With more than 80 scuba dive schools on Koh Tao, and over 30 of them holding TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence, it can feel overwhelming to decide where to learn scuba diving. Here are the key factors to consider when choosing the best dive school in Koh Tao.

Course Prices

Lets start with price – all the best shops with the best customer service, most experienced and dedicated dive professionals and who take you to varied dive sites all charge at least 11,000 for an Open Water course and your best experience will come with one of these shops.

Dive Boats

Secondly, you need to ask if your shop has their own boat or boats? This is important as this allows the dive school to cater to their customers needs in a much better way than sharing boat space. You will always get a better experience with any shop that maintains its own boats. Not to say that sharing a boat with another dive shop isn’t a bad thing, especially for the environment as less boats equals less pollution, but it will be crowded.

When the boats leave is a huge factor often overlooked, if your shop is leaving between 0630-0800 you will be in for very crowded dive sites. Shops leaving before or after this time will ensure far less people in the water with you when diving.

Location & Boat Access

Another factor is where your shop is located and how you actually get onto the dive boat? Shops in Sairee and Chalok tend to use a small boat off the beach to a bigger boat. This is efficient, flexible and relatively easy – while most of the shops in Mae Had use the extremely crowded main pier. Sometimes you may have to boat hop across up to 15 boats to get to yours, carrying SCUBA equipment no less – something that is not a great experience, especially when its very hot.

Diving Agencies (PADI vs SSI vs RAID)

Which Scuba agency should you chose? PADI, SSI or RAID? The answer, it really doesn’t matter! PADI and SSI are the two biggest diving agencies in the world and RAID is up and coming. They are all approved by the international diving regulators and adhere to the highest training standards.

The certifications that you gain from these agencies are considered the same, meaning no matter what agency you choose, at the end of your open water course you will be an internationally certified Open Water Diver. Also, different diving agencies will accept certifications from other agencies. For example, if you do your open water course with PADI you can continue your education with SSI or vice versa. In practise there are very little differences.

Atmosphere & Class Size

Next thing for you to consider is the atmosphere and size of the school you would like to learn with. Dive schools on Koh Tao range from very big to very small. With the bigger schools, there are many people to learn with and share your experience but you may be taught in bigger groups (up to 8 people), which extends the course to 4 days.

Smaller schools offer a more personal experience and smaller groups (1-4 people) so that you may get more personal attention from your instructor and can complete the course in 3 days. It is natural for all people to feel a bit nervous about learning to dive for the first time so if you are feeling a little anxious, a more personal touch might be right for you.

Language Options

How about language? If English is not your strong point, don’t worry. Instructors on Koh Tao come from all over the world so most languages can be catered for, all you have to do is ask!

Safety Standards

Lastly, instructors working on Koh Tao are trained to the very highest level and the safety standards on the island are some of the best in the world.

So rest assured, no matter who you choose to dive with, we will show you a great time and keep you safe!

Why Choose Goodtime Thailand?

At Goodtime Koh Tao, we:

  • Run small groups for a personal learning experience.
  • Offer later departures to avoid crowded dive sites.
  • Maintain two private boats that load directly from the beach.
  • Employ highly experienced, multilingual instructors.
  • Provide Open Water Courses, Advanced Courses, and specialty training for all levels.

No matter which course you choose, we’ll ensure you feel safe, confident, and ready to explore the incredible underwater world of Koh Tao.

Is PADI better than SSI for diving in Koh Tao?

No. PADI and SSI certifications are internationally recognized and considered equal. You can even start with one agency and continue with the other without issue.

How much does an Open Water course cost in Koh Tao?

Most reputable schools charge around 11,000 THB for an Open Water Diver course. This price usually includes equipment, materials, instructor fees, and certification.

How long does it take to get certified?

An Open Water course typically takes 2.5 to 3 days. Smaller schools with fewer students can often complete training in 3 days, while larger groups may take 4 days.

What’s the best time of day to dive in Koh Tao?

Dive schools that leave outside of the 6:30–8:00 AM rush tend to visit less crowded sites, giving you a more relaxed diving experience.