Level
Beginner
Course
Duration
0.5
Days
Max Depth
12
Meters
Cost
฿3,500
Thai Baht
This half-day SSI Basic Diver course offers a beginner-friendly intro to discover scuba diving in Koh Tao, blending stunning underwater scenery with expert guidance from our certified SSI instructors. You’ll try scuba diving by starting the day with an overview of dive safety and equipment before heading out for two open water dives at Koh Tao’s best dive sites.
The first dive will be spent in the shallow water practicing a few basic Scuba Diving skills to help you feel comfortable and confident. On the second dive you will spend time discovering why Koh Tao is renowned for its vibrant marine life and crystal-clear waters, all while enjoying a safe and unforgettable scuba diving experience.
Finish the day by getting your SSI Basic Diver recognition which will allow you to experience scuba diving with an instructor up to 12m for the next 6 months!
10:00-12:00 Basic academics
12:00-12:30 Break
12:30-17:00 2 x ocean dives (max. 12m)
If you’ve completed your SSI Basic Diver program or decided to try scuba diving and loved it, the SSI Open Water Diver course is the perfect next step. This certification builds on your initial experience, giving you the skills, knowledge, and confidence to dive independently with a buddy to a depth of 18 meters.
With a balance of classroom learning, confined water sessions, and open water dives, you’ll move from trying scuba to becoming a certified diver ready to explore the ocean anywhere in the world.
A half-day introduction to try scuba diving, perfect for beginners seeking a quick, exciting experience exploring Koh Tao’s underwater beauty.
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.
