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| Ah, the fun that abounds on Thai islands. The largest attraction is probably scuba diving – the waters tend to be clear (in the high season), it’s very warm, full of colorful tropical fish (and tiger sharks), and everything is kept up to international standards.
But it’s about one quarter the price of similar dives in western countries.
If you take your PADI open water diving course and certification in Koh Tao, expect to spend around 5000 baht, which includes four days of training, diving, and accommodation.
5000 baht, at the time of this writing, is just about $125. The same course – without accommodation – will cost $500 in the States.
The difference in price between the eastern islands and the western is greater when diving, because the best dive sites are near the main islands on the east, while the west requires much more boat time.
As an example, Planet Scuba offers a three day/two night diving package, which includes six dives and costs
5700-6000 baht. If you leave from Phuket to the Andaman isles, a four day/three night package with four dives a day (two on the final day) will cost 17,800-19,800. That’s quite a difference.
You can go diving from any of the islands, but on the east Koh Tao is definitely the center. Nearly the entire population of the island is involved in the dive industry one way or another, and most of the tourists are
as well.
If spending an hour 20 meters down isn’t your idea of fun, there’s snorkeling everywhere. Gear is cheap to rent for a day, and reefs are never far from the beaches.
Beyond that, any sort of water sport you can think of you can do, again at much cheaper rates than the west (and in some cases, less cumbersome licensing). Anyone can rent a sailboat, go water skiing, canoe around… really, anything. Except surf – the waves are gentle almost everywhere, save storms.
If you don’t like water sports… what are you doing going to the islands? Still, there’s plenty available.
Many rock climbers love the islands, which unbelievably still have a few faces that have never been scaled. You can find bungee jumping and parasailing, jungles and hiking.
And, of course, you can always read your book and sip your margarita listening to the gentle lapping of warm waters at your feet. Sit in one of the chairs if you can – this sand does have mites.
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