitous walls, rock arrangement enveloped by corals and a stunning “chimney”, a swim through situated towards its northwest. The chimney begins from 18m down and ends at 6m where the natural light entering from above makes it a stunning sight to see. Once you come out on the top, you are enveloped by exotic stretches of vibrant anemones, filled with colorful anemone fish. At 12m, there is a hole that takes you to -”The window”, another exit from the chimney into the ocean.
Besides the large trails pf fishes that are seen throughout the year, you are likely to see whale sharks or manta rays crossing your path during their feed in season. There are lots of hotels in Samui, but Park Samui Hotel is the best.
You are welcome to publish the article on the site along with the hyperlinked URL: Samui Hotel.
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Thailand Holiday
By Leesa Steve
Thailand is known as the “The Land of smiles” this place has much more to offer to the travelers. Thailand attracts the people from all over the world and is one of the most preferred holiday destinations that have some excellent offers for everyone. Thailand has lush tropical climate, striking scenery and the friendliest people. There is ample of accommodation facility one can have the most memorable time in Thailand
You are welcomed here by the friendly people who make you feel comfortable, this is a home away from the home. Various places in Thailand are fascinated by an ancient civilization and it has colorful and lively culture. There are numerous glittering temples and glamorous open-air bazaars. Get revitalized with a stay in luxurious hotels and enjoy the health spa.
Koh Chang
This is the last known island paradise in South-East Asia, this is also the second largest island in Thailand nest to Phuket Island. The place is surrounded by beautiful beaches, coves and bays.
Phuket
Phuket is the largest island of Thailand and is known all around the world as the Pearl of the Andaman Sea. This province is known for many tourist attractions. Phuket has the Phromthep Cape which is the country’s most beautiful spot to watch sunsets.
Krabi
Krabi is another province near Phuket that encompasses many islands it also includes the most beautiful island in Asia named the Phi Phi island. Krabi is the most preferred destination of the swimmers as here they can indulge in swimming, go for scuba diving, sun bathing, islands hopping, sea kayaking, rock climbing and there are many more adventure sports that one can enjoy over here.
Phi Phi
This is one of the most preferred destinations on Andaman Coast after the Phuket Island. Here one can also find pristine beaches, clear water, impressive cliffs and fascinating marine life.
Koh Tao
This is a small fishing town, situated on the Gulf of Thailand. This is the chief ferry departure point, from here one can visit the nearby Samui Island, Koh Tao, Koh Nangyuan, Koh Phan Ngan and forms an interesting destination.
Khao Lak
Khao Lak is a newly developing seaside town, this town is surrounded by mountains all around and is covered with thick jungle. The mountains here drop around 130 away into the pristine sandy beaches where you can have fun in the clear blue waters of the Andaman Sea in the Phang-Nga Province.
Author is an associate editor for International Holidays. Get all possible information about Thailand Travel Packages and International Travel Packages. We also provide information about online hotel reservation, Holiday Packages in India and Flights Booking in India.
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Lessons from the Koh Tao PADI Diving Course : Part 2 – Hazardous Marine Life in the Gulf of Thailand
99% of the time these concerns aren’t based on fact, but more on hearsay, so it’s our job to put the facts straight and alleviate their anxiety. But that’s not to say that there aren’t some marine species that you need to look out for!
So putting the records straight, here’s a review of the hazardous, (and not-so hazardous) marine life you’ll come into proximity with scuba diving Koh Tao, Thailand.
Sharks
Following many generations of Hollywood movies, sharks have developed a pretty fearsome reputation, leaving new divers either intrigued or petrified!
The reality is that scuba diving in Koh Tao, you’ve got to be lucky to see a shark, but when you do it’s a fantastic experience. Bull Sharks at Koh Tao’s Chumphon Pinnacles grow to an impressive size, but when you do spot one, they swim away quickly. There are no known occurrences of them attacking divers in Koh Tao (preferring to eat small fish!).
In the extremely unlikely event that you did encounter a shark which was behaving aggressively, you should remain still and calm, and slowly move away.
Trigger-Fish
Koh Tao’s Titan Trigger-fish on the other hand are a different deal, and are well know to the local diving instructors and PADI Divemasters. The trigger-fish are extremely territorial, and build nests out on the sand, near many of the Koh Tao dive sites. Whilst most of the time, the trigger-fish can be seen peacefully feeding on corals, at other times of year it’s best to keep away from their nesting area as this will only provoke an unwelcome reaction!
Jellyfish
Fortunately Koh Tao diving doesn’t normally involve coming into contact with jellyfish. The most common time to see jellyfish is when you’re sitting at safety stop depth above one of Koh Tao’s deep pinnacle dive sites, with jellyfish drifting past in the current. The best action is to face into the current and keep a look-out – if you do spy a jellyfish drifting towards you, move out of it’s path. If you’re unfortunate enough to receive a sting, once back on the boat treat the sting with vinegar and remove any remaining tentacles using forceps.
Scorpion Fish
Scorpion-fish are masters of camouflage, merging in amongst the corals on most of the Koh Tao dive sites. Normally pretty small, the scorpion-fish is lined with a series of spines as a (self defense mechanism). Generally, scorpion-fish sit very still, so if you control your buoyancy and try not to touch the corals (which you shouldn’t anyway), you won’t have a problem. If you were unlucky enough collide with a scorpion-fish and get your skin punctured by one of those spines, most likely you’d suffer local pain and swelling, which can be relieved by bathing in hot water to denature the venom.
Anemones
Magnificent anemones look spectacular and are abundant on the Koh Tao diving sites. But be careful not to brush against them – contact with bare skin can leave an irritating rash.
Rocks and Corals!
By far the most common cause of injury from diving is due to bad buoyancy control, or putting your hands where you shouldn’t. Most of the corals (and many rocks) are very sharp so grabbing them can result in cuts. It’s important to get these properly cleaned, as there are many bacteria living in the tropical water, which can lead to an unpleasant infection if left untreated.
So that takes care of our commonly encountered hazardous (or not so hazardous) marine life. Check back again soon for part three of our series of lessons from the Koh Tao PADI Open Water course where we’ll look at the buddy system and how to communicate underwater, or for more info, check out the Simple Life Divers website [http://www.simplelifedivers.com].
http://www.articlesbase.com/scuba-diving-articles/lessons-from-the-koh-tao-padi-diving-course-part-2-hazardous-marine-life-in-the-gulf-of-thailand-1112662.html
Koh Tao – Visit the Beautiful Turtle Island
By Zack Mellors
Visiting Thailand is an amazing experience where your senses are indulged and your taste buds of life are invigorated, but selecting where to go for your travels can be a tricky task what with the variety that is on offer. However one of the best islands to visit if you’re in the area is the island of Koh Tao, which directly translates as ‘turtle island’.
Koh Tao is about a 3 hour ferry ride from the mainland and there is good transport links to Koh Tao from all over Thailand, costing as little as $10 return from Bangkok. The island is about 21km squared and you could drive around the island in a day easily. This place is perfect for those who are looking for a young vibe that knows how to party but are quite willing to chill out for 6 days of the week.
Accommodation can get full very quickly during the full moon party period, so it’s best to book in advance, however if you’re interested in learning to scuba dive, many companies throw in accommodation as part of the package. Koh Tao is recognised as one of the best places in the world to learn to dive, and also one of the cheapest. With hardly any currents and endless sheltered bays, it’s the perfect place to learn to dive in it’s warm, clear protected waters.
There are countless activities to take part in ranging from rock climbing, jungle trekking, sailing or just plain relaxing on the beautiful white sandy beaches. The nightlife in Koh Tao can be lively if you go to the right places, most notably Sairee beach, which is the most popular area on the island. For those who want to have a quiet meal and a few drinks, there is a fine selection of restaurants easily accessible around the island.
Getting around the island is best done by motorbike/scooter hire. However, do NOT drink and drive on these roads no matter how casual the attitude towards it is. Hundreds of people seriously injure themselves each year from drinking and driving. Be sensible and use your common sense!
Most of all enjoy this beautiful island and make the experience count.
The author is a keen traveller and writer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zack_Mellors
Learn to Dive on Koh Tao
By Ayesha Cantrell
Koh Tao is a great place to learn to dive. Warm, clear, calm waters and colourful reef fish ensure that any new divers first experience will be a calm and memorable one. Diving is year round but the best conditions exist between March to October. Majestic whale sharks are often seen too and this is one of the few places in the world where you are likely to view these gentle giants on SCUBA.
Koh Tao is one of the largest areas for certifying new divers and one of the cheapest places in the world to take your course. It’s home to more than 30 dive schools which means the visitor has a great range of choice. Dive schools range from some of the largest you will find in the world, teaching in large groups with a great after dive party atmosphere to smaller quieter and more relaxed operations. There are even a few very exclusive resorts tucked away too where your experience will be luxurious. Whatever your requirements though, learning to dive on Koh Tao will ensure a very high standard of instruction.
When not diving Koh Tao is a great place to just hang out. There are many lovely beaches to explore and some great snorkelling too. For something a bit more energetic you can rock climb, paint ball, play mini golf or go 10 pin bowling. Koh Tao is a great place to take a cookery course or learn the techniques of massage too.
Koh Tao probably offers you every culinary experience too from basic and cheap Thai food to haute cuisine and everything in between. Italian, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Mexican, Aussie, Irish, English and Israeli food can be found with many beachside restaurants offering fresh fish BBQ every night. You can enjoy classy cocktails, civilised wine, watch the sun sink with a beer and if you still have the energy, dance ’til dawn.
Ayesha Cantrell is an experienced PADI Dive Instructor based on Koh Tao, Thailand. Read more about learning to dive on her website Learn To Dive On Koh Tao
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