Divers Paradise Found, at Koh Tao, Thailand

This tiny little island is hard to see on a map. It measures a mere 21 square km, and lies north of Samui and Koh Phangan. If you're a certified diver, or even an aspiring one, and find yourself in Thailand for a week or two (by the end of which, you'll probably extend your stay), Koh Tao is the place to go. Not only are their dive sites clear and plentiful, there are no massive crowds, the people are laid-back, and the prices to get PADI certified are hard to beat. And did I mention the chances to witness a Whale Shark up close and personal are extremely high?

Getting There:
From Bangkok, you have two options. You can either take a short and cheap flight to Samui, then the inexpensive ferry from there to Koh Tao, or you can opt for the bus ride to Chumphon (overnight), then the ferry from there to Samui, Samui to Koh Tao. I recommend you stick to the flight, as the time you save is well worth the mere $40 you save by taking the much more time consuming route. You'll thank yourself later.

Where to stay... and how to decide:
This is the hardest choice you have to make (and it ain't that difficult). There are all sorts of accommodations on this tiny island, ranging from ultra-luxe, to the super cheap. Also, the area you stay in will depend on what your main objective is here.

For divers, I'd suggest staying at Buddha View, which is a well-known, respected, and extremely worthwhile dive shop with some guest rooms. They don't have the best accommodations, but it is dive-shop adjacent, so if you're doing your courses or want to take daily trips out, this is most convenient. The people are nice, the facilities clean, and they are located right on the biggest beach the island has to offer, on Chalok Baan Kao. This area is relatively quiet, although they do have some of the nicest beachside bars, with the friendliest staff, and aren't as crowded as Sairee most nights.

Also a short walk (literally not even a full 2 minutes) to the Buddha View dive shop is Tropicana Resort,which offers up a wide range of accommodations, and charge you accordingly. Here you can choose whether you want a bungalow with view, A/C, etc, and the pricing is very reasonable. This is my favorite place to stay, as it houses a nice restaurant, is right next to the 7-Eleven (where you will inevitably buy EVERYTHING you need), and a short walk (up a very steep hill!) from one of the most amazing bars you will ever go to...

Deciding what area to stay in Koh Tao is not that complicated, and there are no "wrong" choices, being as to how everything is just a short taxi or motorbike ride away. However, to save some money and gas, here are some tips.
-If you like to party hard, and like to meet lots and lots of other travelers, Sairee is the place for you. White sands, turquoise water, and lots of accommodations (with their in-house bars and restaurants), along with various live-music venues and events make this the most crowded and lively area on Koh Tao.

-If you want to feel pampered and secluded, stick to Mango Bay (Mango Bay Grand Resort) orAow Leuk Bay(here they have very nice bungalows by the same name of the bay, and offer up one of the islands best restaurants right on what I consider to be, by far, the best beach on the island).

-For the traveler who likes convenience, Chalok Baan Kao is the place to be. Not too crowded, but not remote (not that any place here can BE remote, its all so close together, but some places have that feel). Good amount of bars, restaurants, internet cafes, etc.

Where to eat:
This is another choice I can guide you on, but there are no wrongs. On Koh Tao you will discover that no matter where you decide to eat, it will be an incredibly mouth-watering experience. From the cheap little hole-in-the-wall noodle places, to the Pancake Man on the corner, give everything a try, and I promise you won't be disappointed.

My top 5 eats are:
-Lung Pae: incredible food (best steaks ever!) in an amazing setting with unbelievable views of Koh Tao, along with very friendly service, not to mention they offer free taxi service to and from their locale, nestled atop a mountain.
- Cappuccino: these people serve up the best breakfasts on the island, and a GREAT homemade burger. Located across the 7-Eleven in Chalok Baan Kao, they have a nice selection of pastries which are made fresh as well.
- Noori: finest Indian food on the island, nice restaurant, right in the midst of Sairee. Very varied selection on the menu.
-Cafe del Sol: conveniently located near the piers, they offer free WiFi, decent pizzas and other italian dishes, as well as steaks.
- Buddha View: barbecue almost every night (weather permitting)!!

Bar scene:
Earlier I mentioned how Sairee is THE place to party, but here is another list of bars that should be checked out.

- High Bar: located on a mountain top in Chalok, which you have to huff and puff to get yourself all the way up, but so amazingly worth it. The sunset can be seen from up here like no other place on the island, the coffee is good, and the setting relaxing. Constructed out of wood on the side of a rocky hill, its literally a huge balcony hanging off the side of a cliff.
- Buddha on the Beach: Buddha Views bar, this place is nicely decorated, with very comfy tables as well as cool sunken-bar seating. Right on the beach and the bartenders are super entertaining plus complete sweethearts. They ring a huge bell over the bar when you tip, which I find incredibly amusing.
- Rooftop: Next to Buddha, this is a simple little beach shack named after its roof, which is held in place by a palm tree that runs through it (which is also where the liquor shelves are installed, all very conveniently) and decorated with wild black-light illuminated drawings. The music here is by far the best on the island, all courtesy of the lone bartender (his name is At) who is a music aficionado. Ask him for what you like, and he most definitely has it on that iPod.

To-do:
There is something on Koh Tao for everyone.

-Diving: of course, you cannot come on this island and not sample the best item on their menu! There are numerous dive centers; here are the ones I recommend, no matter your level... Black Tip Divers, Buddha View. They have daily dives to numerous sites, as well as night dives.
-Mini Golf and Bowling:while the mini-golf is interestingly impossible, you'll have a ball playing a round. If you opt for the bowling, you'll enjoy the retro-ness of having an actual PERSON pick-up and set the pins after each time you bowl!
-Snorkeling: any rocky beach corner will heed tons of marine life. I recommend Aow Leuk for the variety, and Shark Bay if you're brave enough to swim with black-tip reef sharks (truly an amazing experience, and yes, completely safe unless you bother the animal!)
-Pool & Sports watching: if you're missing your local pubs, don't worry... Koh Tao has some of its own, albeit with their own twist...open air, relaxing, don't smell like stale beer, and bigger-and-better screens (Dirty Nelly Irish Pub is great).
-Muay Thai Boxing: if you want to watch, some weekends there are matches to attend. VERY entertaining, and incredible to watch the whole ritual. If you're brave enough to try it for yourself, you can find a trainer as well.

To make the most of your stay:
This island is easily enjoyable by everyone, on any budget. Here are some tips to make the most out of it.

-Negotiate the price of your taxi ride, before you board: some drivers take advantage, so make sure you settled on the final price BEFORE getting on, and if it's more than one, negotiate on a per-person rate, so he doesn't charge you the agreed price times the number of you boarding!
-Rent a motorbike: these provide easy access to pretty much everywhere your heart desires to go, and you can check out the island on your own. You won't have to negotiate with taxi drivers, and in the end, if you go out at night and need to travel a bit to get where you're going, this is the most inexpensive way to get around, since the taxi prices go WAY up in the evenings.
- Ask around: for recommendations from other travelers in the area. Chances are they can offer up some good advice!
-Read up on local customs: there are small things in Thailand that can be considered very rude and insulting, such as touching anyone on the head, pointing the bottoms of your feet at anyone, wearing shoes inside (most people opt to go barefoot anywhere, and this is completely acceptable), or unnecessary skin exposure (some tourists do the topless sun-bathing thing, but this is frowned upon).

For more info:

Ferry: loomprayah.com
Accommodations: kohtaoisland.net
Diving: techdivethailand.com