Level
Beginner
Course
Duration
2.5
Days
Max Depth
18
Meters
Cost
฿12,000
Thai Baht
Embark on your scuba journey with the Open Water Diver Course in Koh Tao. Over 2.5 days, you’ll combine interactive classroom learning, hands-on shallow water practice, and four incredible open water dives around the island.
Guided by experienced SSI instructors, you’ll master essential dive skills, gain confidence underwater, and discover the vibrant coral reefs and marine life that make Koh Tao world-famous. By the end of the course, you’ll earn your SSI Open Water Diver certification, allowing you to dive anywhere in the world up to 18 meters.
8:00-12:00 Orientation & Academic session
12:00-12:30 Break
12:30-17:00 2 Open Water Dives
17:00-17:30 Debrief
09:00-10:30 Academic session 4-6
10:30-11:00 Dive planning
11:00-11:30 Exam and mask fitting workshop
11:30-12:15 Break
12:30-17:00 2 Open water dives
17:00-17:30 Debrief
07:30-12:00 2 Open water dives
12:00-12:30 Certification and celebration :)
The SSI Advanced Adventurer Course is the perfect follow-up to your Open Water certification. Designed to enhance your confidence and abilities, this course introduces you to five different types of dives, including deep diving and underwater navigation.
In just two days, you’ll gain the skills to dive deeper (up to 30 meters) and explore more advanced dive sites around Koh Tao and beyond. Whether you’re interested in night dives, wreck exploration, or perfecting your buoyancy, this course is your gateway to becoming a more skilled and adventurous diver.
Learn to scuba dive in Koh Tao with the SSI Open Water Diver Course. In just 2.5 days, you’ll train with expert instructors, complete four ocean dives, and earn your certification to dive worldwide up to 18m.
Had the BEST time at good time. The instructors here are amazing and hold the highest standards. Special shoutout to Ana my open water instructor and Carmen my advanced open water instructor, I feel way more confident in my diving and skills. Thanks Charlie for being so accommodating, definitely recommend choosing this for a more one on one dive experience!!!
On June 29th, I did a refresh dive with Lydia as instructor. It had been quite a while since my last dive, and I thoroughly refreshed the basics, both theory and practice. Lydia is amazing! She is a skilled communicator, has a pleasant voice, knows what she is talking about, and takes her time with you. The two dives were relaxed, and she knows how to avoid the crowds underwater. I felt safe and am entering the water again with full confidence. Thank you! And Bente... thank you for your tips! Regards, Joris
Goodtime Diving was awesome! We came to Koh Tao to get our Open Water certifications and talked with a bunch of different dive shops, and Good Time was definitely the best one. We enjoyed the course so much that we decided to also get our Advanced Open Water and Nitrox specialty with Goodtime Diving. Shout out to our instructor Shai, who was so passionate, patient, and engaging throughout every course. He explained everything clearly, made sure everyone understood both the theory and practical skills, and was always happy to go over things again whenever we needed. His enthusiasm made every dive fun and helped us feel confident and comfortable in the water. We couldn't have asked for a better instructor and would highly recommend Good Time Diving to anyone looking to learn to dive on Koh Tao!
This place is not only a wonderful place to chill with a beer to watch the sunset and have some good food but also obviously for diving and adventure! Shoutout to Ana for excellent scuba instruction- she is patient, cheerful, thorough , and a wonderful soul 🇧🇷. Shoutout to Shai for being careful, attentive, and I learned a lot in my Advanced Open Water course. I like that it was a small group of 3. (Goodtimes can do it with 1 person!! ) . Shoutout to Logan for being a talented photographer and a relatable world traveler- chill vibes. Shoutout to Andrew for being an experienced climber with some cool routes to share. Shoutout to Charly for running a competent and excellent business here on Koh Tao. Shoutout to the bar & kitchen team for being so kind and hardworking.
Had such a fun time doing my open water here!! Shai was the best instructor, very thorough and explained everything well. The dives were beautiful, and I couldn’t have imagined getting certified anywhere else! Also shoutout to Charly for being so kind and helpful throughout the whole process :)
Had a great couple dives with Ben, super friendly staff, good equipment, and a beach club on site for a cheeky after-dive pint with the team. Precisely what Koh Tao is about! Cheers
Scuba Diving in Koh Tao has been very popular for years, we have some of Thailand’s best dive sites and great diving conditions all year round. Our most popular course is the SSI Open Water Diver course which takes 2.5 days to complete and allows to to dive all over the world once you are certified. This course is ideal for beginners who want to get Scuba certified on Koh Tao.
If you are short on time the SSI Basic Diver is for you! This is a half-day experience where you can dip your toes in and explore the underwater world.
You can earn an Open Water Diver certification with any major dive organization. An SSI diver can dive at PADI centers worldwide, and vice versa.
However, with SSI you do get benefits:
Online Learning
While most organisations offer online learning, not all of them offer it free of charge and can end up racking up quite the bill. SSI offers your learning materials for free as part of your course registration and is easy to navigate using the MySSI app. The app is regularly updated and also offers additional free courses like the ‘Try Diving’ and the ‘Blue Oceans‘ for you to enhance your scuba diving knowledge.
Recognition Ratings
SSI do things a little differently to other diving agencies, they continue to recognise your advancement in diving whether you are enrolled in a course or not. When you reach certain milestones you will be awarded recognition status. This is why we encourage specialities over the SSI Advanced Open Water or PADI Advanced Open Water courses. With SSI once you complete 4 speciality courses and 24 dives you will automatically be rewarded with Advanced Open Water recognition status. Taking this route allows you to explore your passions underwater without being restricted to one exploration dive per specialty! Don’t forget we offer discounts on bundles too!
Flexibility
SSI allows its professionals to teach using an 80/20 approach. Instructors can adapt 20% of the course to match each student’s learning pace.
The minimum age to learn to scuba dive and become certified is ten years old. If the diver is between 10-14 they will be awarded with a Junior SSI Open Water Certification that will automatically upgrade to Open Water Diver once they turn 15.
However, the SSI Explorers program provides options for children aged six and up to experience diving and snorkeling in very shallow water.
Diving in Koh Tao is popular for its year-round diving conditions, boasting clear waters, vibrant marine life, and stunning dive sites available 365 days a year. Whether you’re a beginner starting with an SSI Open Water Diver course or an experienced diver, diving in Koh Tao offers it all—excellent training sites, famous dive spots, shipwrecks, and pinnacles like Sail Rock. With some of the world’s most affordable and accessible diving packages, Koh Tao remains a must-visit destination for underwater enthusiasts across Southeast Asia.
At Goodtime, we make your Koh Tao experience even more affordable with our exclusive discounts. Get 25% off accommodation, with rates starting at just 1,150 Baht for private double or twin rooms and 500 Baht per night in our 4-bed dorms. Enjoy 20% off delicious meals at our beachfront restaurant, perfect for refueling after your adventures. Plus, save 10% when you book any scuba diving or rock climbing bundle—making it easier than ever to dive, climb, and relax on Koh Tao!
SSI do things a little differently to other diving agencies, they continue to recognise your advancement in diving whether you are enrolled in a course or not. When you reach certain milestones you will be awarded recognition status. This is why we encourage specialities over the SSI Advanced Open Water or PADI Advanced Open Water courses. With SSI once you complete 4 speciality courses and 24 dives you will automatically be rewarded with Advanced Open Water recognition status. Taking this route allows you to explore your passions underwater without being restricted to one exploration dive per specialty! Don’t forget we offer discounts on bundles too!
Yes, a basic level of in-water ability is required to scuba dive. For certain courses, you’ll need to complete a water fitness evaluation before heading into the open water. This includes either a 200-meter unaided swim or a 300-meter swim using a mask, snorkel, and fins. These requirements ensure your safety and confidence during your underwater adventures.
