Latest news with #KohTao
CNN
06-08-2025
- CNN
Underwater jetpack ‘feels superhuman,' says designer of his $30k gadget
It is the high-octane toy for those who have everything: an underwater jetpack that allows you to zip beneath the surface of the ocean – for as long as you can hold your breath. Described by its makers as an 'innovation for those who demand the extraordinary,' the CudaJet is aimed at adrenaline junkies with deep pockets. Priced at a shade below $30,000, the device enables users to experience 'weightless flight' at a speed of up to 3 meters/9.8 feet per second, according to the company behind the jetpack. The design comprises the compact jetpack worn on a harness and a hand-held controller. Units are made to order with a lead time of about three months. The pack has a 90-minute battery life but is not tethered to an oxygen tank or vessel. This means users can be in the water for the duration, but can only dive below the surface for one breath at a time. Since the jetpack went on sale in early 2023, almost 100 units have been sold, including to the owners of some of the world's largest superyachts, according to the CudaJet's makers. 'The feedback has been incredible,' said Archie O'Brien, the 28-year-old British entrepreneur who designed the device. 'The underwater jetpack gives you one of the closest sensations to human flight,' he told CNN. 'The weightless experience feels superhuman as you fly around a three-dimensional world!' O'Brien had the idea while on vacation from his product design degree at Britain's Loughborough University. 'I was free-diving in Koh Tao in Thailand in 2017,' he said. 'I was learning about free-diving and thought this could be an area where I could design something to move through the water faster.' O'Brien looked into propulsion systems and developed an early version, which was 'duct-taped to my back.' Encouraged by the initial results, he finetuned the product, eventually spending some 30,000 hours on design and development. As with any extreme activity, there are risks. CudaJet users must know how to equalize their ears and hold their breath underwater, as well as being mindful of things like battery life and the correct temperature for storing the pack when not in use. O'Brien admits there is other technology out there that enables people to move quickly through water but maintains that nothing quite compares to his piece of kit. 'For example, you could get a jet ski engine,' he said. 'That would produce a load of thrust but you're never going to fit it on your back. 'Then there have been smaller hand-held things but they're so slow it's pointless.' Dom Robinson, a diver who runs a YouTube channel called Deep Wreck Diver, recently reviewed a product similar to the CudaJet for his 13,000 subscribers. The Hong Kong-based developers of the XiaoTun underwater jetpack are currently seeking investment on Kickstarter to make it commercially available. Robinson filmed a friend and fellow diver using the gadget. 'Though the jetpack is quite a bit of fun, I don't really see it being used for much else,' he told CNN. 'The Cuda one incorporates a buoyancy aid, which seems sensible, although I'd imagine that poses some challenges, not least (because) the 'jets' only work in water. That means you have to get it underwater, so some sort of duck-dive is required, and it then takes a few seconds to kick in.' He added: 'Most people aren't especially brilliant at holding their breath, so achieving the results you see in the promo video, and on my review (of the XiaoTun), will be challenging for them!'
CNN
06-08-2025
- CNN
Underwater jetpack ‘feels superhuman,' says designer of his $30k gadget
It is the high-octane toy for those who have everything: an underwater jetpack that allows you to zip beneath the surface of the ocean – for as long as you can hold your breath. Described by its makers as an 'innovation for those who demand the extraordinary,' the CudaJet is aimed at adrenaline junkies with deep pockets. Priced at a shade below $30,000, the device enables users to experience 'weightless flight' at a speed of up to 3 meters/9.8 feet per second, according to the company behind the jetpack. The design comprises the compact jetpack worn on a harness and a hand-held controller. Units are made to order with a lead time of about three months. The pack has a 90-minute battery life but is not tethered to an oxygen tank or vessel. This means users can be in the water for the duration, but can only dive below the surface for one breath at a time. Since the jetpack went on sale in early 2023, almost 100 units have been sold, including to the owners of some of the world's largest superyachts, according to the CudaJet's makers. 'The feedback has been incredible,' said Archie O'Brien, the 28-year-old British entrepreneur who designed the device. 'The underwater jetpack gives you one of the closest sensations to human flight,' he told CNN. 'The weightless experience feels superhuman as you fly around a three-dimensional world!' O'Brien had the idea while on vacation from his product design degree at Britain's Loughborough University. 'I was free-diving in Koh Tao in Thailand in 2017,' he said. 'I was learning about free-diving and thought this could be an area where I could design something to move through the water faster.' O'Brien looked into propulsion systems and developed an early version, which was 'duct-taped to my back.' Encouraged by the initial results, he finetuned the product, eventually spending some 30,000 hours on design and development. As with any extreme activity, there are risks. CudaJet users must know how to equalize their ears and hold their breath underwater, as well as being mindful of things like battery life and the correct temperature for storing the pack when not in use. O'Brien admits there is other technology out there that enables people to move quickly through water but maintains that nothing quite compares to his piece of kit. 'For example, you could get a jet ski engine,' he said. 'That would produce a load of thrust but you're never going to fit it on your back. 'Then there have been smaller hand-held things but they're so slow it's pointless.' Dom Robinson, a diver who runs a YouTube channel called Deep Wreck Diver, recently reviewed a product similar to the CudaJet for his 13,000 subscribers. The Hong Kong-based developers of the XiaoTun underwater jetpack are currently seeking investment on Kickstarter to make it commercially available. Robinson filmed a friend and fellow diver using the gadget. 'Though the jetpack is quite a bit of fun, I don't really see it being used for much else,' he told CNN. 'The Cuda one incorporates a buoyancy aid, which seems sensible, although I'd imagine that poses some challenges, not least (because) the 'jets' only work in water. That means you have to get it underwater, so some sort of duck-dive is required, and it then takes a few seconds to kick in.' He added: 'Most people aren't especially brilliant at holding their breath, so achieving the results you see in the promo video, and on my review (of the XiaoTun), will be challenging for them!'
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Daily Mail
I booked the overnight ferry in Thailand - but was shocked when I saw my 'bed'
A traveller has shared a video of her 'treacherous' journey on an overnight ferry in Thailand – and many are too scared to try it. Gabbi, a solo traveller who posts her adventures on Instagram (@vidacongabbi), caught the ferry from Koh Tao to Surat Thani. In the video caption, she explains: 'I boarded expecting an assigned bunkbed like I'd seen online and my friends had told me.' Instead of a bunk bed, Gabbi's 'bed' for the night was a mattress on the top deck of the ferry next to an open railing. 'They put me on the top deck - no walls, no real barriers, just a thin mattress next to an open railing that led straight to the gulf,' says Gabbi. In the video, Gabbi and other travellers are shown perched on the top deck next to the railing. The solo traveller shows the fast-flowing water below the open railing as well as the thin mattress travellers are given to sleep on. Her sleeping area is very narrow with just enough room to lie flat. Gabbi says: 'The eight hour ride itself wasn't exactly the smoothest, but honestly? It was one of those moments that you can't help but find hilarious even in the chaos. The most treacherous of journeys make for the best stories.' In the comments, Gabbi explains that she actually managed to sleep for 80 per cent of her hair-raising journey. Commenter 'taigfeats' says: 'The amount of panic attacks I would have would be insane.' Meanwhile ' adds: 'Took a boat about 15 years ago on the same route and was only mattresses on the floor and one exposed outdoor toilet.' And one user asks: 'So how do you go to the bathroom?' Gabbi replies: 'I didn't even try leaving once I sat. You don't wanna see the bathroom sitch (situation).' 'Txnasty07' has no sympathy for Gabbi, writing: 'Who gives a d***. You probably spent $3/£2.19 and will be to your destination shortly.' While 'sunriserclub' jokes: 'These are the stories we wait to tell our moms till we are back home.' There are several ferry options between Koh Tao and Surat Thani with shorter routes than Gabbi's, including one that takes just four hours.
Irish Examiner
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
How to wear the boho trend and the key pieces to include in your wardrobe
Sienna Miller called—she wants her noughties wardrobe back! Thanks to recent Chloé runway moments and Gen Z's obsession with all things retro, the boho trend is having a revival. This summer-ready look leans fully into the free-spirited side of fashion. Think flowy silhouettes, earthy textures, and a chunky wooden platform for a whimsical vibe with a hint of edge. Get The Look A model walks the runway during the Chloé Womenswear Spring-Summer 2025 show during Paris Fashion Week. Picture: PascalEase into the boho spirit with an ethereal blend of ruffles and lace, as seen at Chloé. Clutching At Straws Raffia Crossbody Bag, €32.95, Burke By Design Irish Boutique Chic: Capturing the earthy spirit of boho, the raffia bag is this season's must-have, €32.95, Burke By Design. Gold Circle Koh Tao Hoops with Turquoise, €49, Juvi #ieloves: A touch of turquoise gives the classic hoop earring an effortless boho twist, €49, Juvi. Wild Flower Silk Printed Blouse, €139, Kate Moss X Zara Channel your inner Kate Moss in a dreamy mix of florals and billowing sleeves, €139, Kate Moss X Zara. Western Tier Crochet Knit Waistcoat, €89.95, Massimo Dutti Pocket Friendly: Inspired by the prairies of the Wild West, the tiered skirt is a Gen Z favourite, €22.99, Stradivarius. Slip Stitch Boho Skirt, €22.99, Stradivarius From granny to boho-chic, the crochet waistcoat is a summer essential, €89.95, Massimo Dutti. Full of Charm Gold Charm Belt, €225, RIXO Give your look a Y2K twist with a gold charm belt that's pure noughties nostalgia, €225, RIXO. Knock On Wood Wood Wedge Heeled Sandals, €45.99, Bershka Step out this summer in these Chloé-inspired wooden platform sandals, €45.99, Bershka. Free Spirit Ruffle Maxi Dress, €105, River Island Go with the boho flow in whimsical ruffles, €105, River Island. Cut Short Embroidered Shorts, €38, V by Very A sprinkle of delicate embroidery is the perfect ingredient for a short and sweet look, €38, V by Very. Read More Solar power: Bask in the summer sunshine without compromising on style
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
I'm raising my family in Thailand and feel less pressure to be a perfect mom
Sandy Cacchione left Switzerland and moved to Thailand with her husband to work at a diving center. They settled down in Koh Samui, where she gave birth to her daughter, who is now 5 years old. She feels less pressure to be an 'Instagram mom,' and says the island has allowed her daughter to be a child. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sandy Cacchione, a 41-year-old Swiss woman raising her daughter in Koh Samui, Thailand. She is also the founder of a destination-focused travel and events platform. It has been edited for length and clarity. I met my now-husband in 2009 on a popular diving island in Thailand. I was on vacation from my hometown of Basel, Switzerland, while he had stopped on the island to complete his divemaster training during a yearlong trip around the world. After dating long-distance for a year and a half, we decided to move to Koh Tao to work at the diving center where we had first met. It's an island in the Gulf of Thailand, just a ferry ride from Koh Samui. He became a diving instructor, while I started off as an underwater videographer and eventually became an instructor myself. We got married five years later, and although we loved the time we'd spent on that island, we were ready to settle down and start a family. Koh Samui, over 10 times bigger, offered the environment we were looking for, so we moved there instead. It's a perfect mix of the laid-back island lifestyle we love and all the amenities we need. There is a cinema, a shopping mall, an international airport, and hospitals and schools. When I was pregnant, my mother moved to Samui to be close to her first grandchild. I gave birth to my daughter in 2020, who is now five years old and enrolled in an international kindergarten on the island. I normally drop my daughter off by 9 a.m. and pick her up between 3:30 and 4 p.m. It's on the later side, since the earliest she can do is 8:30 a.m., but I don't like to rush in the mornings, and neither does she. It's a Montessori-inspired school that follows the English curriculum. In Switzerland, the school day usually starts around 8 a.m., so kids need to get up much earlier. In the afternoon, students typically return home for lunch. Moreover, different grades have different schedules. When I was visiting a friend in Switzerland, her two kids didn't have the same lunchtime. Coordinating is impossible; your whole day revolves around your kids. Many kids back in Switzerland also participate in lots of activities. As a mother, I probably would've felt pressured to enroll my daughter in something. While there are extracurricular activities for kids in Samui, there is no pressure to sign them up. Nobody will say, "Oh, your kid's not doing ballet?" Everyone's friendly and supportive. Social media here is more about traveling and breaking free from a conventional lifestyle. There is nothing about "I'm a perfect mom, this is what I did today." Even in my daughter's school, the kids get exposed to so many different cultures and learn to be more accepting of others from a young age. People living in Samui tend to be more open-minded. Most of the people I've met have already lived in other countries before; this is rarely their first stop. When my daughter sees videos of other children playing at a park on YouTube or from friends back in Europe, and she says, "Mommy, can we go to the park?" I say, "Well, there's no park." There are indoor play spaces but hardly any well-maintained outdoor playgrounds or parks like the ones I've seen back in Switzerland. I've found that if you don't want to do an activity, it's difficult to just go somewhere and meet other families. You need to know where to go or arrange to meet someone somewhere. For teenagers, it's much harder to find things to do. Some hang out at the shopping mall, but getting around the island can be difficult. Walking here isn't easy — it's hot, there aren't many sidewalks, and there's no public transportation like buses or subways. The roads can be dangerous, so I'd never want my child riding a motorbike here. They're really kid-friendly here. There's so much space almost everywhere, and she can run around. Even in restaurants, you never feel shushed. We live up in the mountains, about 10 minutes from the main road. There is no road noise, and we have a nice view of the valley and a little bit of the ocean. It's very quiet and slow, even in the mornings. If I'm 10 minutes late dropping my daughter off, it's not a problem. Even as a mother, I'm not stressed. Do you have a story to share about raising a child after relocating to a new country? Contact this reporter at agoh@ Read the original article on Business Insider
