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Ko Tao, Thailand
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Ko Tao (also often Koh Tao, , lit. "Turtle Island") is an island in Thailand located near the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. It covers an area of about 21 km². Administratively it forms a tambon within the district (Amphoe) Ko Pha Ngan of Surat Thani Province. As of 2006 it's official population number in 1382. The main settlement is Ban Mae Hat.
The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered around tourism, especially scuba diving.
Ko Tao was named by its first settlers for the island's turtle-like geographic shape. Coincidentally, the island is an important breeding ground for Hawksbill turtles and Green turtles. Development of tourism has negatively impacted the health of these grounds but a breeding program organised in 2004 by the Royal Thai Navy and KT-DOC, a coalition of local scuba diving centres has reintroduced hundreds of juvenile turtles to the island's ecosystem.
HistoryInitially the island was not inhabited, there was only the occasional fisherman from the neighboring islands, looking for shelter in a storm or just taking a break before continuing his tiresome journey.
The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered around tourism, especially scuba diving.
Ko Tao was named by its first settlers for the island's turtle-like geographic shape. Coincidentally, the island is an important breeding ground for Hawksbill turtles and Green turtles. Development of tourism has negatively impacted the health of these grounds but a breeding program organised in 2004 by the Royal Thai Navy and KT-DOC, a coalition of local scuba diving centres has reintroduced hundreds of juvenile turtles to the island's ecosystem.
HistoryInitially the island was not inhabited, there was only the occasional fisherman from the neighboring islands, looking for shelter in a storm or just taking a break before continuing his tiresome journey.
On June 18, 1899 King Chulalongkorn visited Ko Tao and left as evidences his monogram on a huge boulder at Jor Por Ror bay next to Sairee Beach. This place is still worshiped today.
In 1933 the island started to be used as a political prison. In 1947 Khuang Abhaiwongse, prime minister at that time, pleaded and received a royal pardon for all prisoners on the island. Everybody was taken to the shore of Surat Thani and Ko Tao was abandoned again.
In the same year Khun Uaem and his brother Khun Oh reached Ko Tao from the neighboring Ko Phangan by trying out their traditional sail boat, for that time a quite long and dangerous journey. Even though the island was still under royal patronage, it did not stop these pioneers claiming themselves a good part of the land on today's Sairee beach. Having brought their families over, they began to cultivate and harvest the excellent soil, forming the first generation of the present-day community. They lived a simple and tough life harvesting coconuts, fishing and growing vegetables, which were also traded with Ko Phangan. Despite the difficulties in reaching the island, the population grew steadily.
In the 1980s the first travelers discovered Ko Tao and their special backpacker network quickly made it widely known and a popular destination. As a consequence, bigger, faster and safer boats were used to allow easier access to Ko Tao. In the 1990s the island finally became known as a diving site.
TourismThe island is well known for scuba diving and snorkeling, and also offers some hiking. The most popular place for tourists is Sairee on the West coast, which has a white sandy beach of 1.7 km interrupted only by a few huge boulders and a scattering of medium budget resorts and restaurants. A multitude of beautiful granite boulders, which nestle both in the forests and on the beaches of Koh Tao, attract a growing number of climbers who visit each year to enjoy the adventurous aspect of there sport. There is a web site for climbers: www.zengecko.com
Ko Tao is less developed than Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan, but has become increasingly popular especially with the mid-20's backpacker crowd in search of relatively inexpensive scuba diving certification.
As of December 2005, Ko Tao had about 150 resorts offering accommodation and approximately 50 bars/clubs. Most of the resorts are still bungalow-style, not hotel/resort style. Accommodation prices are lower than nearby Ko Samui. Most dive shops offer scuba diving PADI certification classes as well as hostel/bungalow accommodation. Accommodation rates are generally significantly reduced upon registering for scuba classes. PADI open water certification classes typically cost around 9000-9800 Baht and last 3-4 days.
Diving conditions have deteriorated tremendously over time because of large crowds of divers and the uncontrolled environmental development of the island. An absolutely necessary purification plant is not planned. Especially at the dive spot Mango Bay were people get direct contact with effluent disposal.
As of 2007 there is a trend to more upmarket resorts which do not concentrate singularly on diving. Free WIFI is provided in increasing numbers and even the first sailing charter company on Ko Tao has opened.
Koh Tao is increasingly becoming a mecca for game fishermen on a budget. Marlin/sailfish season is from December until March though a few stick around all year. Prices for boat fishing start at 1,400 baht. As well as billfish, other species are targeted. These include king mackerel, cobia, baracuda, trevally and snapper.
Koh Tao is also turing its hand to the environmental side of the equation. With a large number of dive schools and an ever increasing number of tourist traffic a few local operators are looking to change the environmental consciousness of locals and travellers alike.Eco Koh Tao is a local company developed to provide training for reef surveys the date from which can be analysed by the scientific community to verify the health of the reef. Other companies including Crystal Dive & New Heavenrun weekly or bi-weekly beach & dive site clean ups to improve the state of the reefs and the local environment.
External links Gulf of Thailand from padidiveguides.com
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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4 people reviewed Ko Tao
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at 7:11PM July 5, 2008
Great scuba diving island. Go to the Scuba Shack for lessons and drink at the Beach Bar on the deck and lay out. Stay at the cabanas next door on the beach. Great place!
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at 4:28AM May 28, 2008
this is my second favorite thai island.It's also very small but it has it's charm.It offers a good opportunity to take diving class and you absolutly must take a trip to Koh Nang Yuan.You can also visit a bar where every night they have a Lady boy show-it's so funny!And there are many nice bars along the beach, where you can seat on the floor on the beach and they light up candles and it' s really romantic!
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at 10:14PM May 27, 2008
Amazingly beautiful island, brilliant for diving, snorkelling, kayaking and some wicked secret parties..
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at 7:22PM May 27, 2008
beautiful and peaceful. would go back in a heart beat
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