Travelfish correspondent Ayesha Cantrell

Ayesha first travelled around South East Asia over 10 years ago on her way to Australia via South Africa. With the firm belief that the travel bug would be out of her system she returned to the corporate rat race and very quickly realised her mistake.

She soon ditched her power suit in favour of a wetsuit and ventured back to Ko Tao to indulge in her passion for scuba diving. Her love for Koh Ta established itself as she lived there throughout her progression to Scuba Diving Instructor.

Leaving was hard but she tore herself away and travelled and dived working in The Maldives, Egypt and visiting many other far flung spots to take in underwater world.

Ko Tao was always calling and four years ago she returned, unpacked her bags and accidentally bought into a dive centre.

Apart from writing for Travelfish she manages the Master Divers Blog and whenever possible is underwater with her camera shooting fish!
Website: http://www.master-divers.com

Posts by Ayesha Cantrell:

• Eating cheaply on Ko Tao

  First published: 15 Nov 2012
  

  Ko Tao has a great range of places to eat but not every spot is suitable to those on a shoestring budget. If you are watching your pennies there’s no need to miss out on tasty treats though; you just need to know where to look. Although there isn’t a night market typical of many … read the full post

• Review: Portobello Mediterranean Bistro, Ko Tao

  First published: 08 Nov 2012
  

  Portobello Bistro is the pizza joint of preference in Ko Tao’s Haad Sairee, offering pizzas with a great choice of toppings and no skimping on the portions. It’s open, airy, furnished with dark wood and bustles with people, yet manages to retain a warm atmosphere, making it worth seeking out. The menu includes some tasty … read the full post

• Where to go snorkelling on Ko Tao

  First published: 18 Oct 2012
  

  Ko Tao is dotted with beaches and bays and picking where to go snorkelling can be difficult; what you choose to do will depend a little on how much time you have and what you want to both see and experience. You can take the decision away by simply booking an around-the-island snorkelling trip. Your … read the full post

• Should you rent a motorbike on Ko Tao?

  First published: 11 Oct 2012
  

  Personally I would say, “No way Jose!” to anyone contemplating the undeniably risky method of getting about by motorbike on Ko Tao. However it would then be fair to accuse me of a certain amount of hypocrisy as I do indeed own and drive one. Well, chances are that unlike me — I own my … read the full post

• Learning to dive on Ko Tao

  First published: 04 Oct 2012
  

  So you have run the gauntlet of choosing a dive centre on Ko Tao. You have decided whether you want to take the SSI or PADI course. What should you expect while you are studying how to dive? Firstly, you will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire. If you have any of the conditions … read the full post

• How to find long-term accommodation on Ko Tao

  First published: 20 Sep 2012
  

  If you look online, the only long-term accommodation options you’ll find on Thailand’s Ko Tao are very high-end villas at very high-end prices. This is not the case once you are here. Here’s our suggested plan of attack for finding somewhere to live once you do arrive. Most people who come here looking to stay … read the full post

• Bam Bams, Ko Tao

  First published: 13 Sep 2012
  

  Bam Bams in Ko Tao is one of those rickety looking, plastic chair, roadside Thai restaurants with garish wipe-clean table covers.  While that description probably does little to entice you in, those who have travelled through Thailand will know that these can often the best places to eat, especially when you’re on a tight budget. … read the full post

• Living on Ko Tao

  First published: 06 Sep 2012
  

  When asked to write about life on Ko Tao from a longterm stayers point of view, all I could think about were the three biggest lies told on the island. I’ll leave you to ponder the other two but the biggest, without a doubt is, “I’m leaving tomorrow.” This is not used to wheedle one … read the full post

• How to see a whale shark on Ko Tao

  First published: 30 Aug 2012
  

  As a going away gift for my first backpacking trip one of my comical mates gave me a travel tips book. This wasn’t your normal travel manual by any means. It included topics like how to stop a runaway camel and how to avoid dying in an airplane crash. The best way to avoid crashing … read the full post

• Cappuccino Bistro, Ko Tao

  First published: 24 Aug 2012
  

  Cappuccino Bistro is the only French-owned bakery on Ko Tao. It serves a variety of cakes, tarts and sandwiches along with arguably the best cup of coffee around and is well located up the hill on the main road in Sairee running from the pier. This spot is a firm favourite with locals and tourists alike.  … read the full post