You only live once but if you do it right, once is enough

During our recent family vacation to Koh Tao island in Thailand, I had two stellar afternoon fun dives with Assava Diving. Being an Advanced Open Water Certified diver, I registered myself for 2 fun dives with them around the island of Koh Tao.

Staying at Fisherman Tao Resort, right next to Assava Dive Resort, meant mornings began slow with the sound of slow waves and coconut palms swaying. I decided to choose Assava Diving a PADI certified center for my dives since its PADI center was located right next to our resort with good reviews and it turned out to be a great decision going with them.

On the day of our dives, I arrived at the center and after gear checks and necessary paperwork, the pickup arrived at noon. Twenty minutes later, we were standing on the beach at Ao Hin Wong, the anticipation buzzing. Once we reached the beach, we climbed onto a small motor boat that shuttled us out to the dive boat anchored further in the bay. Onboard, our instructor Bobbie gave us a detailed briefing about the dive sites and the marine life we were likely to see that afternoon. We were a small group of four, including Bobbie, who was my buddy for both dives.

Note: The images included in this blog are not mine, since my GoPro dive casing wasn’t working. These are stock internet images chosen to closely resemble what I experienced underwater.

Dive One: Hin Ngam

51 Minutes, Max Depth 14m

After safety checks and buddy verifications, we jumped off the boat and started our descent into the blue. As soon as we descended, and moved around the reef we saw a massive 3-foot parrotfish sitting idle with its scales flashing in the filtered sunlight, an epic welcome to the reef.

Then as we started to glide through the reef we discovered two blue spotted ribbon tail rays tucked beneath coral rocks.

As we moved ahead schools of soldierfish and squirrelfish darted energetically, butterflyfish hovered near anemones, and slignjaw wrasse zipped by. Two batfish glided gracefully, and 5–10 trevally cruised above us. One triggerfish made a cameo, always a reminder to give it space. The coral was vibrant, thick and healthy, creating a rich tableau for every marine sighting.

Dive Two: Tanote Bay

50 Minutes, Max Depth 16m

On the second dive at Tanote Bay, the coral coverage became even more impressive, beds of hard and soft coral and dramatic rock formations. Early in the dive, we spotted angelfish, parrotfish, squirrelfish, and soldierfish weaving through coral branches.

Several barracuda and big eye trevally appeared deeper down, brilliant silver against the rock.

Near the end, a giant grouper (at least eight feet long) made its slow, confident approach, closing the dive with awe. The abundance and variety of coral at this spot made every minute feel like swimming through an underwater garden.

Marine Life Highlights

Each dive overflowed with discoveries:
• 3-foot parrotfish (Hin Ngam, at descent)
• Two blue spotted ribbon tail rays (Hin Ngam)
• Two longfin batfish (Hin Ngam)
• 5–10 trevally (Hin Ngam & Tanote Bay)
• Blue ringed angelfish (Hin Ngam)
• Beaked coralfish
• Butterfly fish, Parrotfish, Soldierfish, Squirrelfish
• Giant grouper (Tanote, dive end)
• Slignjaw wrasse
• Several barracuda
• Triggerfish (just one, Hin Ngam)

Reflections on the Dive
Surfacing from the second dive and climbing back onto the boat, there was a quiet sense of gratitude that lingered. These fun dives were more than just a checklist of marine species, they were a vivid reminder of why Koh Tao holds a special place in the heart of every diver who visits. From getting briefed on the boat by Bobbie, to drifting above beds of thriving coral, the harmony underwater felt infectious. Each encounter, whether it was a majestic parrotfish, a shy ray, or the hulking presence of a giant grouper, added a unique thrill and humbled me by the sheer complexity of life below the surface.

There’s something meditative about repeating the rituals of diving with checking gear, exchanging “okay” signs, the hush that descends as you drop below, and the quiet joy of simply observing. The vibrant reefs, teeming schools, and passing giants made every moment underwater electric, yet remarkably peaceful. These dives are a beautiful reminder that the ocean’s treasures are always best enjoyed slow, attentive, and with a sense of wonder.

Koh Tao offered exactly that, an invitation to keep exploring, keep protecting, and keep coming back.

Note: The images included in this blog are not mine, since my GoPro dive casing wasn’t working. These are stock internet images chosen to closely resemble what I experienced underwater.