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
10:00-12:00 Advanced academic session
12:00-12:30 Break
12:30-17:00 Adventure dives 1+2
18:00-19:30 Adventure dive 3 (night)
07:45-12:00 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.
We had our first diving experience with diving instructors Fabio, Ana, Shai and Chris today and it was amazing! They were very professional, easy going and supportive during the whole process. Very nice experience from the reception at front desk up till the last minute! S&J
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Did my Advanced Open Water with Good Time Adventures and had an incredible experience. My instructor Fabio was great. He really made sure I understood everything with the exact mix of theory and practice, helped me improve my skills and feel more confident in the water. The night dive was something I was nervous about, but he made me feel safe and it’s an experience I’ll never forget. The boat crew was lovely too, instructors Ana and Shai and the other students made the whole thing even more fun. Highly recommend! 🤿❤️
Doing the open water diver at good time was an amazing experience. Our teacher Lydia really took her time to explain everything calmly and understandably, it was perfect to get into the world of diving. She also focused on our weaknesses, so we could improve a lot over the 3 day course. I can 100% recommend doing your open water diving course with goodtimes and lydia!!
Oh my goodness, this place is absolutely incredible! 🤩 Everything was perfect, from start to finish! 💯 What an amazing experience doing the Open Diver Course! Lydia our instructor was the absolute best and made the experience even more wonderful 😄 I would surely come back here for fun dives and doing further certifications.
Had a great scuba diving experience here. Chris was an excellent instructor - patient, professional, and reassuring throughout the dive. He made me feel comfortable and confident as a beginner. Highly recommend!
Did an intro scuba course with Chris and it was amazing. Super patient, clear, and made the whole thing feel fun and safe. Highly recommend.
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.
