View of Shark Bay, a snorkeler's paradise on the island's south side.

Ko Tao (also often Koh Tao, Thai: เกาะเต่า, 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^[1]. The main settlement is Ban Mae Hat. Image File history File links View_from_New_Heaven. ... Image File history File links View_from_New_Heaven. ... The Gulf of Thailand is a gulf located in the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean), surrounded by the countries Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. ... Tambon (Thai: ตำบล) is a local government unit in Thailand. ... A amphoe (sometimes also amphur, Thai: อำเภอ) is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. ... Ko Phan Ngan from the air Exploring the island on mopeds Sunrise at Thong Nai Pan Ko Pha Ngan (or Koh Phangan, Thai: ) is an island in the Gulf of Thailand in South East Thailand. ... Surat Thani (often in short Surat, Thai: ) is the largest of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. ...

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^[2]. Binomial name Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus, 1766 Range of the Hawksbill turtle subspecies Eretmochelys imbricata bissa (Rüppell, 1835) Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766) Synonyms Eretmochelys imbricata squamata junior synonym The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. ... Binomial name Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758) The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a large sea turtle, the only member of the genus Chelonia (Brongniart, 1800). ...

History

Initially 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. King Chulalongkorn the Great or Rama V (royal name: Phra Chula Chomklao Chaoyuhua; Thai: ) (September 20, 1853 – October 23, 1910) was the fifth king of the Chakri dynasty of Thailand. ...

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. Major Khuang Abhaiwongse (May 17, 1902 - March 15, 1968; Thai ควง อภัยวงศ์) was three times prime minister of Thailand. ...

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.

Tourism

The 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. Resorts are scattered with varying density, however, along the many small bays of the island. Scuba diving is swimming underwater while using self-contained breathing equipment. ... Boulder In geology, a boulder is a rock with grain size of usually no less than 256 mm (10 inches) diameter. ...

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. Na Thon viewed from the mountain jungle Chaweng as seen departing from Ko Samui Airport Ko Samui (or Koh Samui, Thai: ) is an island off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus in Thailand, close to the mainland Surat Thani town. ... Ko Phan Ngan from the air Exploring the island on mopeds Sunrise at Thong Nai Pan Ko Pha Ngan (or Koh Phangan, Thai: ) is an island in the Gulf of Thailand in South East Thailand. ...

Sairee-Beach

The main street at Ko Tao.

Bungalows on the beach at Ko Tao.

The view of the famous 'Buddha Rock' from 'Viewpoint' on the south side of the island.

Blue Spotted Stingray photographed in the waters around Ko Tao.

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. Image File history File links Sairee-Beach on Ko Tao, Thailand. ... Image File history File links Sairee-Beach on Ko Tao, Thailand. ... Image File history File links Ko Tao main street. ... Image File history File links Ko Tao main street. ... Image File history File links Ko Tao Bungalows. ... Image File history File links Ko Tao Bungalows. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2848 × 2136 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2848 × 2136 pixel, file size: 1. ... Blue spotted Stingray (Taeniura lymma) photographed by Jan Derk in April 2004 in Ko Tao, Thailand. ... Blue spotted Stingray (Taeniura lymma) photographed by Jan Derk in April 2004 in Ko Tao, Thailand. ... For other uses, see Stingray (disambiguation). ... The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) is the worlds largest recreational diving membership organization and diver training organization. ... The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) is the worlds largest recreational diving membership organization and diver training organization. ...

Diving conditions vary from excellent to fair depending on the time of year and weather conditions, but March and April are usually excellent with weekly Whale shark sightings.

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. For either of the songs named Sailing, see Sailing (song). ...

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.

List of diving sites

Species See text. ... Titan Triggerfish Categories: Animal stubs ... Binomial name Balistoides conspicillum Bloch & Schneider,, 1801 The Clown Triggerfish, Balistoides conspicillum, is a solitary fish most commonly found around coral reefs near steep drop offs. ... Binomial name Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus, 1766 Range of the Hawksbill turtle subspecies Eretmochelys imbricata bissa (Rüppell, 1835) Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766) Synonyms Eretmochelys imbricata squamata junior synonym The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. ... Genera Aphareus Aprion Apsilus Etelis Hemilutjanus Hoplopagrus Lipocheilus Lutjanus Macolor Ocyurus Paracaesio Pinjalo Pristipomoides Randallichthys Rhomboplites Symphorus Snapper can also refer to the Snapping turtle. ... Genera Amblyrhynchotes Arothron Auriglobus Canthigaster Carinotetraodon Chelonodon Colomesus Contusus Ephippion Feroxodon Fugu Gastrophysus Javichthys Lagocephalus Liosaccus Marilyna Monotretus Omegaphora Pelagocephalus Polyspina Reicheltia Sphoeroides Takifugu Tetractenos Tetraodon Torquigener Tylerius Xenopterus The pufferfish, also called blowfish, swellfish, globefish, balloonfish are fish making up the family Tetraodontidae, within the order Tetraodontiformes. ... Genera See text. ... Genera (60 genera) The wrasses are a family (family Labridae) of reef safe marine fish, many of which are brightly-colored and popular for aquaria. ... Genera Amphichaetodon Chaetodon Chelmon Chelmonops Coradion Forcipiger Hemitaurichthys Heniochus Johnrandallia Parachaetodon Prognathodes The butterflyfish are a group of conspicuous tropical marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. ... The name angelfish may refer to two unrelated types of fish: Freshwater angelfish, tropical cichlids of the genus Pterophyllum. ... Moray (pronounced Murray, spelled A Moireibh in Gaelic) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. ... Species Twenty-seven, including: Amphiprion allardi - Allards Clownfish Amphiprion melanopus - Cinnamon Clownfish Amphiprion clarkii - Clarks Anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris - Ocellaris Clownfish Amphiprion percula - Percula Clownfish Amphiprion perideraion - Pink Skunk Clownfish Amphiprion polymnus - Saddleback Clownfish Amphiprion sebae - Sebae Clownfish Amphiprion tricinctus - Three-Band Anemonefish Amphiprion ephippium - Tomato Clownfish Amphiprion frenatus... Moray (pronounced Murray, spelled A Moireibh in Gaelic) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. ... Genera See text. ... Phthirus pubis Pubic lice (Phthirus pubis), also known as crabs , are one of the many varieties of lice (singular louse) specialized to live on different areas of different animals. ... Titan Triggerfish Categories: Animal stubs ... Several species of reef-associated sharks are known as reef sharks: Grey reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos. ... Species See text. ... Titan Triggerfish Categories: Animal stubs ... For other uses, see Stingray (disambiguation). ... Several species of reef-associated sharks are known as reef sharks: Grey reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos. ... Binomial name (Smith, 1828) Range of whale shark The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow filter feeding shark that is the largest living fish species. ... Binomial name Epinephelus lanceolatus Bloch, 1790 The Giant Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) is also known as the Brindle Bass and as the Queensland Grouper in Australia. ... Species See text. ... For other uses, see Tuna (disambiguation). ... Binomial name (Smith, 1828) Range of whale shark The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow filter feeding shark that is the largest living fish species. ... Binomial name Epinephelus lanceolatus Bloch, 1790 The Giant Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) is also known as the Brindle Bass and as the Queensland Grouper in Australia. ... Species See text. ... Leopard shark may refer to: The Zebra Shark, Stegostoma fasciatum. ... Binomial name (Cuvier, 1829) The king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) is a migratory species of mackerel that lives its entire life in the open waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. ... Kingfish is used as the vernacular name of a variety of fish: King mackerel Scomberomorus cavalla (several) Kingcroakers Menticirrhus spp. ... For other uses, see Tuna (disambiguation). ... Binomial name (Smith, 1828) Range of whale shark The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow filter feeding shark that is the largest living fish species. ... Manta is a mid size city of Ecuador, in the Manabí Province. ...

Transportation

With few exceptions, almost all roads on Ko Tao are dirt roads and generally are in poor shape. However, new roads are being paved at a quick rate. 95% of all traffic on the island is motorbike, with mopeds and dirt bikes being the main mode of transport. Mopeds can be rented for around 200 Baht per day. Motor bike accidents are the most common injury on the island. Poor roads, sand, reckless taxi drivers and drunkenness are all a factor. It is generally known that motorbike repairs are a better business than renting motorbikes. Inspect your motorbike completely before driving away.

Ko Tao is serviced by ferry services from Surat Thani (4 to 9 hours) (only night boats), Chumphon (1.5 to 3 hours), Ko Samui (4 hours) and Ko Pha Ngan (2.5 hours). All ferries dock at Ban Mae Haad. Surat Thani (Thai: ) is a city in Amphoe Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. ... Chumphon is a town in southern Thailand, capital of the Chumphon province. ...

Ko Tao has no airport.

See also

• List of islands of Thailand

This is a list of islands of Thailand. ...

External link

• Ko Tao travel guide from Wikitravel
• Gulf of Thailand from padidiveguides.com

Coordinates: 10°06′N, 99°50′E Wikitravel is a project to create an open content, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

References