Island Lifestyle - Submerged Into the Depths of Thailand

With celebrated diving sites such as Sail Rock and Koh Tao in such close proximity to Koh Samui, many come to the island in hopes of embarking on a few underwater adventures. For some, the island is the first stop on a journey to the introduction of the skill. At Koh Samui’s boutique diving operation, 100 Degrees East, thrill seekers can receive a personalized experience at sea. In a feat unique to the island, the company owns and operates its own speedboat, allowing for 100 Degrees East to keep ocean-bound participants on each voyage to a minimum. In an effort to offer quality services, the facility rejects the employment of freelance staffers and chooses to retain diving instructors with a strong background in the field. Having all members of staff on hand for no less than five years, instructors are thoroughly familiarized with all dive sites, improving the elements of safety necessary to all excursions. For beginners or pros, 100 Degrees East will consult the interested to determine the appropriate itinerary for a variety of experience levels.

Unfortunately, Koh Samui’s surrounding waters have little to offer divers with its year round poor visibility and limited marine life. The well-known location of Koh Tao provides an improvement on the local conditions; this particular site is suitable for students of certification, as well as high-level divers. The five-star diving of Sail Rock may be inappropriate for beginners, this is regarded as the best dive site in the Gulf of Thailand for the experienced. Made up of one large granite rock pinnacle that stands 15m above sea level and drops off to the maximum depth of 30m and a collection of smaller, outer lying pinnacles, the dives are occasionally broken down into two days by the company. The marine life at Sail Rock includes blue ringed angel fish, banner fish, butterfly fish, chevron barracuda, whale shark, and sail fish.

For the diver outnumbered in a group of land loungers, 100 Degrees East presents the perfect opportunity to take in the sights of the Angthong National Marine Park and that of the world below in the same day. As the island’s premier organization for quality tours of the conserved park, guests can expect to receive bespoke treatment throughout the duration of the tour as the company allows only 12 guests onto the boat per trip. In this intimate setting, guests can relax and enjoy the company of others and befriend the guides while enjoying the consistent flow of cool beverages and light snacks on the journey further into the ocean. Further setting 100 Degrees East aside from the pack, the boat escorts the group to a secluded island outside of the marine park for snorkeling to ensure privacy from the excessive influx of visitors to the murky waters of the park’s actual shoreline. While non-diving guests will complete a thorough snorkeling trip, divers can use this time to explore the deep blue sea before rejoining the rest of the group and continuing on with the tour.

If interested in obtaining a PADI certification, 100 Degrees East offers a wide variety of options most suitable to personal goals. With the most popular route being the open water diving course, the certification process spans over four days; the first two days consist of pool dives, theory, and safety regulations, while the last two consist of actual dives. As PADI requires two dives per day on the two remaining days, 100 Degrees East spends the third day in the waters of Koh Tao, gently easing new divers into the underwater world. In the event a diver appears confident and comfortable, the fourth day will be spent at the highly sought after Sail Rock. On occasion, 100 Degrees East is approached by individuals seeking the diving experience without committing to a certification course and can take part in the popular PADI Discover Scuba Diving excursion where an instructor will accompany and guide the interested on two dives in the relatively gentle waters of Koh Tao.

THINGS TO NOTE
• Many delay scheduling dives or enrolling in courses toward the end of a trip; however, it should be taken into account that after a dive, the body requires 24 hours to decompress before boarding an airplane and facing the pressure of a craft’s cabin.
• In any form of a PADI-related expedition, a medical clearance form must be signed to establish participants are void of any health issues. It would be highly advisable to consult a doctor, as well as the diving facility, to have any questions answered.