Koh Tao Thailand – History of Turtle Island

Koh Tao Diving Information

Scuba Diving Courses on Koh Tao Thailand

ABOUT KOH TAO

Posted on 11.10.08 6:10PM under Koh Tao

Introduction

Koh Tao, a little island that attracts many sea turtles to its clear waters, acquired its name, ‘Tao’ meaning turtle. With a land area of only 21 sq km and situated around 70 km from the coast between Suratthani and Chumphon, Ko Tao is a tiny spot in the ocean, a little tropical paradise, that offers beginner divers and certified divers, more than 20 dive sites, among the best in the archipelago.

History

Since 1933, the island served as a prison of political prisoners, and in 1947 the Prime Minister at the time, Khun A-Paiwong, pleaded for royal pardon of all of the prisoners; pardon granted, the island was deserted. But the same year, Khun Ueam of the neighboring island, Koh Pha-Ngan and his brother, in testing their fishing boat rediscovered ‘turtle island’, after a very long boat journey for this period, they decided to bring their families to live there. They cultivated fruits and vegetables that were used for their own cooking, and the first generation of inhabitants was born!

Koh Nang Yuan

A small island, just a few meters from Ko Tao, Koh Nang Yuan is connected by two sand bars to two other small islands. It is surrounded by sought after dive sites and offer the possibility to rent bungalows on the island. You can also hire a ‘long tail’ (typical Thai style fishing boat) for around 100 baht for 1 to 2 people. On top of that there is an ‘entry fee’ to pay on the island, 100 Baht per adult and 50 Baht per child.

How to get here

Koh Tao can be easily reached in 1 ½ hours on high-speed catamaran from Chumphon and 2 hours from Koh Samui, with a half hour stop in Koh Pha-Ngan, by normal boat. However, the fastest journeys can be made by speed boat, taking around 1 hour.

Getting about on Koh Tao

There are four possible options available to explore Koh Tao. Rent a Motorbike or a mountain bike (for the more energetic…), take local taxis (motorbike taxis or pick up cars) use the traditional taxi-boats that stop at various beaches around the island, or just have a pleasant walk along the beach, or up in the tropical mountains of Koh Tao, where you can enjoy the most incredible view over the Gulf of Thailand. Click here for a Map of Koh Tao.

Share and Enjoy: