06/07/2020
We have had the same Koh Tao diving boat for the last 9 years 🙂 It is the “engine” of our dive shop so it is very important that we take care of her and make any improvements when she goes for repainting every year. I will tell you more about her.
She has a capacity for 30 divers and 2 boat staff but we normally run with less otherwise it gets too crowded. You can exit into your dive from either side and from the rear so everyone can get into the water quickly. The step-out is close to the waterline so it is only a small jump; check out the big dive school boats and see how far they have to jump for a comparison.
Our Koh Tao diving boat has 2 decks, the main deck with the tanks, equipment, and kitting-up area. At one end are the captain’s cabin and a help-yourself refreshment station for tea, coffee, water, and biscuits. At the other end is a standard marine toilet. The upper sun deck is split into a sun and a shaded area (it does get very hot). Here you can relax, drink a cup of coffee and get a briefing for your next dive. If you must smoke this is where you can as long as those around you do not mind.
It has a shallow draft of only 1.5m. Meaning you can get mooring lines closer to the reef, unlike the other big boats that have to stay far out. Which can add 15 mins of swimming to get to your descent point. Very handy when going to shallow water to try scuba dives and dives 1 and 2 of the open water course.
Each year it goes to Chumphon on the mainland for servicing the engines and repairing and repainting the ship itself. Over 12 months it takes a lot of battering from the weather, and even the stainless steel screws start to rust.
It has 2 diesel engines. The main, larger one, runs the propeller while the other runs a generator for the boat’s electrics. And the all-important water boiler for coffee, something every diving boat should have,
We are lucky to have had the same captain (P’Surat) and wife (P’Sao) team on the boat for 7 years who have taken great care of our Koh Tao diving boat. It is their home as well as their office, so we do not go into their cabin. Together they take great care of the boat and look after us as well. We also do not cross the front of the boat, the Buddha Point, as it can bring bad luck.
You have read about our Koh Tao diving boat, are you interested in scuba diving? Contact us and you can find out more about the diving we offer by clicking on the links below:
Try Scuba Diving
Open Water Course
Advanced Course
Fun Dives
Nitrox Specialty
Wreck Diving Specialty
Deep Diver
How do I get to Koh Tao?
When is the best time to dive on Koh Tao?
Find out more about the SSI diver training agency here: Dive SSI
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