Ko Tao (also often Koh Tao, lit. "Turtle Island") is an island in Thailand located near the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. It covers an area of about 21 kmē. The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered around tourism, especially scuba diving.
Ko Tao was named by its first settlers for the island's turtle-like geographic shape. Coincidentally, the island is an important breeding ground for Hawksbill turtles and Green turtles. Development of tourism has negatively impacted the health of these grounds but a breeding program organised in 2004 by the Royal Thai Navy and KT-DOC, a coalition of local scuba diving centres has reintroduced hundreds of juvenile turtles to the island's ecosystem.
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South West Rock, Thailand
By chrisreay, 2004-01-31 09:03:00 7. Southwest Pinnacle,Koh Tao
Drop off mooring line - circuit around the pinnacle.
Choppy and quite a bit of swell. Lost my snorkel!!
Current of 3 knots at surface. Murky.
Large shoals of Sargeant Majors, Banner Fish, Angel Fish, Groupers and Wrass More...
Ko Tao was not named for its shape, the first visitors did not come by plane, they came by small boats, so there were no way for them to know what the island looked like from above.
comment by Anonymous, 2008-02-14 16:59:17