FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

COREsea’s research station is on Koh Phangan, in the lower, western half of the Gulf of Thailand.

We’re in Chaloklum, on the northern end of KPG, a quaint but sometimes funny smelling fishing village. We’re on the road closest to the beach, near the end of said road.

We’re here! Where are you?

Quick, but expensive:

Flight to Koh Samui, with Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways or Firefly.

When you exit the Koh Samui international baggage claim, you will find a small counter that sells ferry tickets to KPG. Buy one to “Thong Sala” and let us know when you arrive and we’ll pick you up from the pier.

Not so quick, not so expensive:

Flight to Surat Thani with Air Asia, Nok Air or ThaiSmile.

Flights leave from Bangkok’s domestic airport, it takes at least an hour to change airports.

You can buy a joint flight/ferry ticket online, or buy a ferry ticket in the arrival hall in Surat Thani.

Again, buy a ticket to Thong Sala, let us know when you arrive and we’ll come and get you.

Pretty slow, pretty cheap

Train/Ferry combination ticket.

You can buy a train/ferry combination Ticket at travel agents in Bangkok, or directly at the Hualamphong train station BKK. Again, get a ticket to Thong Sala, let us know when you arrive.

USEFUL LINKS:

• Ferry timetable from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan
• Book buses, ferries, trains

That depends on the duration of your stay and your nationality.

Check if your eligible to apply online here. Otherwise you will need to apply at your local Thai Embassy in your home country.

Something to keep in mind when applying for a visa, you are not volunteering, you are doing a course with an internship. The former requires a work permit and quite complicated visa arrangements. The latter doesn’t.

Visa for 2 – 4 week internship program:

Most nationalities get a visa exempt stamp on arrival. You’ll need a return ticket within 30 days to be eligible.

Visa for 6 – 12 week internship program:

Apply for a single entry 60 day Tourist Visa. This can then be extended for a further 30 days at the immigration office here on Koh Phangan. 

We will provide a letter of invitation to support your visa application. 

Yes, absolutely. In fact, it would be plain idiotic not to get one. A week in hospital can cost up to 200,000 THB, an insurance policy costs around 600 THB per year. Do the math, please.

It’s not required for the type of diving we do. But highly recommended if you have any pre-existing medical conditions that affect your ability to dive. We will need proof of clearance from a medical professional. 

• Flip flops
• Swimsuits 
• Long sleeve rash guard & leggings (lycra/dri-fit material) for diving – protection from marine life and Thailand’s harsh sunlight
• Shorts
• T-shirts
• Torch
• Camera/GoPro
• Tablet or laptop
• Personal first aid kit & medicine
• Sunscreen – expensive here, please consider “reef safe” options

If you have dive equipment you love, bring it! (especially if you are on the really small or really big feet spectrum)

You don’t have to bring:

• Towels – only if you’re picky!
• Bedsheets
• Mosquito nets

Please help us keep the planet green & clean and consider bringing:

• Reuseable water bottle
• Reuseable straw – if you use straws
• Reuseable shopping bag
• Reuseable coffee tumblr – if you’re anything like us and can’t live without a latte!

You can live pretty cheaply in Thailand, or spend a lot of money. It depends on what you do, eat and drink. But here are a few indicators:

• Softdrink: 15 THB, 20-30 in a Bar
• Beer in a bar 80 THB
• Cheap street food (Pad Thai, fried rice): 50-80 THB
• Falafel wrap 160 THB
• Hamburger in a restaurant: 200 THB
• Pizza: 240 THB
• Pad Thai in a restaurant: 100 THB
• Scooter rental: 150-200 THB per day
• Car rental: 750-1500 THB per day

Difficult to say, because it changes with the weather, projects and general things that happen on a small island in Asia. But let’s say it looks like this:

9am: briefing

10am-1pm: diving

1pm: lunch

2pm-4pm: talks, workshops, data

But it never looks like this.

Monday & Tuesday’s are off.

Your free time is your free time. We won’t interfere with it, and appreciate if you don’t interfere with ours.

There’s a lot to do and explore, some activities could include:

• Beaches – snorkelling
• Hikes
• Waterfalls
• Wakeboarding
• Muay Thai
• Climbing gym
• Yoga
• Cooking classes
• Fun diving on the weekend
• Extra diving courses on the weekend (Advanced Open Water, Rescue etc.) – you even get a discount with our partner dive school 

There are a few recommended for south east Asia, check with your physician.

There is no Malaria on KPG.

We do have Dengue fever on the island, so you’ll need to protect yourself against mosquitoes.

There are several large Thai banks located in Thongsala, if you want to avoid ATM fees you can withdraw or exchange money from the bank directly – you will need to make your own way to the bank.

There are also several ATM’s in Chaloklum.