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Scuba Diving in Koh Tao | Courses For Beginners & Certified Divers

Choose The Right Diving Experience For You!​

Dive into the magical world beneath the waves with our beginner-friendly PADI courses, designed to make learning safe, easy, and fun! Whether you’ve never tried scuba before or want to become a certified diver in Koh Tao, we’ve got the perfect entry point for you.

Our PADI Dive Courses For Beginners

PADI DSD Discover Scuba Diver Simply Scuba Koh Tao David Webber

Try Scuba Diving (No Experience Needed)

½ Day | 1 – 2 Dives | 12m Max Depth

No experience needed! Try scuba diving in Koh Tao’s shallow waters with PADI pros.

Price: 2,500 THB

Simply Scuba Koh Tao DMC

PADI Open Water Diver Course

3½ Days | 4 Dives | 18m Max Depth

Get your PADI certification in Koh Tao in 3-4 days! Small groups, all gear included.

Price: 11,000 THB

Daily Dive Trips Koh Tao Simply Scuba

Scuba Diving Trips (Certified Divers Only)

Minimum Certified Open Water Diver

Explore the best diving Thailand has to offer. Book your daily dive tour and experience the magic beneath the waves.

From 900 THB

We have certified more than  3,000 divers 

4.9

5 star reviews tripadvisor simply scuba koh tao

TripAdvisor

4.8

5 star reviews tripadvisor simply scuba koh tao

Google Reviews

Already A Diver? Find Your Next Challenge!

Ready to push your limits? Our advanced courses unlock new underwater worlds and skills. Dive deeper (to 30m) and explore specialties like night diving, wreck diving, or peak performance buoyancy. Or train in Nitrox, Deep, Underwater Photography, and more to become a more skilled and confident diver.

Advanced Open Water Koh Tao Wreck Diving Simply Scuba PADI

Advanced Open Water Diver Course (AOW)

2 Day | 5 Dives | 30m Max Depth

Upgrade your skills with PADI Advanced Open Water in Koh Tao.

Price: 10,000 THB

EFR Rescue Diver Koh Tao Simply Scuba Courses Scuba Diving-min

Rescue Diver Course + EFR

4 Days | Theory & Practice

Master life-saving skills with our combo EFR + Rescue Diver course in Koh Tao.

Price: 14,000 THB

PADI Specialty Courses Simply Scuba Koh Tao

PADI Specialty Courses

Minimum 1 Dive | Max. 5 Dives Per Day

Discover new depths with PADI Specialty Courses – from night dives to wrecks.

Price: From 8,000 THB

Explore the Best of Koh Tao Scuba Diving – Koh Tao Diving Tours

Join us for unforgettable scuba diving tours in Koh Tao. Our daily dive trips include two guided dives, high-quality gear rental, a tasty Thai lunch, and refreshments.

  • Sail Rock – Thailand’s top-rated dive site, known for its stunning walls and whale shark encounters.

  • Koh Tao Reefs – Dive crystal-clear waters with vibrant marine biodiversity, perfect for all levels, such as White Rock, Twins, Southwest Pinnacle or Mango Bay.

  • Chumphon Pinnacle – A deeper, thrilling dive for advanced divers, teeming with big schools of fish.

Why Choose Simply Scuba Koh Tao?
  • Prime Location / Beachfront Dive Center: Beachfront dive center near Koh Tao’s best nightlife, dining, and sunset views, with short boat rides to 25+ dive sites​

  • Top-Rated Dive Sites: Discover the rich biodiversity of Koh Tao’s underwater ecosystems, home to colorful coral formations, tropical fish, and, with a bit of luck, sea turtles or even whale sharks.

  • No Prior Experience Required: This program is designed for individuals aged 10 and above, with no previous diving experience necessary.

  • Flexible Scheduling: With daily departures, we accommodate your travel plans, making it easy to fit this unforgettable experience into your itinerary.

  • Award-winning Facilities: Two custom dive boats, two training pools, air-conditioned classrooms, and equipment included for safety and comfort
  • Experienced Instructors: Our team of certified PADI professionals ensures a safe and enjoyable experience for your child.

  • Small Group Sizes: We maintain low student-to-instructor ratios to provide personalised attention.

  • Family-Friendly Environment: Our facilities are designed to accommodate families, making it a perfect activity for everyone.

  • Reputable Dive Center: As a PADI 5-Star Dive Center, we adhere to the highest standards of diver education and safety.

  • Community Engagement: We actively participate in marine conservation efforts, offering specialties like Dive Against Debris.

Frequently asked questions

Most people who travel to Koh Tao choose to stay for 3 or 4 days.
Despite Koh Tao’s small size, the island offers much to see and explore.

Scuba diving is the main motive for people visiting Koh Tao. The island is encircled by coral reefs and underwater monoliths, teeming with tropical aquatic life.

Whether learning to scuba dive or furthering your training, PADI courses typically run over 2-4 days. For certified divers, joining dive tours over multiple days allows you to explore all the best dive sites near Koh Tao.

There’s plenty to discover above water too. Fantastic cuisine, beautiful beaches, jungle trails with mind-blowing viewpoints, and lively nightlife.

As a tourist visiting Koh Tao, a 3-4 night stay is ideal to see the highlights.

Any month is usually great for scuba diving in Koh Tao, except during monsoon season.

Situated in southern Thailand, tropical Koh Tao enjoys hot sunny weather all year round. Sea conditions in the Gulf of Thailand are typically calm, with water temperatures measuring between 27-29°C. Underwater visibility is good to excellent, with negligible currents around Koh Tao. We enjoy excellent scuba diving throughout the year.

At Simply Scuba Koh Tao, we’re proud to continue the legacy of Simple Life Divers – one of Koh Tao’s pioneering dive schools established in 2003. Our partnership blends decades of island expertise with cutting-edge dive education.

Long before Koh Tao became a diving mecca, our founders created one of the island’s first rustic beach bars and bungalows – a haven for travellers seeking tropical vibes, fresh seafood, and unforgettable sunsets.

That same spirit of authentic island hospitality now fuels our PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center.

Since earning our PADI Outstanding Contribution Award, we’ve:

  • Certified thousands of divers from beginners to professionals

  • Maintained Koh Tao’s highest safety standards

  • Grown from a single bungalow operation to premier dive facilities with modern amenities

Yes! Koh Tao is one of the world’s top destinations for beginners due to calm waters, shallow dive sites, and affordable courses. Over 70% of divers on the island are beginners.

Year-round, but April–May offers peak visibility (30m+) and whale shark sightings. Monsoon season (Oct–Jan) has rougher seas but fewer crowds

The PADI Open Water course takes 3–4 days. Advanced courses add 2–3 more days

No, but you must swim 200m (untimed) and tread water for 10 minutes. Non-swimmers can try Discover Scuba Diving in shallow water

Top sites include Sail Rock (whale sharks), Chumphon Pinnacle (pelagic fish), and HTMS Sattakut wreck. Beginners train in shallow bays like Japanese Gardens

8 years for Bubblemaker (shallow pool), 10 years for Junior Open Water certification

Yes, with a 100% safety record at top centers. All instructors are trained in emergency oxygen administration, and hyperbaric chambers are nearby 

Yes! Prescription masks are available, or you can dive with soft contact lenses.

Testimonials

January 2025 | Alex h

Amazing diving school thanks to Meg and Dave. They were really helpful and also really funny and made the whole experience really fantastic to be honest. If you’re wondering where to go definitely go to this school and ask for Dave or Meg to be your instructor, you can’t go wrong.

Dec 2024 | Lotte

Out of all the places to do your open water course in Koh Tao, which are a lot, I am so glad I got to do mine at Simple Life Divers, with Dave as my instructor. During this three-day course you thoroughly learn all the skills that are needed for open water diving. Dave’s patience and laid-back way of teaching really amplified our confidence, which made the experience in general a very positive one. A welcoming community during the dives and outside of it, as we got to join them for Christmas dinner as well. When in Koh Tao, I’d definitely recommend starting or continuing diving as the diving sites are absolutely stunning and the crew of Simple Life Divers so supportive, an unbeatable combination.

Dec 2024 | Sean V
There’s an overwhelming number of options when choosing a diving school on Koh Tao, but these guys were seriously awesome! Dave was an amazing instructor with a perfect blend of fun but knowledgeable. The group size was also fantastic. Can’t recommend enough!
Nov 2024 | Anna M
Nailed my OWD course with Dave and I couldn’t be happier about it. Classes were focused on mastering practical skills with a lot of advice, attention, comfort and care. Thanks for all the support and encouragement provided – I have felt so safe and seen, Dave and Nathan were always there for me whenever I had any doubts or needed extra assistance. Proud to be a part of divers’ community since today!
April 2025 | Cruiser18442934740

I did my Open Water and Advanced Scuba Diving Certifications back-to-back with Dave as my instructor. The whole time he made me feel super safe and confident in everything I was doing, whilst also being such a good laugh. I learnt so much from him, he’s so knowledgeable in the industry, and he really tried to impart as much of that knowledge as possible. He made the experience so enjoyable for the group.

It’s quite nerve-wracking being a new diver, but all the Simple Life Divers are so friendly and helpful whether it’s in the dive shop or out on the water. I’d like to give a huge shout-out to Billy, in particular, who helped out on both my courses.

I really recommend Simple Life as the dive shop of choice in Koh Tao.

March 2025 | Sophie D

Had a great time with Dave doing my open water course. Never dived before, everyone was very nice and welcoming and made me feel comfortable in the water. Very relaxed, great dive sites, highly recommend!

March 2025 | Dreamer30663427746

My Instructor Dave was funny and knowledgable as always, did my Open water diver last year and came back this time to do the Advanced course. Cant do much wrong booking here.

March 2025 | Albert C

Just finished my open water qualification with Simple Life Divers! – My instructor Dave Webber is a class act. Great banter, very knowledgable and easy to learn from! I originally discovered Simple Life via word of mouth (friend at home) and can safely say anyone who wants to learn scuba on Koh Tao this is the only place you need to go to.

March 2025 | Olivia W

The experience was nothing short of phenomenal, not just because of the beautiful reefs of Koh Tao, but our instructors Dave and Jake. Both created a super safe space for learning and asking questions. Dave’s delivery of the course was beyond expectations and supplemented by his wealth of experience, having been diving for 32 years all over the world. He prioritizes safety in his teaching and during training dives, frequently checking in with each student and taking the time to thoroughly explain tough concepts or key points. I’d come all the way back to Koh Tao from Canada to do my advanced level cert just because of Dave, he’s an absolute legend.

March 2025 | Tessa L

With so many dive schools on the island, I took my time and visited six different ones to find the perfect fit. I wanted not just a professional and safe diving school, but also a place where I would feel comfortable and supported.

What made this experience truly special was the way Dave and Jake shared their passion for diving with such patience and enthusiasm. They created a relaxed and supportive learning environment where I felt completely safe and confident in the water. Taking my first breath underwater and floating among the stunning marine life of Koh Tao was absolutely magical.

Contact

Need help? Call us or message us (WhatsApp)

+66 808 295006


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