{"id":13373,"date":"2019-08-22T12:00:20","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T16:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=13373"},"modified":"2024-10-01T10:40:26","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T14:40:26","slug":"the-complete-guide-to-diving-in-koh-tao","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/the-complete-guide-to-diving-in-koh-tao\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Guide to Diving in Koh Tao"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Alex<\/p>\n

This is a guest post by Alexandra Baackes, the legend behind Alex in Wanderland<\/a>. She’s a PADI divemaster who has lived on Koh Tao, a popular destination for scuba divers and one the most popular places people learn to dive in the world! In this post, Alex shares her insider tips and advice on diving schools, prices, and the best areas for viewing sea life when you visit Koh Tao!<\/em><\/p>\n

Travelers in Thailand<\/a> like to label their destinations neatly. Intricate island paradises are boiled down to one or two simple words or associations: Koh Phi Phi<\/a>? The Beach. Koh Phangan<\/a>? The Full Moon Party. Koh Tao? Diving.<\/p>\n

Some of them are fairly well deserved. <\/p>\n

After all, Koh Tao is one of the world\u2019s top destinations when it comes to the number of annual dive certifications issued \u2014 in fact, it\u2019s second only to Cairns in Australia<\/a>. Travelers flock from across Southeast Asia<\/a> to take their first breaths underwater in the coral reefs fringing this paradise island. It\u2019s simple to see why: the courses are among the most affordable in the world, the teaching standards are high, the conditions are easy, the dive sites are abundant, and it\u2019s a dang fun place to decompress after a day underwater. <\/p>\n

That said, it\u2019s easy to be overwhelmed when planning a trip to Koh Tao \u2014 there are more than 70 dive schools on the island! \u2014 so a bit of research goes a long way when it comes to such a large investment of your time and travel budget. <\/p>\n

Here’s everything you need to know about diving in Koh Tao:<\/p>\n\n

PADI or SSI?<\/h3>\n

\"A
\nThere are more than 50 scuba diving training systems around the world, but in Koh Tao, the choice generally comes down to two: the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) or Scuba Schools International (SSI). Each organization develops its own teaching materials; writes its own standards based on those set by the umbrella organization, the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC); and awards its own certifications. <\/p>\n

No matter what certification card you walk away with, you\u2019ll use the same equipment, see the same fish, and be able to dive at the same destinations. Certifications are interchangeable and recognized worldwide. The most important factors in the quality of your course will be your dive school and your dive instructor. But there are minor differences between agencies.<\/p>\n

PADI<\/strong>
\nPADI is the world\u2019s leading scuba diving training organization. If you find comfort in numbers, then this agency with nearly one million certifications per year might just be for you! The major benefit of diving with PADI comes at the professional level. For instructors and divemasters, PADI provides the most employment opportunities, and PADI instructors can work independently (while an SSI instructor must teach through an SSI-registered shop). So if you have dreams of staying in Thailand<\/a> to teach the backpacker masses and you want to be loyal to one agency, PADI is a strong agency to hedge your bets on. <\/p>\n

SSI<\/strong>
\nOnce just a small subset of the diving industry here, SSI has exploded to control a full 50% of the market share on Koh Tao. All coursework is done via the free app and\/or online, making it a green choice (although PADI has digital products for most courses as well).<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Course Like?<\/h3>\n

\"Alex
\nThe Open Water course is the first certification you\u2019ll complete as a diver. Many divers come to Koh Tao to complete their Open Water certification, and some get hooked and stay till they\u2019re instructors themselves. But be wary of \u201czero to hero\u201d packages that include the full array of courses from first underwater breath to master scuba diver trainer. Take it one step at a time. <\/p>\n

(While half-day experiences called \u201cDiscover Scuba Diving\u201d or \u201cTry Scuba Diving\u201d are available, they don\u2019t lead to any sort of certification and should really only be considered if you\u2019re (a) super strapped for time or (b) extremely unsure if diving is for you. Otherwise, just dive in, literally, to the Open Water!) <\/p>\n

The typical Open Water diving course is completed in three to four days. There are videos to watch, book chapters to read, tests to take, and, of course, dive sites to explore! It might sound intimidating, but the course is designed for students as young as 10 \u2014 so the academics shouldn\u2019t intimidate you. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a rough outline of what your course will look like:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Day 1<\/strong>: Orientation, paperwork, and videos.<\/li>\n
  • Day 2<\/strong>: A morning in the classroom learning about basic skills, equipment, and the effects of diving on the body. An afternoon spent in the pool or at shallow dive sites working on skills such as regulator recovery and mask removal, among others.<\/li>\n
  • Day 3<\/strong>: A morning in the classroom finishing knowledge reviews and taking some quizzes. In the afternoon, the fun really begins with open-water dives 1 and 2, which will stay shallow and low-key. Some skills will be practiced during the dives.<\/li>\n
  • Day 4<\/strong>: You\u2019ll go out on a morning boat and complete open-water dives 3 and 4, where you\u2019ll get to go a bit deeper and explore. In the afternoon, you\u2019ll take the final exam. Congratulations \u2014 you made it!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Upon completion, you\u2019ll receive a certification card that allows you to dive anywhere in the world up to a depth of 18 meters. Time to start daydreaming about your Advanced Open Water!<\/p>\n

    And the Open Water course is just the beginning! Koh Tao is a true mecca for dive education: you can take courses in freediving and technical diving, and specialty scuba courses in everything from photography to conservation and beyond \u2014 plus the gamut of continuing and professional courses up to Instructor Trainer!<\/p>\n

    Which School Should I Choose?<\/h3>\n

    \"A
    \nKoh Tao ain\u2019t called a mecca for diving for nothing: there are nearly 70 dive schools on this 13-square-mile rock! This decision is the biggest when it comes to determining the quality of your diving course. For the most part, the schools fall into a few categories:<\/p>\n

    Big schools: Bans, Big Blue, Crystal<\/strong>
    \nThese schools are enormous scuba powerhouse resorts that can churn out hundreds of Open Water divers a week, with instructors for almost every language imaginable. They are ideal for someone who is confident going underwater (i.e., doesn\u2019t need extra individual attention) and wants to make lots of friends and meet people in a big group setting. However, those groups can be a bit large for comfort. <\/p>\n

    Medium-sized schools: Master Divers, Sairee Cottage<\/strong>
    \nMedium dive schools generally have the best of both worlds. They have a range of instructors and groups large enough to make friends in, but they aren\u2019t as prone to overcrowding or rushing through the course.<\/p>\n

    Small schools: Hydronauts, Ocean Sound<\/strong>
    \nThese schools are great at accommodating special needs or focusing on a certain specialty. The extra attention with instructors is key for those who are feeling uncertain about heading underwater or who simply want to be spoiled with attention and learn in a more focused environment. However, these schools sometimes rent boat space and pool time from other dive schools rather than having their own facilities. <\/p>\n

    When picking a school and an instructor, consider these factors:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Does it have an instructor who speaks your language? There are many specialty language-focused dive schools on Koh Tao: for Spanish, head to Pura Vida, La Bambona, or Isla Tortuga Divers; for French, French Kiss Divers; for Finnish, Koh Tao Divers. <\/li>\n
    • Will the confined dives take place in the ocean or in a pool?<\/li>\n
    • How many students will be in the group?<\/li>\n
    • What time do they leave in the morning? Those eager beavers who want to be the first on the dive site might not mind being up in time for New Way\u2019s 6am departure, while night owls might prefer Ban\u2019s or Sairee Cottage\u2019s more relaxed dive times. <\/li>\n
    • Is the equipment up to date and in my size? Schools in Koh Tao have a solid record for equipment range and maintenance, but it never hurts to ask. <\/li>\n
    • Will I get to have my own dive computer throughout the course? Is there an extra charge? <\/li>\n
    • How qualified is the instructor? Some students may appreciate the enthusiasm and up-to-date training of a new instructor, while others may find comfort in a teacher with tons of qualifications and years of experience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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