To get to Koh Tao from Koh Samui, the trip is already a small adventure in itself. You have to take a ferry from one of the main ports of Koh Samui, such as Mae Nam Pier or Bangrak Pier. The trip usually lasts between 1h30 and 3h, depending on the type of boat (speedboat faster, classic ferry slower but more stable). The price varies around between 15$ and 20$ CAD depending on the company and the comfort. You can easily book online on platforms like 12Go Asia, or directly in travel agencies on site in Koh Samui. Honestly, everyone sells tickets everywhere, so it’s hard to miss it — it’s a bit like the island wants to make sure you go explore Koh Tao lol.

For my part, the trip between Koh Samui and Koh Tao was… an experience that could be described as “collective sea trauma”.

From the very first minutes, the boat decided that it didn’t just want to sail, but rather to test the limits of gravity and my digestive system. It was shaking so much that I started wondering if we were on a boat or in an extreme washing machine version. Very quickly, half the boat started regretting its life choices. The atmosphere was a mix between a horror movie and a mobile clinic waiting room. People were vomiting everywhere, the crew members were passing by with bags like they were free snacks, and they were putting medicine behind their ears like it was some kind of magical ritual to survive.

At one point, I myself reached a new level of despair and I seriously asked the man to stop the boat. Unfortunately, mission failed. At one point, I stood up and… it felt like the waves were looking me straight in the eyes at boat level. I have never been so scared in any transport in my life. And honestly, I wondered several times if someone had validated this trip in a safety test or if we were just human guinea pigs on a floating tin can.

Conclusion: Koh Tao is amazing… but the boat to get there deserves therapy.

Anyway, Koh Tao is a small island that looks calm on the map, but which kind of tests you a bit as soon as you arrive. Literally “Turtle Island”, it is known for its turquoise waters, coral reefs and its backpacker vibe stuck between two dives and a mango smoothie. Historically, it was long sparsely inhabited, used mainly for fishing and as a natural refuge, which explains why it has kept a rather raw side despite tourism. Today, it is a rather unique mix of jungle, steep rocks, hidden beaches and small roads where everyone drives a scooter with a bit too much confidence.

One of the first challenges (and a nice reward) was the John-Suwan Viewpoint. To get there, from main areas like Sairee Beach or Mae Haad, you take a scooter and drive south of the island towards Chalok Baan Kao. It’s about 15 to 25 minutes of driving depending on your starting point. Once in Chalok, you continue towards the small road that leads to Freedom Beach. You will start seeing signs indicating “John-Suwan Viewpoint” or “Viewpoint / Freedom Beach”. The road becomes a bit narrower and goes slightly uphill. You then arrive at a small dirt parking area (often with already parked scooters). This is where you leave your scooter. From that point, you pay a small entrance fee (around 50 to 100 baht), and you enter through a clearly marked small trail.

The beaches of Koh Tao are part of what makes the island so hard to leave. Each bay has its own personality, and you can easily go from a postcard-perfect scene to a completely wild corner within a few minutes of scooter riding.

Sairee Beach is the most well-known and lively beach. It is a long stretch of light sand with calm, shallow water, perfect for stress-free swimming. There are many small bars, restaurants and diving schools all along it, which creates a fairly social backpacker atmosphere. It is also the ideal spot for sunsets, with everyone sitting on the beach watching the sky change color.

Freedom Beach, a bit more hidden in the south of the island, is much quieter. To access it, you have to pay a small entrance fee (around 50 baht) because the beach is private and well maintained. The water is incredibly turquoise and shallow, with rocks and very soft white sand. It is a perfect beach to relax or go snorkeling directly from the shore.

Tanote Bay is wilder and a bit more difficult to access by scooter (a steep and sometimes uneven road). But once you arrive, it is a much more raw beach, surrounded by rocks. There is even a big rock in the middle of the bay where some people climb to jump into the water. The atmosphere is quieter and less touristy.

What makes Koh Tao special is that all these beaches are relatively close to each other, but give the impression of being in completely different worlds. Between lively beaches, hidden bays and almost deserted corners, you can spend your day constantly changing atmosphere without ever leaving the island.

Koh Tao is world-famous for scuba diving, and it is one of the cheapest places in the world to get your PADI Open Water certification. I personally did my course with Big Blue Diving, one of the most well-known schools on the island, and the experience is both intense, a bit chaotic at the beginning, but incredibly memorable.

The PADI Open Water usually lasts 3 to 4 days. The course is divided into three main parts. First, the theory, where you learn the basics of diving (pressure, safety, underwater communication). This is often done through videos and short quizzes, either in class or via e-learning even before starting the dives.

Then you move on to practical training in a pool or very shallow water. This is where you learn to breathe with your equipment, manage your buoyancy underwater, and react to different situations. It is often the most stressful part at the beginning, because your brain has to accept the idea of breathing underwater naturally.

Finally, there are the open water dives. In total, you usually do 4 dives in the ocean. You start at shallow depth and gradually go down to about 18 meters once certified. This is where everything changes: you see coral reefs, tropical fish, and you understand why people become addicted to diving.

The price at Big Blue Diving usually ranges between 9,000 and 12,000 baht (around 340 to 460 CAD), depending on the season, promotions, and the type of accommodation included. Some packages even include accommodation directly on site, which makes the experience even more immersive.

A typical day looks like this: theory or quick review in the morning, then a practical session in the water, followed by a break, and in the afternoon an open water dive. It is quite intense, but the pace remains enjoyable because you are literally in island + sea + learning mode.

What makes Koh Tao unique for the PADI is that everything is close and optimized for beginners. You do not need to be an athlete or have experience, just be comfortable in the water and ready to step out of your comfort zone. And honestly, between the initial fear and the underwater beauty, it is an experience that stays engraved for a long time.