Useful Information

Dive Trips

Blue Guru dive centre runs a number of dive trips for certified divers. Their experienced PADI Instructors can show you the best of Koh Phra Thong diving. Also they arrange day/multi-day diving trips to the Surin Islands and the world class Richelieu Rock.

beautiful soft corals

more information on dive trips in thailandlocal dive sites at koh phra thong thailand

Koh Tachai

Koh Tachai is a hidden gem in the Andaman Sea. It is a favourite of liveaboard dive boats passing between the Similan and the Surin Islands.

koh tachai

The island has 4 distinct dives, rated amongst the best dive sites in Thailand. The most famous of these is the Koh Tachai Plateau, a coral ridge lying 1km south east of the island, surrounded by scattered large boulders and a multitude of life. Fantastic swim through opportunities and high probabilities of observing Mantas and Whale Sharks are what makes this location a firm favourite with divers.

manta ray at richelieu rock

Blue Guru Diving will be running special day trips from Koh Phra Thong to Koh Tachai during the 2009-2010 season. There are limited places on these trips so please book ahead.

contact kpt about koh tachai

Dive & Activity Packages

Golden Buddha Beach Resort and Blue Guru dive centre bring you a selection of the island's most popular activities packaged to appeal to specific interests, offering great value for money.

kayaking in thailand between koh ra and koh phra thong

read more on  activity packages offered on Koh Phra Thong

Whale Shark Program

As the dive centre located closest to Richelieu Rock, Blue Guru on Koh Phra Thong is keen to do everything they can to protect this world famous dive site’s most awesome visitor – the whale shark. Whale sharks are the world’s largest fish & are docile plankton eaters, so diving or snorkelling with these magnificent creatures is an amazing experience.

magnificent whale sharks in thailand

Unfortunately whale sharks are an endangered species. More research & action is needed to monitor their migrations & prevent extinction before it’s too late. Blue Guru is a registered operator and proud supporter of PADI's Whale Shark Project.

whale sharkg program an eco specialty by blue guru diving

read more on the Whale Shark project in the Surin Islands and at Richelieu Rock

Go Pro on Koh Phra Thong

Becoming a PADI professional has never been easier. Blue Guru has an array of divemaster programs to suit your budget and taste. In all cases DM trainees will be kept busy at our base on Koh Phra Thong.

Assisting on courses, guiding ceritified divers in the Surin Islands and practising skills in the bay. All this and much more are part of the life of aspiring divemasters. Take the plunge to a new more rewarding life!

PADI rescue diver course in thailand with blue guru diving

more on PADI Divemaster course in Thailand
contact for blue guru at koh phra thong .com

 

 

tourism in the andaman region of thailand

Sustainable Tourism in Thailand

Thailand has been fortunate to benefit from exponential tourist growth. Visitors entering the country have doubled each successive decade since the 70s and now numbers more than 15 million people every year. This is a huge benefit to the Thai economy, bringing in more than $15 billion a year.

Tourism on the Andaman Coast

It is no surprise that tourism on the Andaman coast has been on the rise in recent years. Phuket still remains the runaway leader in the region. However, increasing numbers of visitors are looking further afield for a more enjoyable holiday experience in a less developed area.

These are people who love Thailand, who feel that places like Phuket and Koh Samui have gone too far. Brimming over with 7-11s, McDonalds and Starbucks these destinations lose the underlying culture that once made them so charming. Often the arrival of these chains marks the beginning of the end of the area as many of the distinctive Thai cultural traits get lost in a sea of homogeneity.

Sustainable tourism - an oxymoron?

It does not take a huge stretch of the imagination to wonder whether tourism is ever sustainable. Is the tourist footprint ever a good one?

As visitors look beyond Phuket into Phang Nga we see signs that Thailand must be careful of the long term impact of mass tourism. The temptation to cash in on the tourist boom is all too evident as legions of multinational resorts push through Khao Lak towards our beloved Koh Phra Thong.

So many areas have been irreparably damaged in this way. The bulldozers and pollution slowly destroy the natural habitats. Obviously, the scenery is a prime reason why the tourists come. So with the nature on the wane, the motivation to come is removed and the next wave of tourists never arrive. This remains the irony of eco-tourism.

Luckily there is still hope for Koh Phra Thong...read on to find out more...

Golden Buddha Beach Resort

baan bougainvillea at golden buddha resort on koh phra thong

Golden Buddha Beach Resort is the premier resort on Koh Phra
Thong, offering a range of bespoke houses on an uninhabited stretch of beach; complimented by exquisite Thai and western cuisine for the holiday of a lifetime.

more on Golden Buddha...

Blue Guru Diving

manta ray at richelieu rock near ko pra tong

Blue Guru looks after the water sport activities on Koh Phra Thong. There are sensational scuba diving, snorkeling and kayaking experiences on your doorstep. Specially tailored family packages are also available.

more on Blue Guru Diving...

Turtle Conservation on KPT

lovely turtles

Naucrates.org is an early pioneer of the sustainable tourism practice. Working on Ko Pra Tong since 1996 they have been deeply involved in the conservation of the island's turtle nesting sites and the restoration of mangrove forest.

more on turtle conservation...

Homestay at Baan Lions

house at baan lions in thailand

Baan Lions is a new village at the north tip of Koh Phra Thong. For an interesting cultural experience, try a homestay visit. You will be well looked after by your local hosts who will treat you to tasty Thai favourite dishes (with or without chilis)

more on homestay...

 

eco operators on koh phra thong thailand

Hope for Koh Phra Thong?

The encroachment of mass tourism has yet to reach our shores, but it is not far away. Koh Kho Khao to the south is hitting the brochures, whilst Koh Phayam to the north becomes the newest travellers hotspot. Koh Phra Thong is next on the radar.

Thankfully, we have a community of operators on Koh Phra Thong with an understanding of the pressures of mass tourism. Between us we hope to have the integrity and influence to guide the island to develop in a more sustainable way.

Golden Buddha Beach Resort

- houses all built out of plantation hardwood by local Thai craftsmen
- strict building height restrictions and only 12.5% per one rai plot
- all Thai staff - 90% local to the island -paid a decent wage and holiday pay (very unusual in Thailand)
- ongoing training for staff
- electricity from 6pm - 11pm
- no hot water (you dont need it), no air-con (the sea breeze is fine), no swimming pool (there is a bay with warm clear water next to the resort)
- recycle own and others waste, taking it back to the main land

Naucrates - Conservation Biology

- running community and nature tourism projects on Koh Phra Thong since 1996
- sea turtle monitoring the extensive beaches of Koh Phra Thong between January and April to find and protect nesting sites
- mangrove rehabilitation project to restore depleted areas
- sponsored teacher in Baan Lions school providing education in english and the environment
- Naucrates volunteers based in Baan Lions providing much needed income for the village
- development of homestay program in Baan Lions

Blue Guru Conservation & Diving

- employs from local community
- runs PADI Project Aware and Coral Reef Awareness courses
- registered operator of Whale Shark Project -running extensive whale shark awareness programs during high season
- coral reef monitoring (including clean up) at Koh Pling
- Koh Ra and Koh Phra Thong trekking using paid local guides
- Koh Phra Thong community tours using paid local guides
- program to develop local young dive professionals




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