If you’ve been researching Koh Tao and feeling slightly overwhelmed, I understand. This small island in the Gulf of Thailand is just 21 square kilometers, yet it has an outsized online presence. There are strong opinions, dramatic stories, glowing dive reviews, and enough conflicting advice to make any solo traveler pause. When I first visited Koh Tao over four years ago, I remember reading a travel book that warned it wasn’t safe and suggested skipping it entirely. But bein