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.
We had four dives with Daan, Mike & Lukas. Awesome experience with supernice & helpful guys literally creating good times! It is also a lovely spot to hang around at the beach club with wonderful breakfast, delicious smoothies and great waiters. We came here several times and enjoyed it!
Goodtime offered a nice environment for me to obtain my OWD certification. I enjoyed the course works by SSI. My instructor, Daan Schouwstra, is experienced and detailed. I was lucky to have him. For beginners looking for OWD certification, Goodtime is an excellent choice here at Koh Tao. Please note that the 2.5 days program may not be enough for you to get certified. All trainings were in open water. I had prior OWD certification courses (like Referral Diver) done in cold water, and done 2 discovery dives in Maldives. The 2.5 days certification program is very condensed. I recommend you finished and passed the SSI OWD course works on their App prior to your arrival. Also, be prepare to swim 200 meters and tread 10 minutes in open water. Enjoy your dives! 🤙
First time diving and it was fantastic! Lisa explained everything very well, and afterward, we had a fantastic dive with her! I would recommend it to anyone visiting Koh Tao!
Our Diver Instructor Daan was the best I could have asked for, for my very first diving experience! He was patient and helpful to everyone in our group. Definitely want to dive again after such a positive day!! 🐟🐠🪼
Shai is an excellent diving instructor. He combines deep professional knowledge with a real passion for teaching and sharing his experience. Calm, supportive, motivating and FUN, he makes the learning process feel safe, enjoyable, and inspiring. Highly recommended.
We completed our Open Water certification with Goodtime on Ko Tao — and we already can’t wait to come back for our Advanced Open Water! We were welcomed with open arms, and the vibes were just super cool from start to finish. A huge, huge thank you to our instructor Lydia! She guided us through the two and a half days in such a calm, professional, and supportive way. She explained everything clearly and always stayed patient and composed. Even in situations that were challenging for us as students while learning new skills, she kept her calm and guided us through with confidence and reassurance. At the same time, we could always laugh together — she brought amazing fun energy while still making us feel completely safe. It was always a great time with her, both above and under water! Also a big thank you to Lukas for his constant good vibes and positive energy. And a special thanks to Mike for the incredible photos! He made everything feel so easy, allowing us to fully enjoy the dives while still capturing awesome underwater pictures. Such a perfect balance. Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Five stars without a doubt — we would 100% recommend Goodtime to anyone looking for an unforgettable diving experience on Ko Tao. We’ll definitely be back for our Advanced Open Water! 🌊💙
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.
