Ban's Diving Resort
SAIREE BEACH - KOH TAO : THAILAND
Koh Tao, Suratthani 84280 Thailand.
+66.7745.6061, +66.7745.6466, +66.1979.8025
email: bans@amazingkohtao.com , (open water to rescue diver, fundiving, general enquires)
email: contact@idc-koh-tao.com , (divemaster and (IDC) instructor courses)

PADI Assistant Instructor

The PADI Assistant Instructor program provides PADI Divemasters, and those certified to leadership levels with other diver training organizations, with additional training as instructional assistants and dive educators.

If you meet the above criteria then this program will builds upon the your abilities to organize and supervise dive activities, while concentrating on developing teaching skills. Through independent study, classroom sessions and practical application, candidates learn to construct effective teaching presentations and conduct PADI programs. To help you through the program, PADI has developed an array of learning tools such as the PADI Assistant Instructor Workbook.

To qualify for PADI Assistant Instructor training, you'll need to:

• Be certified as a PADI Divemaster or leadership level with another recreational diver training organization.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be in good physical condition for diving and submit a medical exam form signed by a physician.
• Have completed and logged at least 60 open water dives with experience in night, deep and navigation.

The PADI Assistant Instructor program consists of:

• Formal training in conducting PADI programs and experience programs.
• Independent study assignments.
• Practical application sessions.
• Written examination.

IDC, Instructor Development Course

The Instructor Development Course (IDC) is a 10-day training program, which teaches you how to instruct recreational scuba diving.

During the IDC you will use the latest teaching techniques, the complete system of PADI support materials, and will be continuously assessed on your teaching and presentation skills.

You will be required to give additional teaching presentations beyond that of the usual IDC Program. This gives you an added advantage not only during the final Instructor Examination (IE), but also prepare you for your future career as a diving professional.

Upon successful completion you will be awarded an IDC completion form, which is your passport to the IE.

Pre-requisites and required training materials:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a renewed PADI Divemaster or Assistant Instructor
• Be certified in CPR within the last 24 months
• Be a certified diver for at least 6 months
• Have 60 logged dives

Emergency First Response Instructor
Emergency First Response Corp., a PADI corporate affiliate, offers the Emergency First Response CPR and first aid program.

What can I do?
As an Emergency First Response Instructor, you can conduct Emergency
First Response Primary (CPR) and Secondary Care (first aid) courses.

What do I need to start?

• At least PADI Divemaster certification
• Emergency First Response certification or qualifying certification from another certification organization
  

What will I do?
You’ll learn how to conduct the Emergency First Response Primary Care
(CPR) and Emergency First Response Secondary Care (first aid) courses.
You’ll also learn to conduct the recommended Automated External
Defibrillator (AED), emergency oxygen and conscious choking
management skills.

How long will it take?
The Emergency First Response Instructor Course takes approximately
eight hours.

PADI Enriched Air Instructor (2 days)
The PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Course trains you to dive with enriched air mixes of up to 40% oxygen. The course includes a knowledge development session, which teaches you how to use Nitrox tables, monitor your oxygen exposure, set depth limits and fill your tank. This is followed by two open-water training dives.

After the specialty course, the Course Director will train you in teaching Nitrox as a specialty, enabling you to apply for the coveted Specialty Instructor rating.

Pre-requisites:

• Be a teaching status PADI Instructor
• Have participated in a PADI Enriched Air Diver Course (included)

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

After the completion of the IDC you have an opportunity to achieve the rating (MSDT), Master Scuba Diver Trainer through an internship program.

The pre-requisites for the Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) rating are five specialties and certification of 25 students within any level of the PADI System of Diver Education. During Ban’s Internship Training you are not only taking a MSDT Preparation Course you actually certify 25 students and finish off as a Master Scuba Diver Trainer.

During this 4-5 day program, you can choice to become instructor in five of those specialties:

• Enriched Air Instructor
• Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) Instructor
• Deep Diving Instructor
• Photo Instructor
• Video Instructor
• Naturalist Instructor
• Multilevel Instructor
• Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor
• Search and Recovery Instructor
• Night Dive Instructor
  

Additional specialties available:

• Re-breather Diver and Instructor
• DSAT Tec Deep and Apprentice Tec Diver Instructor
  

Once the preparation course is completed, candidates can begin their internship straight away (see later in this guide for details).

PADI Rebreather Instructor (3 days)
The PADI Rebreather Instructor Course will train and prepare Nitrox Instructors who are qualified as Rebreather Divers to teach recreational use of the Semi-Closed Atlantis I / Dolphin I Rebreather system. This course is run over four (4) days and includes classroom presentations and unlimited use of the Dolphin Draeger Rebreather for all four course days.

The PADI Rebreather diver and Rebreather Instructor Courses are available as a combined six (6) day program including three training dives and four days of unlimited use of the Dolphin Rebreather system.

Ban’s Diving Internship Training

A natural extension of the MSDT Preparation course, this internship includes team teaching with one of our experienced senior instructors, many of who have certified over 1000 students and have years of experience behind them.

Observing a senior instructor conduct courses is as valuable as the IDC itself. You will team-teach diving courses from beginner to Divemaster levels. The Internship Program begins by first observing different senior instructors conduct their diving courses.

This exposure to the different methods instructors use to teach diving is invaluable. Once you receive your teaching status as an Open Water Scuba Instructor you then begin to teach more independently, with the senior instructor present to supervise.

A Senior Instructor will follow on your courses assessing you as well as providing you with tips and hints that will make your courses more fun and effective both for your students and you the Instructor.

Certify 25 students
This program is valuable in terms of learning, and even more valuable in terms of employment. Since you will finish the Internship Program with at least 25 certifications, you have a head start at getting employment after the program. You are no longer an instructor who has “just” finished the IE, but rather you have more experience behind you with real life teaching and real life problems. Once the Internship Program is completed candidates have normally certified 10-15 Open Water Divers, 5-10 Advanced Open Water Divers, 5 Rescue Divers and 1 Divemaster along with a few Specialties like U/W Photographer, Deep Diver and Night Diver.

The advantage of having this experience when you are applying for a job is enormous. Every candidate who has completed the Internship Program has been able to find a job on Koh Tao within 4 weeks of completing their Internship.

Job Placement service
We are committed to your ongoing success as a scuba diving instructor, and once your development program is complete we will help you to find employment in whichever area you are interested. Our unique job placement service is designed to help you take advantage of our many contacts around the diving world, and our resident job-placement consultant, Master Instructor Craig Schott, will spend a day with you following your course to help you prepare for your new career.

Ban's Diving Resort Head PADI Course Director Jonas Samuelsson have been working in different areas of the Diveindustry for many years and because of that got a great network all over the world. Former students of Jonas work as Manager and Owners of Divecenters in over 30 countries (09 of March, 2004). They need constantly new instructors and know the quality of an instructor candidate coming out of Bans Diving Resorts Instructor Program. Most of the times they recruit instructors straight from the D.I.I.P. (Diving Instructor Internship Program) that is offered after the IDC and IE.

Other sources is of course Ban's Divings and Sunshine Divers own locations. As one of the largest diving operator in the world, Ban's Diving is always looking for new instructors for full-time employment.
We are also working actively with www.padi.com which listed 100+ instructor jobs (09 of March, 2004) and this is also a good source for finding out about job offers in areas not covered by Ban's Diving and its job-placement centers in the world.

There are other sources, not listed here on this page that you as our IDC Candidate can take advantage of after the training.

All inclusive packages!
All packages listed include the following: Lunch during the IDC, Unlimited diving 4 weeks before IDC, IDC/IE Special Guarantee, Tanks and Weight belt, (PADI Fees are not included in any of the packages).

Ban's Diving Resort Career Programs Packages
candidate workbook, lunch for free, passing guaranteed*

How to best prepare yourself and make the IDC a relaxed and enjoyable experience

Preparation Course
A two-day course in which you will review all aspects of dive theory. We will cover the five topics you studied in your Divemaster Course: Physics, Physiology, The Recreational Dive Planner, Equipment and Skills & the Environment. In the swimming pool we will help you polish your skills demonstrations by running you through the PADI Skill Circuit as well as conduct a rescue workshop. During the IDC Preparation Course we will also give you an orientation to both the Instructor Development Course and to the PADI System of Diver Education (including Microteaching), putting you at ease so you may relax and enjoy the program.

Administrative Preparation
Fill out all the information required on the IDC application, and either fax it to us at +66 77 456057 or bring it on the first day of the IDC. Bring to Koh Tao with you all past certification cards. The application requires information regarding all past courses. Contact your local PADI office directly if any information is needed. Bring any non-PADI certifications for photocopying.

Make sure to bring a valid credit card; PADI will not accept fees in cash. The application form requires an RSTC medical form to be completed. This can be done on Koh Tao or in your home country, but must be dated within the last 12 months. Bring your logbook with you, or a photocopy of the last page showing that you have a minimum of 100 logged dives.

Dive Master Theory & Skills
If you want to come to Koh Tao one or two weeks in advance of your course you are most welcome to dive at Ban's to refresh your diving skills. We have 6-8 dives daily and a pool you are welcome to use at your leisure. Staff will be available if you have any questions or if you want to assist instructors during their courses (this is highly recommended) just let us know and we can pair you up with one of our many experienced instructors.

Review the Diving Knowledge Workbook thoroughly. Complete all available Divemaster exams (Physics, Physiology, Equipment, Skills and Environment and RDP). Use the Encyclopedia of Diving as a Reference. This is knowledge that you should already have. If you prepare this in advance, it will give you more time during the IDC to focus on the teaching aspect.

Practice your skill demonstrations, focusing on the following skills: Mask removal and replacement , Scuba unit removal and replacement Weight belt removal and replacement, Fin pivot (oral and low pressure inflator hose) , Hovering, Buddy Breathing stationary and swimming Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent (CESA). Practice rescue skills, unconscious diver at the surface.

Answer all the knowledge reviews in the Instructor Candidate Workbook. This book is included in the price of the IDC. If you buy one from your local dive center to have more time to prepare, we will reimburse the cost of the workbook according with the PADI’s current price list. Answering these knowledge reviews in advance will help you to relax a little more during the IDC, and allow you more time to prepare for your teaching presentations.

Obtain an Instructor Manual and become familiar with it. Answer the standards exam in the Instructor Candidate Workbook. Make sure that the manual is updated with "General Standards and Procedures" 1998, Open Water outline 1999, and the Divemaster outline 1999. These updates are currently available in English on PADI's Website. PADI members can download this free of charge from the “Professionals” part of the site. If you are unable to get a hold of an Instructor Manual, you can purchase one here in Koh Tao.

Participate in the IDC Preparation Course and/or Assistant Instructor Course available prior to each IDC. Finally just relax. If you have any questions let us know, and we will try to help you as much as we can. Remember if you are able to come here earlier we can help you get started!!!

Schedule for Instructor courses.
At Ban's Diving Resort we offer a unique program consisting of 4 modules. Each of the modules fulfills a specific objective in the process to becoming one of the most employable instructors in South East Asia.

Module 1.
Preparation. 2-4 weeks.
The IDC Candidate arrive 2-4 weeks prior to the IDC start date and participate in Skill practice in Confined Water, Assisting on Courses, Reveiw of Divemaster Theory, Rescue Skill practice and "fun-diving" to get familiar with the local divesites around Koh Tao.

Module 2.
Instructor Development Course.14 days.
This module includes Assistant Instructor Course, Open Water Scuba Instructor and EFR (CPR and First Aid) Instructor.
Price: US$1080

Module 3.
PADI Instructor Exam. 2-3 days.
Instructor Examinations over 2-3 days with PADI Examiners from PADI Americas and PADI Asia Pacific. The I.E. includes evaluation of Divemaster theory, Standard and Procedures, Academic, Confined and Open Water presentations, Rescue Skill #7 from the PADI Rescue Course.
Price: US$600
(PADI Fees including Instructor Examination, Instructor and EFR Application)

Module 4.
Diving Instructor Internship Program (D.I.I.P). 4-12 weeks.
Internship training in one of the most successful divecenters in Asia where you team teach with Master Instructors and Course Directors on PADI Courses and Programs to build up experience. At the end of the Internship training most candidates have certified 80-100 PADI Divers. The program is also integrated with Specialty Instructor Training including Enriched Air Instructor, Deep Diver Instructor, Photo Instructor, Video Instructor and Night Diving Instructor and more. The internship program ends with an application for Master Scuba Diver Trainer.
Price: US$540

PADI Course Director Thailand:
Letter from PADI Course Director Jonas Samuelsson,
09 of March, 2004.

You are about to make a great choice! To become a PADI Instructor with some of the most amazing and beautiful places in the world as your office.

I was 6 years old when my father introduced me to his friend who was a college swim teacher. My father was a great swimmer and always had a special relationship with the ocean. He wanted me to early on to establish a simillar relationship with water. I started to take swim training and despite the fact that I was the only one in the beginners class who had to take the class twice, I continued. The swimming lead to snorkeling and free diving after a few years. I still remember when i received my first diving mask and i was standing in the shower in our family house and practicing clearing the mask! It took my almost 10 years to start diving. Together with some family members I took the beginners class. I was hooked from the first breath. I always loved free diving but there was limitations to it and now i could stay for hours under water without having to surface. Quickly I signed up for all course up to PADI Divemaster.

The diving became a part of my life, something that i did in the cold Baltic Sea on almost every weekend. After my formal degree I was offered to start a new diving magazine in Scandinavia called The UnderwaterMagazine (UVM). We were only three in the beginning and my title was "Marketing Director". But together we wrote the articles, took the photos and edited each others text and in the evenings run around and to try to get Mares or ScubaPro and the rest of the manufactureres to sponsor the magazine. It was a great time! During this time I also completed my Instructor Course and after that I became the writer of Educational Articles for the magazine. UVM became the largest diving magazine in Scandinavia within one year!

After years of teaching diving and working for the magazine I got offered to take the PADI Course Director Course and establish IDCs in Thailand. I jumped at the opportunity because I wanted to come back to teaching full-time and to actual diving (rather than "just" write about it). We established the Koh Tao IDC Group in 1998 which I became the Head PADI Course Directors for and which I am still in charge for.

You are making a great decision, the world is waiting for you! The Instructor Card is going to be your passport to the over 175 countries that PADI is represented! Please e-mail me if you have any questions about a career in diving. I would be proud to work with you towards your goal of becoming a PADI Instructor!

Jonas Samuelsson, PADI Course Director, Ban's Diving and The Koh Tao IDC Group
contact@idc-in-thailand.com

• Final training: PADI Asia Pacific, PADI Course Director Course 1998, Kota Kinabalu, Borneo
• Editor and Photographer UVM 1994-1996, (The Underwater Magazine)
• Training Manager and Operation Manager for some of Asias largest divecenters 1997-2003

Teaching Experience:
• 2000+ Open Water to Divemaster Certifications
• 700 Open Water Scuba Instructors
• 600 Medic First Aid Instructors
• 100 EFR Instructors
• 350 Specialty Instructors
• 200 Internship and MSTD Instructors

Certification levels:
• PADI Course Director #72605 (1998)
• EFR Instructor Trainer (2002)
• MFA Instructor Trainer (1998)
• Specialty Instructor Trainer in 15 areas (1998-)
• IANTD Enriched Air (1994)
• DAN Oxygen Instructor (1997)

Instructor Trainer in the following PADI Specialty Courses:
• PADI Rebreather Diver
• PADI Ice Diver
• PADI Enriched Air Diver
• PADI Wreck Diver
• PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle
• PADI Deep Diver
• PADI Search and Recovery Diver
• PADI Naturalist Diver
• PADI Multilevel Diver
• PADI Fish Identification Diver
• PADI Night Diver Diver
• PADI Navigation Diver
• PADI Photography Diver
• PADI Videography Diver
• PADI Peak Performance Bouyancy Diver

Craig Schott
Hi, my name is Craig Schott and I work with Jonas teaching Divemaster Trainees and IDC Candidates at Ban's Diving here on Koh Tao.

I came to Ban's Diving four years ago as a Divemaster and completed the Instructor Development Course. I continued dive education at Ban's and completed the Master Scuba Diver Trainer Intern Program, Specialty Instructor Programs, the IDC Staff Instructor Program, and the Master Instructor Intern Program.

I really enjoy teaching the Divemaster program at Ban's, and assisting Jonas teaching Instructor Development Courses.

We hope to see you soon here at Ban's and hope you will join the Ban's family of divers. If I can answer any questions, please contact me.

25 Good Reasons Why
Taking the IDC at Ban's Diving Resort

Before you book your Instructor Development Course compare what you get if you are taking the course with PADI Course Director Jonas Samuelsson at Ban's Diving Resort, Koh Tao, Thailand...

Why take your instructor course with Ban's Diving Resort?

• One of the five most popular and successful divecenters in South East Asia
• Winner of many PADI Awards
• 3 Fulltime PADI Course Directors
• Affordable prices (accommodation for every need)
• Located directly on the beach
• Complete resort with over 80 rooms in different price range (from US$4/night!!!)
  
• Large swimming pool with a beautiful garden surrounding the resort
• Four modern classrooms with computers and air conditioning
• Two large boats and two speedboats
• All facilities directly on the beach within 100 meters from each other so no need for transportation to and from boats, pool and accommodation.
  
• Relaxed beach bar and restaurant
  
• Staff speaking over 15 languages
  
• Internet access, international phone calls and credit card available
  
• 20% discount on all equipment retail in the diveshop

• Beautiful small island with amazing beaches
  
• Friendly atmosphere
  
• Very good job opportunities

• One of South East Asias most experienced Course Director with 600+ instructor certifications and 2000+ open water to divemaster certifications
  
• Award winner five times "Outstanding Contribution To Instructor
  Development", "Hallmark of Excellence", "Certificates of Recogniton for Excellence" etc
  
• 8 years of experience in the Dive Industry on Koh Tao
  
• Experience in many fields of the diving industry: PADI Instructor, PADI Course Director, Diving Journalist and Professional U/W Photographer.
  
• Excellent passrecord on the Instructor Exams of past IDC Candidates (over 98% over the last five years)
  
• Trained many of the todays Divecenter owners, PADI Course Directors and Divecenter Managers
  
• Excellent network in the dive industry available for job-placement after the Instructor Exam
  
• First to teach the newly updated Instructor Development Course on Koh Tao

• Preparation Course
  
• Assistant Instructor Course
  
• Open Water Scuba Instructor
  
• EFR Instructor
  
• Language translation for non-english speakers
  
• IDC Candidate Workbook (required to take the Instructor Exam, worth US$55)
  
• Lunch during the IDC
  
• Fundiving two weeks prior to the IDC Start date (max two dives/day)
  
• Divemaster refresher course during two weeks prior to the IDC Start date including Divemaster
• Theory review, Skill practice in Confined Water, Assisting on courses etc.
  
• Rental fee of diving equipment during the preparation phase and during the IDC
  
• Extended IDC with many added classrooms presentations and water sessions
  
• Access to PADI Materials
  
• Instructor 2004 T-Shirt
  
• Assist on your first Diving Course after the IE with a Senior Instructor at Ban's Diving

"From my experience during the last 6 years teaching Instructor Courses on Koh Tao have created a successful program that is ensuring your success during the Instructor Examination and more importantly after the Exams working as an instructor. Our Instructor Course guarantees you to become the most employable instructor in this Asia".

Jonas Samuelsson, PADI Course Director, Koh Tao, Thailand
For more information please email using contact@idc-in-thailand.com

Instructor Training Facilities

Classroom
The classroom is open and available for IDC Candidates 24 hours/day
here the candidate can find a peaceful area to do homework etc. The facilities consists of 4 classrooms and the dedicated IDC Classroom which has a large tv screen, projector screen, computers with interactive learning programs, teaching materials available to use for studying, comfortable chairs, air conditioning and view over Sai Ree Beach.

Accommodation
All range of accommodation are available. The prices range from US$4-
60/night. The budget room for long term stayers (one month or more) is
5500baht/month and is a large room with fan, private bath and 24 hours
electricity. The room is located 200 meters from the Sai Ree Beach.

Koh Tao Dive Sites Chumphon pinnacle (1) : is one of the best dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand. It lies about 11 km northwest of Koh Tao and is formed by huge granite pinnacles surrounded by a series of smaller ones. It takes about 40 minutes to get there. The anemone covered boulders run in a north-south direction in water ranging from 14 to 38 meters. The Pinnacles are abundant with batfish, trevallies, big shoals of barracudas and snappers. Occasionally this site also attracts larger visitors such as whale sharks and manta rays. To the south of the main pinnacle lies Barracuda Rock, where large shoals of great barracudas aggregate.This is my favourite divesite on Koh Tao after 9 years of diving on this island! South-West Pinnacle (2) : Located 13 km southwest of Koh Tao, the site is made up of seven pinnacles at different depths (5 to 28 meters). Like Chumphon Pinnacle, the site is covered with pink sea anemones on the upper levels and rich layers of whip corals and sea fans along the lower edges. Chevron barracudas, giant groupers, leopard sharks, shoals of batfish, snappers can be seen. The pinnacles are full of cracks and ledges, which shelter small reef fish. Infrequent sightings of whale sharks and manta rays! Shark Island (3) : is rich in terms of marine diversity! Located only 300 m southeast of Koh Tao, this small, uninhabited Island is surrounded by a colourful belt of corals. Depth ranges from 10 to 22 meters. The main attractions include various kinds of corals such as soft, hard or gorgonian. You will also find whip corals and sea fans. Marine life such as blue-spotted stingrays, filefish, harlequin sweetlips, starry pufferfish, groupers and titan triggerfish can be spotted easily. The "fish junction" at the northern end of Shark Island provides an excellent vantage point for photographing. Although Shark Island is suitable for divers of all levels, the current can be quite strong, especially around full moon. White Rock (4) : features an expansive coral garden that stretches between two distinct granite boulders. With a depth range from 5 to 21 meters, it is suitable for all divers. Blue-spotted stingrays and different species of barracudas are common. White Rock is wellknown for its thrilling night dives. You will have the opportunity to watch feather stars, hermit crabs, octopus, cuttlefish and crabs looking for food. This is one of the most popular divesites for anyone taking the PADI Open Water Diver Course. I normally conducted Open Water Dive number 2 and 4 on this particular divesite. Also perfect for a relaxed shallow dive. Excellent for night diving! Green rock (5) : offers both swim-thrus for divers as well as nesting areas for yellow-margin triggerfish. Depth varies from 3 to 30 m. Shoals of bright-blue damsel fish, tube anemones with tiny translucent shrimps and blue-ringed angel fish are common. Caution! Some of the swim throughs are very narrow. Without proper training avoid all “overhead” environments. Red Rock (6) : is famous for it's long swim thrus and turtles. Red Rock itself drops down to 23 meters, but a compass heading of 240 degrees will bring you straight to the entrance of the swim thru, which is occasionaly 'guarded' by a titan triggerfish. It is most fun to make a drift dive, starting at Red Rock either to Japanese Garden or to Green Rock (takes about 50 minutes). Hin Wong Pinnacle (7) : lies on the east side of Koh Taoand is a large and very varied site ranging from depths of 10 to 32m. Although visibility here is unpredictable, Hin Wong is covered with lacy sea fans and curly whip corals, as well as filefish, shrimpfish, coral grouper and other reef fish. The resident green turtle is only shy if you get too close. For the macro-minded, Hin Wong also has some beautiful invertebrates such as brightly colored nudibranchs. Don't miss the impressive bright-blue soft corals at 26+ meters! This is one of my favourites (number two after Chumphon). Great divesite with large fish! Currents and bad visibility parts of the year makes it hard to reach and dive this site. But if the conditions are ok and the divecenter is going there – sign up! Light house (8) : has one of the most beautiful table, lettuce and staghorn corals. Depths range from 4 to 14 meters. Two years ago a fisherboat sank there, the remains still scattered around the dive site. Spot blue-ringed angelfish, porcupinefish, parrotfish, pink anemonefish and occasionaly turtles Japanese Garden (9) : is named after the ornate arrangement of the coral boulders on this site. Depths range from 2 to 12 meters and is suitable for snorkelers & beginners. Unlike a Japanese Garden, you will get to see moray eels, trigger fish, sting rays, sea snakes (July-August) and an occasional hawksbill turtle. Twins (10) : is located between the three adjoining islands which comprise world-famous Koh Nang Yuan. Twins is made up oftwo main rocks and a smaller, deeper offshoot (18m). The boulders range in depth from 5 to 18 meters, making this dive site perfectly suitable for beginners (Open Water Course). The rocks are embedded into white sand where the symbiosis of goby fish and their blind shrimp housemates can be observed. Divers can spot rock cods, blue-ringed angelfish, yellow raccoon butterflyfish, parrotfish and wrasses. Don't forget to say 'Hello' to "Mark" and "Mindy", a friendly pair of the rare saddleback clownfish! Great divesite for PADI Open Water classes. This is the site where I normally took my students on their first dive! Mango Bay (11) : is an excellent dive site with depths ranging from 2 to 14 meters. This popular site is a favorite with beginners and snorkelers, since most of the corals are above 8 meters. You will see mushroom, staghorn, and table corals. Also notice the giant barrel spomges, tiger clams and the tiny but colorful nudibranchs. Amazing bay and great for both snorkeling and diving. Shallow and very relaxed divesite. Great for snorkeling! Laem Thian (12) : has a series of swim-thrus, caves and canyons along the shallow coastline. Depths range from 6 to 20 meters, so all divers are welcome to explore this isolated dive site on the east-side of Koh Tao. Ao Leuk Pinnacle (13) : offers a vast array of whip corals. Ao Leuk bay is a place to spot banded sea snakes, unicorn surgeonfish, hawksbill turtle, and eels at nightfall. Great for snorkeling!