What's on in Ko Tao (Koh Tao), Thailand through the year

Busy — Christmas and New Year peak, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Christmas and New Year peak (18 Dec – 5 Jan)

Busy — Clear water, dive season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Clear water, dive season

  1 Feb – 30 Sep · usuallyDry seasonCrowded

  The settled half of the Gulf year, when the boats to Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock go out every day and the training courses run back to back. Visibility is at its best on the shoulder months.

Busy — Clear water, dive season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Whale shark season

  15 Mar – 31 May · usuallyDive season

  They turn up on the pinnacles for a few weeks in the spring, and again in a smaller run around September and October. Sightings get posted on the dive-shop boards within the hour; nobody guarantees them.

Still on: Clear water, dive season (1 Feb – 30 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Clear water, dive season, Songkran

• Festival

  Songkran

  13–15 AprWater-festival New YearCrowded

  Sairee's single beach road turns into a water fight for three days and the dive schools take the time off. Boats from Chumphon are booked solid either side. Source ↗

Still on: Clear water, dive season (1 Feb – 30 Sep (usually)), Whale shark season (15 Mar – 31 May (usually))

Peak crowds — Clear water, dive season, Long summer break in Thailand

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Clear water, dive season (1 Feb – 30 Sep (usually)), Whale shark season (15 Mar – 31 May (usually))

Busy — Clear water, dive season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Clear water, dive season (1 Feb – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Clear water, dive season, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Clear water, dive season (1 Feb – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Clear water, dive season, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Clear water, dive season (1 Feb – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Clear water, dive season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Clear water, dive season (1 Feb – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — October semester break in Thailand, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Northeast monsoon

  15 Oct – 31 Dec · usuallyRisk

  The wettest and roughest weeks of the year, when the crossing from Chumphon is cancelled for days at a stretch and the visibility on the dive sites drops. Many shops shut for December.

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Northeast monsoon (15 Oct – 31 Dec (usually))

Busy — Christmas and New Year peak, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year peak

  18 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Full and expensive in spite of the weather, and the one time of year the boat can strand you either coming or going. Leave a spare day before any onward flight. Source ↗

Still on: Northeast monsoon (15 Oct – 31 Dec (usually))