Mango Bay Grand Resort, Koh Tao

Mango Bay Grand Resort, Koh Tao

As a diver living on Koh Samui, see my dive blog for my dive adventures, I've been diving Mango Bay and Koh Tao since I arrived on these shores, in 1999. Mango Bay was a popular spot for it's shallow but beautiful waters. It's always been a snorkelers paradise and for entry level dives it's an excellent training location.

Over the years this beautiful bay on Koh Tao has seen a bit of development and one of the results is Mango Bay Grand Resort. The bay can be reached by long tail boat by means of a free shuttle service or when weather conditions won't allow this, by an unpaved road and from the parking lot it's just 400 steps down to the resort!

Similar to the resort, all building materials had to be brought in by boat!

The views here are spectacular and you can literally drop from the mooring point into the clear water.

Things to keep in mind that it is very isolated, so bring all you need (cash, books etc) and electricity is only available from 6 pm to midnight, so it can get very hot and sweaty in your room. Back to the basics on Koh Tao!

Rooms are fairly priced and if you're looking for a (very) quiet and relaxing environment, this may be it!

Booking by Hotels Combined

Booking by Agoda

Room with fan

Bungalow with aircon

Bungalow on the slopes


Sea view

Sea Lodge, Koh Tao

Sea Lodge, Koh Tao

This is the place where I usually stay when I'm on Koh Tao and I'm there quite a lot, for work when I accompany my IDC candidates for moral and logistical support for their their PADI IE's. Possibly I'm there 5 or 6 times a year at least. After Koh Samui where I live since 1999, this must be the place in Thailand where I spend a lot of time.

The Sea Lodge only has 4 rooms, a family room with 3 beds, accommodating 4 people, a room with 2 beds and 2 rooms accommodating two people, one room with a twin and one room with a double bed.

Breakfast is optional but all rooms are fitted with air conditioning and ceiling fans, hot water shower, mini bar, 40 channel satellite TV and free wifi.

The location is excellent! Coming off the Seatran ferry, it's straight ahead, 50 meters from the pier, the building you will be facing walking off the ferry, smack downtown Mae Haad, so to speak. Plenty of good restaurants in walking distance and all dive boats leave within a 100 meters from the Sea Lodge.

Convenient and easy if you're diving on Koh Tao or just for a couple of days on business or a short breakaway.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

The family room

Sunset on Koh Tao viewed from the Sea Lodge