Warm island wishes from our team Merry Christmas, everyone! From our sandy little home in Koh Tao to wherever you are in the world, we hope you’re happy, healthy, and with people you love. Thank you for diving with us, training with us, laughing with us, and sharing boat snacks with us. You made 2025 special. 2025 in a few happy bubbles This year had it all: calm days, choppy days, new divers taking their first breaths, pros leveling up, and reefs showing their color again. We posted a bunch of helpful guides and fun reads on the blog, and you kept telling us they helped you plan better trips and better dives. That makes us smile. Article highlights you loved TDAC made simple: our step-by-step guide to Thailand’s new Digital Arrival Card helped thousands of travelers arrive smooth and scam-free. Easy forms, real links, no stress. Dive boat etiquette (day trips): a big favorite. Neat kits, clear briefings, calm entries, and happy decks. You told us these tips made the whole boat vibe better. Sail Rock news: we launched weekly Sail Rock trips. Small groups, The Chimney, big schools, big smiles. Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): longer stays, more diving. We broke down who it suits and how to use the time for relaxed training on Koh Tao. Weather & reef updates: honest notes about rough spells, ferry tips, and our Coral Update 2025 with a positive outlook and thoughtful site choices. Species spotlights: from the Yellow Boxfish (the cutest cube with clever chemistry) to Batfish are such a vibe (yes, they do love the safety stop), we celebrated the characters of our reefs. Shark myth-buster: a gentle, cheeky read reminding everyone that sharks aren’t movie monsters—and that whale sharks are gentle giants we’re lucky to meet. The main event: whale sharks for three months straight 🐋 Some seasons are good. This season was special. We enjoyed three months of continuous whale shark sightings across our pinnacle days. Sail Rock had magic. Chumphon gave us big, quiet passes. You stayed calm, gave space, and shared the water beautifully. Seeing that many respectful encounters—divers hovering, cameras down once in a while, just being there—was the highlight of our year. If you were on board for any of those moments, thank you for keeping it mellow: slow finning, good trim, no chasing, and wide lanes for the animal. That is exactly how these memories happen. Big thanks to our 2025 crew To our instructors and guides: you kept briefings clear and the mood light. To our boat crew and captains: you read the weather like wizards and found the calm corners. To our shop team: you juggled forms, ferries, and a thousand quiet details. To our photographers: thanks for the patient, respectful shots. And to all our divers—brand new, returning, and going pro—thank you for trusting us. In memoriam: We were deeply saddened by the loss of our videographer Billy Cloud, who worked with Phoenix Divers for over five years. Billy’s upbeat presence, wicked humour, and incredible eye for underwater moments shaped so many of your dive memories. He will be sorely missed by all of us here, and by the many divers whose stories he helped capture. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. What we’re proud of People-first diving: simple plans, small groups, and steady coaching that help you relax and enjoy the reef. Reef-friendly habits: buoyancy refreshers, no-touch rules, and sunscreen guidance. Small choices add up. Clear information: practical blogs (TDAC, visas, weather calls) you can actually use. Looking ahead to 2026 We’re excited for a new year of easy mornings, smooth entries, and the occasional big-fish cameo. We’ll keep the weekly Sail Rock runs going (weather permitting), keep the training path simple from Open Water to pro levels, and keep sharing honest updates about conditions and travel. We’ve also got a few new specialty days and photo-friendly dives lined up—watch this space. From our family to yoursThank you for 2025—every smile, every high five, every calm safety stop with batfish. Merry Christmas and happy holidays from Phoenix Divers Koh Tao. We can’t wait to dive with you in 2026. Ready to plan your next trip? Send us a message with your dates and goals. We’ll build a relaxed plan that fits the season, the forecast, and your comfort level.Get in touch