Level
Advanced
Course
Duration
1.5
Days
Max Depth
30
Meters
Cost
฿10,000
Thai Baht
Dive into an exhilarating adventure with the SSI Advanced Open Water Course in Koh Tao! This program is equivalent to the PADI Advanced Open Water scuba diving course and perfectly balances skill-building and exploration, offering you the opportunity to engage in a variety of diving experiences, from enchanting night dives to fascinating wreck dives in Koh Tao. Under the guidance of our experienced instructors, you’ll gain valuable insights and hands-on experience in diverse dive environments during your SSI Advanced Open Water course. Each adventure dive not only sharpens your diving skills but also counts toward your specialty course certifications, making this course an exciting step in your journey to becoming a more confident diver.
There are 2 mandatory dives, which are the Deep Diving and Navigation dive.
We recommend choosing the 3 following adventure dives to make the most of Koh Tao's dive sites:
Perfect Buoyancy
Night Dive
Wreck
10:30-12:00 Advanced academic session
12:00-12:30 Break
12:30-17:00 Adventure dives 1+2
18:00-19:30 Adventure dive 3 (night)
08:00-12:00 Adventure dives 4+5
12:00-12:30 Certification and celebration :)
Unlock a world of diving possibilities with this exciting course! Explore various specialties through five adventure dives, with each dive counting toward your future specialty certifications for a more enriched diving journey.
Great two days diving with the team , all the instructors are so nice and make you feel so relaxed . Not over sold at all which so many other boats looked like and the one on one training was next level Thanks to Joe for a great experience and epic memories
Andrea, Liv, and Lydia were all fantastic! They kept us safe, listened to our feedback/questions, and made sure we knew what we were doing. It was our first time diving and it was such a pleasure to complete our open water cert with them. I can't say you'll be as lucky as us, but we were even able to see a whale shark on our last dive! They keep the classes small, have multiple boats, and make the whole process so enjoyable. I'd absolutely recommend them to others who are learning to dive!
We had the greatest time in Goodtime with wonderful instructors. Big thanks to Lydia, Andrea and Liv for giving us the best experience throughout the open water course! We learnt all we need to feel safe while enjoying diving (we even ended up diving with a whale shark on our last day). I could not recommend it more!
Fantastic 3 days to pass our open water diver certification! The instructors and DMTs are fabulous and always helpful, put you in confidence to attend your dive! Cheers and thank you so much to Lydia, Andrea and Liv (Liv x 2, Liv x5748392)
We were debating between multiple shops for our open water course and we are SO GLAD we picked GOODTIME! We felt safe the entire time and learned so much! It was just the 2 of us with an instructor as they keep small group sizes which we prefer. They have their own dive boat, this is a huge plus as other companies in the area will share a big boat and it seems more crowded. The people are the best part, feels more like a community and everyone was so kind. We had the pleasure of learning from Max & Tim! Ana, Charly, Gary and Logan also helped and made our experience even better! 10/10 would recommend! Might stay and continue our adventure license with them 🤙
I want to say a huuuuge thank you to the goodtime team for helping us have the best time in Koh Tao. They really made sure we were comfortable and happy and went out of their way to ensure we got the most out of our time and money. I want to say an even bigger thank you to Shai who was my diving instructor. He adopted me for my open water course, my advanced and even introduced me to the nitrox course which I'm glad I got to do. Shai has taught me so much about the world of diving and I feel like I've come back with priceless knowledge and understanding of the ocean and how to keep myself safe. I'm so grateful to have spent my week in Koh Tao with goodtime, I've had a smile on my face since my first dive. I will definitely be back in the future for more diving. Wishing you all the best 🥰
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.
