We are planning a holiday to Koh Samui and Koh Toa in the next week or so. We are planning on driving from Rayong with an overnight half way and then I guess leaving the car at the ferry port.

Our main point in the holiday is to do some diving, hopefully on both Samui and Toa. I am wondering if now is an ok time to dive with regard to the rains etc. Any advice about this and any other aspect of holidaying on Samui and Koh Toa will be appreciated.

Rich if you are driving you have 2 options. You can drive to Chumphon and then take the fery to either Tao or Samui or you can drive further down the coast to Dan sak and the take the ferry to Samui. If you choose Chumphon you save yourself around 4-5 hours driving and there are plenty of places to park your car.There is also some excellent diving in Chumphon, One of our best kept secrets. You then as said can take several ferries to Koh Tao, Koh Pangyang and then onto Samui. If you go to Samui be aware that there is little or no diving there. The dive operators will speedboat you to Tao most of the time where you get a couple of dives. If you enjoy bouncing up and down on a speedboat for a couple of hours each way great. Its far cheaper to go to Tao where its cheaper and you only spend a short time on a large boat to and from the dive sites. Hope this has helped, if you require any more details drop me a line. Diving at the moment here in Chumpon has been good, asked on Tao and appears the same. Viz not so good just after the heavy rains but still lots to see, Whalesharks have been seen on Tao a few weeks ago

Rich if you are driving you have 2 options. You can drive to Chumphon and then take the fery to either Tao or Samui or you can drive further down the coast to Dan sak and the take the ferry to Samui. If you choose Chumphon you save yourself around 4-5 hours driving and there are plenty of places to park your car.There is also some excellent diving in Chumphon, One of our best kept secrets. You then as said can take several ferries to Koh Tao, Koh Pangyang and then onto Samui. If you go to Samui be aware that there is little or no diving there. The dive operators will speedboat you to Tao most of the time where you get a couple of dives. If you enjoy bouncing up and down on a speedboat for a couple of hours each way great. Its far cheaper to go to Tao where its cheaper and you only spend a short time on a large boat to and from the dive sites. Hope this has helped, if you require any more details drop me a line. Diving at the moment here in Chumpon has been good, asked on Tao and appears the same. Viz not so good just after the heavy rains but still lots to see, Whalesharks have been seen on Tao a few weeks ago

Thanks for the advice. We are going to try Chumpon and then Koh Toa or Koh Pangyang. We are also trying for Kao Sock international park.

Where would you recommend I head in Chumpon?

Hi Richard, There are a couple of places to dive in Chumphon. There is the Cabanna resort which is high end with a couple of big boats which tend to cater for the Thai snorklers and divers. or you have a small enterprise run by a french guy. Im also trying to get my school up and running but a couple of trips in hospital have delayed the opening. If you want any contact numbers PM me and I'l get all the details for you. For me the diving here is far better than Koh Tao. There is lots of sealife and few or no other divers. Accom is cheap and the beach at Thung Wae Leng where the diving is located , is beautiful. Hope you enjoy??

Hi Rich

For diving on Koh Samui and Koh Tao contact Limbo here on TV. He is a member of this board and would be able to help you since he is in the Diving Industry there.

He can also be contacted via Samui International or SIDS. His name is Camille. Very pleasant and helpful guy!

We are planning a holiday to Koh Samui and Koh Toa in the next week or so. We are planning on driving from Rayong with an overnight half way and then I guess leaving the car at the ferry port.

Our main point in the holiday is to do some diving, hopefully on both Samui and Toa. I am wondering if now is an ok time to dive with regard to the rains etc. Any advice about this and any other aspect of holidaying on Samui and Koh Toa will be appreciated.

Hi Rich,

We have shops on Samui and Koh Tao,, check our website or PM me.

Rich if you are driving you have 2 options. You can drive to Chumphon and then take the fery to either Tao or Samui or you can drive further down the coast to Dan sak and the take the ferry to Samui. If you choose Chumphon you save yourself around 4-5 hours driving and there are plenty of places to park your car.There is also some excellent diving in Chumphon, One of our best kept secrets. You then as said can take several ferries to Koh Tao, Koh Pangyang and then onto Samui. If you go to Samui be aware that there is little or no diving there. The dive operators will speedboat you to Tao most of the time where you get a couple of dives. If you enjoy bouncing up and down on a speedboat for a couple of hours each way great. Its far cheaper to go to Tao where its cheaper and you only spend a short time on a large boat to and from the dive sites. Hope this has helped, if you require any more details drop me a line. Diving at the moment here in Chumpon has been good, asked on Tao and appears the same. Viz not so good just after the heavy rains but still lots to see, Whalesharks have been seen on Tao a few weeks ago

i am going to drive down to Samui later this month and i would lkie to drive my own car while there - is there a car ferry available and what is the cost?

There are two ferries, both leaving from Donsak on the mainland, one arrives in Nathon, the Seatran, which I recommend and the other one, Raja, arrives a little bit South of Nathon, between Lipa Noi and Ban Sa Ket.

For other Samui related questions I recommend you visit the Samui forum.