Scuba Diver|Issue 06 - 2016

One option for a long weekend out of Bangkok is the very beautiful island of Koh Tao. It was used as a political prison for 14 years during the mid-20th century until it received a royal pardon and “Turtle Island” was left uninhabited.

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THAILAND, THE “LAND of a Thousand Smiles” is blessed with a huge variety of diving opportunities. There are many miles of jawdropping white sand tropical beaches and dive sites including fringing reefs, deep drop-offs, wrecks, caves, pinnacles and seamounts way out in the blue. The first backpackers discovered Koh Tao in the early 80s and as word spread, so did its popularity. It wasn’t long before Koh Tao became a diving “go-to” destination. Not only is this lush little piece of paradise blessed with crystal clear water and coral reefs shallow enough for beginners to explore, it is also one of the world’s most popular places to get your dive certification.

Koh Tao has managed to hold onto its authentic island feel and retain its unique culture, despite the thousands of annual visitors. The authorities have got the balance just right, with top resorts and high-class restaurants overlooking the sea tucked away on hillsides, making way for traditional local culture, in the form of long-tail boats and festivals, to inhabit the majority of the island and beaches.

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This story is from the Issue 06 - 2016 edition of Scuba Diver.

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This story is from the Issue 06 - 2016 edition of Scuba Diver.

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