Koh Tao is one of the most popular areas in the world to learn how to dive. Each year over 30000 peoples get certified as a PADI Diver on th little island. The diving conditions are perfect to learn. Its shallow and the visibility is the best in the Gulf of Thailand. I been teaching over 2000 students myself on this island and I could not imagine a better place to learn. The divecenters are very professional, the equipment is well maintained and the diveboats are comfortable.

There are a few different options if you like to go out fishing around Koh Tao. You can either rent your own long-tail boat with a local captain that provides you with the equipment or you can go on an organized trip with other people.

Friends who actively fish around Koh Tao say that they sometimes get both Sail Fish and Marlins just off the coast of Koh Tao. The best time for fishing is said to be late afternoon at around 17:00.

Another way to relax and fish is to buy some fishing gear from Aukotan (large retail store between Mae Haad and Chalok Baan Kao) and rent a kayak. It’s a nice relaxing way to spend an afternoon in the sun. Bring water and sunscreens!!!

Operators:
Adventure Center, boat and fishing tours.
Phone nr: 04-7444799 or 09-0191761,
Location Mae Haad

Sai Ree Kayaks, Ban’s Diving Resort.
Location Sai Ree Beach

Koh Tao offers some spectacular snorkeling sites very close to the island. You don't even need to take a boat to enjoy snorkeling though some of the best sites for snorkeling only can be reached by boat.

Rent mask, snorkel and fins in any of the many shops around Koh Tao for about 100-150 Baht for a set per person and swim out from any point and you will have a great snorkeling experience. Areas that we highly recommend is off Ban’s Diving on Sai Ree beach (be careful when swimming out, the tide is sometimes a bit low and it’s easy to cut yourself). Best is to swim out in the little channel just 50 meters to the left of the resort.

Other areas are outside Big Blue Diving further north of Sai Ree Beach. The most popular beach to snorkel off is Rocky Bay. Swim out some 150-200 meters preferably late afternoon and you have a pretty good chance of seing Blacktip reef sharks. Last time we went out we saw 5 or more sharks - some only 5 meters away from us!

To reach beautiful snorkeling spots such as Mango Bay, Koh Nangyuan, Aow Leuk and Hin Wong, you can rent a taxi boat from pretty much anywhere on Sai Ree Beach for about 1000 Baht/day.

Muay Thai - One of Thailands most loved sport and biggest exports. On Koh Tao you can watch it or you can learn it, up to you! With regular fight nights to go and watch hosting local fighters & professionals it does get quite exciting, especially when the gambling starts. You can sign up for lessons and not just in Muay Thai but in other martial combat arts as well.

Island Muay Thai Offers lessons in Thai boxing, mixed martial arts and self defense. From beginner to competitor. Have regular fight nights.
Opening hours: 07:00 - 21:00, every day
Sai Ree Village, on the road to Hin Wong Bay
Tel: 08 62 69 87 25 (Steve)

Monsoon Gym Thai boxing and gym, Full gym facilities, nutritional supplements and tailored fitness programs.
Opening hours: 07:00 - 21:00, every day
Sai Ree, on the road to Hin Wong Bay
Tel: 08 62 71 22 12 (Darius)

Koh Tao Bowling & Mini Golf really makes you smile and think of the Flintstones. There are 9 challenging holes to conquer on the out-door golf course with a few being frustratingly difficult. The in-door bowling lanes have a surprise at the end which you should avoid hitting at all costs as the pin-setters are actually humans not machines!! This is a fun place to spend the afternoon with family or friends and if its too busy you can always try your hand at Pentaque… Koh Tao Bowling opened up in 2005 to the joy of all “long-termers” and tourist on the island.

If you are not an underwater addict and diving & free diving isnt what you want but still love water life above the surface then you will be very happy all the same. Wakeboarding, kite-boarding, skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing and the sumo-tube are to name but a few of the water based sports available on the island. And if you like to be on the water but don't like to do much then spending the day or night on a fishing trip will suit you down to the beer in your hand!

Switch Watersport Switch booking office is located on North Sai Ree (100 meters down from 7-Eleven). Switch got two main businesses - watersport and videography. With two speedboats build for watersports Switch offer daily tours including waterskiing, wakeboarding, snorkeling and more. For anyone interested in a career as an underwater videographer Switch is offering an internship course over several weeks.
Phone: 04-8429582

Black Tip Watersports Located in Mae Haad this is the first company opening up for watersports on Koh Tao. Wakeboarding, Wakeskating, Waterskiing, Tube rides, Kayaks. Full and half day charter.
Phone: 07-0795766/077-456488

MV Sports Watersports on the beach in Mae Haad. Open daily 9 am. 100 meter past the Songserm pier. Waterski, Wakeboarding, Hobie cat, Island Charter, Sailing.
Phone: 07-264263

Good Time Adventures, an adventure based company that provides not only small group adventure diving in their fast fiberglass boat; but all manner of rock based activities, overnight hikes and even good old fashioned pub crawls around the bars of the island. Good Time Adventures offers a number of combination half day and full day adventures where you can ride, hike, cliff jump, rock climb, free dive and enjoy a boat ride back with cold beers on board. Good Time Adventures aim to keep a flexible schedule allowing you to maintain input on what, where and how you want to spend an adventurous time on Koh Tao. Pay their shop a visit for a chat with the friendly staff and see how they can tailor some adventures for you! You'll find them on the middle of Sai Ree Beach.
Phone number: +66 (0) 872 753 604

Koh Tao now has a great selection of spas with a wide range of treatments and facilities. From mountain top locations to venues by the seaside, on offer here you will find steam rooms, saunas, body scrubs and wraps, therapeutic and traditional treatments, reflexology and massages. There are places providing ayurvedic, water and beauty treatments, not forgetting spirulina and aromatherapy.

Jamahkiri Spa and Resort Jamahkiri is the most popular spa on Koh Tao with a large selection of packages. The spa got an amazing location overviewing Rocky Spa on the south side of Koh Tao. Jamahkiri offer free transport (you can also stay in the resort that is connected to the spa) to and from the spa.
Phone number for pickup service 077-456 400.

Harmony Spa and Massage This new spa offer everything from Thai and aromatherapy massage to full packages including facial massage, different types of cotton sheet wraps and massage. Perfect place to spend a relaxed afternoon after scuba diving or snorkeling in the morning.
Lacation: Sai Ree Beach (across from Morava Restaurant)

Takashi's Japanese Health Spa Open on the 1 of July 2006 this health spa is owned and managed by Japanese Takashi who wanted to bring the "hot spring" culture to Koh Tao. Even though this place doesn't feature any natural hot springs it gives the same feel as an original spa in Kyoto or Okinawa. Special packages including spa and hotbath is recommended. Drive the road up from the Songserm Pier and you will reach this little secluded spa in Mae Haad.

Learn Thai massage Some places on Koh Tao that offer classes in Thai Massage are New Heaven Resort located close to Rocky/Shark Bay (also offer yoga classes)
Phone: 01-229 46 38 and Sea Shell Resort located on Sai Ree Beach. Phone: 077-456 299

Orchid Spa Spa and Beauty Salon with various treatments available.
Traditional massage - thai - herbal - oil - therapeutic -foot reflexology - Aloe vera body wrap - herbal steam - face mask - hair & nail treatments.
Address: Moo 1, Sai Ree Beach
Tel: 077 456 406
Opening hours: 10.00 - 23.0, every day.

Jira's Spa for health and well being.
Tel. 077 456 775 Mobile. 094 744 191
Address: 2/35 Mae Haad
Opening hours: 9.30-22.00, every day. Free pick up service.

Here & Now After three years at Koh Tao's Sai Ree Beach. Here & Now moved to the northern end of the main road in May 2002, taking over CFT-Bungalows, which was converted into "Center For Taijiquan". The Qigong/Taijiquan Courses are conducted by the experienced teacher Martin from Germany; if you'd like to join him in his morning meditation, you are welcome. His wife Ron and her daughter Gung have attended several massage courses at different schools in Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand), which is a center for the study of Traditional Thai Yoga Massage.
Phone: 077-456 730

New Heaven Yoga School The New Heaven Yoga School cater to all standards and offer courses for all, from the complete novice to advanced level. Opened at the end of 2004, classes are held every morning at the New Heaven Restaurant location. Yoga, Detox, Meditation.
Phone: 077-456462

Ning's Traditional Thai Cooking Course If you like Thai cuisine and would like to know how to cook it in your own kitchen back home, you cant leave Koh Tao without doing a Thai cooking course with Ning. She was taught to cook traditional Thai food by her mother. For several years now Ning has taught Koh Tao visitors a selection of dishes. The course include a trip to the Local market to buy fresh ingredients, then she take you to a fully equipped modern kitchen in her own house where you will be taught to cock and present your chosen dishes in traditional Thai style. You write the receipts in a little book to take home with you. After cooking its time for eating in Nings tropical garden. Feel free to bring a friend - fresh fruit, tea, coffe and ice cold water are included. Maximum 4 people in a course, minimum 2 dishes per person.
Tel. 0782812508 or 078246529
e-mail on: kohtaocooking@hotmail.com