Mae Haad Beach. View from my hotel.

I went to Koh Tao, Thailand in June 2013 for one reason. Take my PADI Rescue Diver course.

I dive in the chilly waters of B.C. I don’t love it. Fact is, I’d probably stop except I’ve spent thousands on cold water diving gear. “More money that sense”, as my mother used to say. I’m an idiot.

There was NO WAY I was doing the rescue course in B.C. With all the heavy and bulky extra gear needed to brave these waters, I’d be the one needing to be rescued.

I flew to Bangkok on Air Canada, via Seoul. Then, flew on Bangkok Airways to Koh Samui (one hour). From there, I took a passenger catamaran Seatran ferry to Koh Tao (two hours). Glad I had the sea sick pills in my purse.

Koh Tao is like nothing I’d ever seen before. Narrow roads, motorcycles everywhere. All the buildings smooshed together. Tons of small restaurants. Dive and long tail boats everywhere. Dive shops everywhere.

Long story short. I worked with Master Divers, a first class diving outfit in Koh Tao. Professional and safety conscious operation.

They trained me well. Put me through my paces and made me a better diver. Master Divers also arranged for my accommodation at a great little hotel, Ananda Villa, a 5 minute walk from the dive shop.

I’m not sure I’ll return to Koh Tao. There are other parts of Thailand I long to see. But if you’re contemplating combining a trip to southeast Asia with scuba dive training, Koh Tao is the affordable place to do it.

Oh, and the food is great too.

Another shot of the hotel room at Ananda Villa.

My hotel room at Ananda Villa.

A great place to eat and watch cats. Right across from my hotel.

More of the downtown.

Scuba school aboard the Master Divers boat.

Narrow street. Downtown area.

The harbour area of Koh Tao.

This is what I saw when I arrived in Koh Tao by ferry.