Scubadive Thailand is a British owned and operated, PADI and BSAC diving center which conducts diving trips and PADI diving couirses from Bang Bao, Koh Chang by speedboat !.

Our training is setup to promote safe learning to international standards, using all the latest training aids and materials.

We have a purpose built air-conditioned dive school on Bang Bao pier with a good selection of equipment for sale at competitive prices, and a well fitted out equipment service workshop.

All our staff are trained to the highest of standards and we use a swimming pool for all of the confined water training dives. Our new, 37 foot purpose built, well equipped speed boat will be used to transport you to the open water dive sites.

On the boat you will find life jackets of various sizes for all customers, a well stocked first aid kit, oxygen, vhf radio, fire extinguisher and a well thought out emergency plan for your safety as well as an onboard w/c, drinks cooler box, good food and ample space for your comfort.

From Koh Chang Divers

PADI BSAC scubadive diving center thailand

South of Koh Chang, some 40-odd islands are dotted around the clear waters of the Trat Sea including the private islands of Koh Lao Ya, Koh Wai, Koh Sai Khao, Koh Kham and Koh Ngam.

Koh Lao Ya, south of Koh Chang
Koh Lao Ya, made up of three small islands off the southern tip of Koh Chang, forms part of the 52 islands dotted around Trat province.

Depending on the type of boat (speedboat or regular boat) you choose, Koh Lao Ya can be reached in 40 minutes or two hours from the ferry point at Laem Ngob in Trat Province. These small islands are a wonder to explore with their white, sandy beaches, private surroundings and just one beautiful resort called LaoYa Island Resort. This is a veritable corner of peace and tranquility, in the bosom of nature, yet with good facilities.

Koh Lao Ya Nai
Koh Lao Ya Nai provides the only pier and stepping-off point for the other two islands, and is the center of activity. As your boats nears the pier, you will immediately be attracted to the colorful, marine world below your feet and the island-linking, quaint wooden bridge with signs marking a shallow coral reef parallel to the beach.

A kaleidoscope of colorful corals and fish are found here and it is quite safe to swim in the shallow waters. The white, sandy beach provides an excellent viewpoint to admire sunrises over distant islands in the Trat Sea.

After a full day’s activities, you can choose either to spend an evening fishing for cuttlefish, or relax watching others do so. After dinner, the lights from the bridge, Lao Ya Island Resort, and the moon all seem to add to the intrigue of an evening on this private island.

Moving across to neighboring Koh Lao Ya Klang is quite easy using the bridge, known as Saphan Song. Watch a sunset, which can be quite spectacular from this vantage point as the sun slowly disappears between the two islands. At low tide, it is sometimes possible to walk from one island to the other without using the bridge.

Koh Ngam
Location: Koh Ngam is located about 200 metres off the southern tip of Koh Chang the biggest island in the area. Here, the sea between the islands offers an inviting gateway to the open waters of the Trat Sea.

The mention of Koh Ngam, to well-traveled tourists, brings to mind an island of the same name in Chumphon province. But Koh Ngam in Trat province is quite different, particularly in its geographical features consisting of two islands linked by a huge sand dune that brings to mind Koh Phi Phi in Krabi province. Not surprisingly, therefore, Koh Ngam off the coast of Koh Chang has earned the title “little Phi Phi in the Gulf of Thailand”.

The beach linking the island is 150 metres in length and 50 metres wide, with several plantations of coconut palms. The layout of the island forms semicircular bays known locally as Dream Lagoon, to the east, and Sweet Lagoon to the west.

Blessed with ample freshwater from rivers and small waterfalls, the island is covered with lush, green jungle year-round. An island trail leads to a small beach covered with coral fragments that wash ashore from nearby coral reefs.

The island is an excellent vantage point for viewing the stunning scenery on the neighboring islands of Koh Mak, Koh Wai and Koh Lao Ya.

Koh Wai
Koh Wai is another interesting island south of Koh Chang. There are two beaches on this island. The beach on Koh Wai is reddish. However, it’s very clean and suitable for snorkeling since it is home to various kinds of fish and shallow water coral like lump corals. Bungalows for rent are available here.Article by Circle of Asia

islands around Koh Chang

Thailand’s second largest island after Phuket, Koh Chang’s pristine natural beauty is beginning to attract foreign travellers in ever increasing numbers.

Exotic and fresh, Koh Chang island off Trat province is an emerging holiday destination. It is now on the itinerary of most intrepid European travellers to Southeast Asia. What lures them is a sense of being castaway on a remote island with thick jungle cover that until not long ago few people dared to penetrate. And after spending a week on the island they can move on to Cambodia overland or by boat.

Although Thai tourists seeking peace of mind have long treated Koh Chang as a castaway island, it’s only two years ago that tourism tookKoh Chang and surrounding Islands in Trad, Thailand, near Cambodia. off in a big way there now that the question of accessibility is no longer a factor since it’s linked to the mainland by regular ferry service.

The name Koh Chang, or Elephant Island, derives from of its sheer size ― 30 kilometres long and 14 kilometres wide ― the second largest in Thailand after Phuket. It’s situated eight kilometres off Laem Ngob district in Trat. The Robinson Crusoe-style aura that initially surrounded it has now taken a more touristic overtone helped in part by the building of a metalled road around the island to facilitate travel and exploration.

Because the island is huge, visitors arriving there first time can expect a hard time deciding which way to proceed. To the west of the island are the beaches Khlong Son, White Sand, Khlong Phrao, Bai Lan and Lonely.

Between Khlong Phrao and Bai Lan Bay is Kai Bae, a peaceful white sandy strip that still retains much of Koh Chang’s original charm, while the White Sand beach is full of bungalows, luxury resorts and tourist shops. The resorts offer basic amenities combining peace and comfort for the visiting tourist.

Off Koh Chang lie several islets that can be visited on a day trip.

The sky was overcast this mid-February morning. Converted fishing vessels moored at Bangbao village on the southern tip of Koh Chang. Each had a sign pointing to where they would be heading. Then it started raining, effectively ending any hopes of setting out to sea. I had travelled six hours from Bangkok to be here and the heavens weren’t willing.

“I’m sorry. It’s better if we wait until tomorrow,” suggested Ming, the boat tour salesman.

With that my mood sunk further. I had rushed there from White Sand beach early that morning not even caring to stop for breakfast in order to be there in time for the boat’s departure. I repaired to Blue cafe restaurant to seek shelter from the rain and ordered food.

Shortly afterward a band of tourists arrived hoping, like me, the rain would soon stop and so it did and we were given the good news that the boats would set off soon.

A boat was preparing to leave for Ko Mak. It was packed with beach lovers. Another vessel was full of dive and snorkelling buffs. At about 10:00 a.m., well behind schedule, we departed heading into the silvery grey realm of the sea.

The sky was still cloudy and intimidating but the rain had stopped. The fishing boats handled the strong winds and rough sea well. We were still in Bangbao cove but some of the passengers were already throwing up suffering from sea sickness. Most islands around here are actually hills rising from the sea bed, as is Koh Chang. Shortly afterward, the boat sailed past Ko Khoom and an hour later we made our first stop at a cluster of rocks called Ko Kra.

The treasures under the sea here may not be as beautiful as those around Phuket but they are still worth admiring nonetheless. Most of the marine life we see in aquariums around the country can be found here, although it’s a bit of a let down when it comes to live coral. The seabed was full of giant clams. The currents were pretty strong, driving snorkelers off-balance.

By noon we were back on board. Lunch was served as we headed for our second stop, Ko Rang. On the way we passed Ko Mak, visible in the distance.

“Where is Ko Kut? Can we see it from here?,” I asked a boatman. “You can’t see it today. It’s hazy,” he replied.

We sailed past Ko Yak, a small cluster of rocks in the direction of the larger Ko Rang, and stopped at Ko Loan for a second round of snorkelling. Ko Loan is an islet on the fringes of Ko Rang.

The conditions underneath were appalling. The seabed was strewn with dead coral and black sea urchins. I made a quick tour and got back on board where I was told that there were more colourful coral reef in another part of Ko Loan. It’s getting late. I was hopeful that my luck would hold at our next stop. Later in the afternoon, the sky cleared and it was sunny again.

We were now moving in the direction of Ko Wai. Unlike Ko Rang and Ko Khoom, Ko Wai has a fishing village and a few bungalows. The beach was sandy white lined with coconut trees and the water a clear emerald inviting me for a swim. I spotted a few tourists snorkeling in the shallow water of the cove. A young tourist was fishing by the pier. We got off the boat and wandered around the island. If Koh Chang is a retreat from cities, Ko Wai is an escape from Koh Chang with only basic amenities at your disposal.

“Electricity is available only from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.,” said the bungalow owner as I called in for a glass of fruit juice. No juice or shake before 5:00 p.m., I was told. The bungalow, made from wood, had thatched roof. It had no electric fans. You can come here straight from Laem Ngob pier on the Trat mainland.

It was 4:00 p.m. and we were craving for action again. Some went swimming, others snorkelling and still others for a game of beach volleyball. Then we headed back for Bangbao. The breeze was cooler on the return leg. We changed into outfits we had started the day in and enjoyed the ride back.

When the boat reached Bangbao pier the crowd quickly dispersed. Some tourists went shopping before heading off to their bungalows and hotels. Soon all activity at the pier came to a standstill.

Outside pick-up trucks stood waiting ready to take passengers to Kai Bae, White Sand and other beaches.

“You come back here next time and you will see the place has turned into a coffee bar or a restaurant,” said Kan, who lives by the pier and works as a salesgirl for boat tour operators.

I headed for Kai Bae which has some lovely bungalows and resorts by the beach. The bungalows offer two to three-star amenities with rates ranging from 500 baht for a simple room with fan to 1,500 baht for an air-conditioned bungalow.

One of them is KB Bungalow. Kaibae Beach Resort, on the other hand, has a dining pavilion that has thatched roof right by the beach. It has both bungalow and modern resort-style accommodation.

Article by Learn in Asia

Snorkelling in Thailand

White Sand Beach is quite a long strip of beach with powdery white sand that slopes gently into the sea. The beachfront becomes much wider during low tide and consequently attracts lots of beachgoers. Many tourists choose to take a stroll while watching the sunset. Some visitors use the beach in the evening for football, volleyball and frisbee.

As a leisure island resort within a Marine National Park it is natural for Koh Chang to be well-stocked with fresh seafood at economical prices. Dining and wining in Koh Chang is quite an experience. Good food is just one facet. The other is the laid-back environment created by some innovative restaurants which inspire a very relaxing and romantic atmosphere. These include dinning right on the beach by night or on a hill overlooking the coastlines or practically off-shore on a table setting of your own above sea-water.

The ‘mini-capital of Koh Chang is White Sand Beach, which hosts an assortment of luxury resorts and bungalows and resorts. Along the main road are bars, pubs, restaurants, shops, diving tours, tour operators, vehicle rentals, minimarts, a police kiosk, foreign exchange counters and ATMs and a shopping plaza. Four full-service banks in the area are the Siam Commercial Bank at the entrance of the White Sand Plaza and sub-Branch at V.J. Plaza, the Bank of Ayudhya, the Thai Military Bank (both near Cookies Hotel) and Siam City Bank opposite Alina Resort. Also located here is the Koh Chang International Clinic, under the supervision of the Bangkok Trat Hospital.

Koh Chang can be a great hideaway for a quiet retreat or an adventureland for the hyperactive. It is a land of sheer holiday, a real leisure destination. It is a calm and peaceful island for those who wish to take their own pace just lazing around, sunbathing, sleeping on a hammock between two coconut trees or having a rejuvenating massage on the beach.

And when you feel like you need to spend off some of your energy there is a host of activities you can indulge in, such as scuba diving ,snorkelling, canoeing, kayaking, deep-sea fishing, boating, trekking, elephant trekking, cycling, jogging along
the coast, visit other islands or rent a motorcycle for a tour of the island.

White Sand Beach, Koh Chang

Welcome you to Koh Chang information where you will find interesting information on the island of Koh Chang.

The island of Koh Chang is a tropical marine national park and mainly consists of virgin rainforest. It is the best preserved tourist holiday destination in Thailand.

Koh Chang is Thailand’s second-largest island after Phuket and Koh Chang National Marine Park occupies most of Koh Chang as well as several nearby islands. In recent years the island has become increasingly popular with tourists, now with very high-standard accommodation.

Koh Chang, holiday resort, Thailand