SSI Divemaster & Specialties ยท Koh Tao
Go Pro.
Go Deeper.
Go Further.
Koh Tao is one of the world's best places to advance your training. Whether you want to add a specialty, master a skill, or turn diving into a profession โ this is where it happens.
โก Fast reply on WhatsApp ยท Tailored advice for your level
Already Advanced certified? Specialties are your next natural step โ each one adds a skill that makes every future dive better.
โ Not yet Advanced? See the Advanced courseContinuing Education with SSI
Your training doesn't stop at certified.
At Carabao Diving, we believe certification is the beginning โ not the destination. Koh Tao's clear warm waters, diverse marine life, and world-class dive sites make it one of the most rewarding places on the planet to build real diving skills. Whether you want to spend a week adding specialties or commit to a full Divemaster programme, we'll help you find the right path.
The professional path
SSI Divemaster Course
The first step into professional diving. Lead dives, assist instructors, and build the skills to work anywhere in the world.
What is the Divemaster course?
The SSI Divemaster programme is your entry into professional diving. It's a rigorous, rewarding course that trains you to supervise recreational divers, lead guided dives, assist instructors during courses, and handle real-world underwater situations with confidence.
As a Divemaster, you'll be recognized as a diving professional by SSI โ one of the world's leading dive training agencies โ and eligible to work at dive centres across the globe.
Who is it for?
- โAdvanced certified divers ready to go professional
- โDivers who want to lead others and share their passion
- โAnyone considering a season or career in diving
- โTravel lovers who want to fund trips through diving
What you'll master
- โฆDive theory: physics, physiology, decompression, equipment
- โฆDivemaster skills circuit โ precision, rescue, leadership
- โฆGuiding and supervising recreational diver groups
- โฆAssisting SSI instructors during training courses
- โฆUnderwater navigation, search and recovery
- โฆDive site briefings, planning, and emergency management
- โฆStress and rescue responses in real conditions
Prerequisites (SSI standard)
- ยทSSI Advanced Adventurer or equivalent
- ยทCPR/First Aid certification (within 24 months)
- ยทMedical fitness-to-dive statement
- ยทMinimum 40 logged dives to start ยท 60 to certify
โก We'll review your logbook and map out your path
20+ years in Koh Tao
We know every site, every current, every creature. Your training is built on real-world expertise, not just theory.
Real dive exposure
You'll assist on actual courses and lead real divers โ not just practice drills. That's how you build confidence that lasts.
SSI recognition worldwide
Your SSI Divemaster certification is accepted globally. One course, unlimited doors opened.
Specialty Courses
Deepen what you know
Each specialty course takes 1โ2 days and focuses on a single skill that will improve every dive you take for the rest of your life.
Wreck Diving
Descend into history. Learn to navigate submerged structures safely, understand wreck penetration basics, and explore the extraordinary marine ecosystems that form around wrecks.
Koh Tao has some of Thailand's best accessible wrecks.
Ask about Wreck DivingNight Diving
The reef transforms after dark. Hunting octopus, glowing bioluminescence, cuttlefish in motion. A Night Diving specialty teaches you to dive safely and confidently in low visibility.
One of the most memorable dives you'll ever do.
Ask about Night DivingNavigation
Master compass use, natural landmarks, and distance estimation underwater. Navigate back to the boat without surfacing โ a fundamental skill every serious diver needs.
Reduces anxiety and builds real independence underwater.
Ask about NavigationDeep Diving
Push beyond 18m safely. Understand narcosis, gas management at depth, and deep buoyancy control. The Deep specialty opens up a whole new dimension of dive sites.
Reach depths up to 40m with proper training.
Ask about Deep DivingNitrox (Enriched Air)
Dive with enriched air nitrox to extend your bottom time and reduce surface intervals. The most popular specialty worldwide โ and one of the most practical upgrades for any diver.
More time underwater. Less time on the surface.
Ask about Nitrox (Enriched Air)Perfect Buoyancy
Hover effortlessly. Move with precision. Use less air. Perfect buoyancy is the skill that separates good divers from great ones โ and the single best investment you can make in your diving.
Protect reefs. Look like a pro. Feel the difference.
Ask about Perfect BuoyancyWhy continue with us
The Carabao difference
Advanced training deserves an advanced environment. Here's what makes Carabao Diving the right place to keep growing.
01
SSI training you can trust
All our courses follow SSI international standards. Your certifications are recognised at dive centres and liveaboards worldwide.
02
Truly small groups
We cap groups at 2 students for most courses. More time with the instructor means faster progress and better results.
03
Koh Tao's best dive sites
Our boats leave directly from Chalok Bay, giving you access to a huge variety of conditions โ from calm coral gardens to deeper wrecks and pinnacles.
04
Instructors who care
Our team knows their students by name, adapts to each diver's pace, and is with you from the first briefing to the final debrief.
Your path
Your diving journey
Pro & Specialties
You're here. Add skills, go pro, keep growing.
From divers who trained with us
What our students say
I did my Divemaster with Carabao and it was the best decision I've made. Small team, real dive exposure, and instructors who actually invest in you. I got a job at a dive centre in Indonesia 3 months later.
Sara L.
๐ธ๐ช Sweden ยท SSI Divemaster
I came for Perfect Buoyancy and stayed for Night and Wreck. Three specialties in one week, and my diving completely transformed. The instructors here are the real deal โ patient, expert, and genuinely passionate.
Marco F.
๐ฎ๐น Italy ยท Specialty diver
Nitrox was a game changer. I did two dives a day for a week and barely felt the fatigue I used to get on air. The course is short, the team explained everything clearly, and I was diving nitrox the next morning.
Lena B.
๐ฉ๐ช Germany ยท Nitrox specialty
Common questions
Specialties & Divemaster FAQ
What is the difference between a specialty and the Divemaster course?+
Specialty courses are focused skill upgrades โ each one adds a specific competency (wreck diving, night diving, nitrox, etc.) and typically takes 1โ2 days. The Divemaster course is a full professional-level programme that trains you to lead divers, assist instructors, and work in the dive industry. They serve very different goals.
Which specialty should I choose first?+
Perfect Buoyancy and Navigation are the two we recommend for almost every diver โ they improve every single dive you'll ever do. Nitrox is ideal if you plan to do multiple dives per day. Wreck and Night are for divers who want adventure. Deep opens up new dive sites. We're happy to recommend based on your goals โ just ask us on WhatsApp.
Can I combine specialties?+
Yes, and it's a great idea. Many divers do 2โ3 specialties in a single trip. Some combinations (like Navigation + Night, or Deep + Wreck) work especially well together. Tell us your dates and we'll plan the most efficient schedule.
How long does the Divemaster course take?+
The SSI Divemaster programme typically takes 4โ8 weeks depending on your starting experience level and how quickly you complete the required dives and evaluations. We'll give you a clear timeline once we review your certification and logbook.
What are the prerequisites for the Divemaster course?+
You need at least an SSI Advanced Adventurer certification (or equivalent), a valid CPR/First Aid qualification within the last 24 months, a medical fitness-to-dive statement, and a minimum of 40 logged dives to begin training (60 to receive final certification). We'll guide you through everything.
Do I need my own equipment for specialties or Divemaster?+
Not for specialty courses โ all equipment is included. For the Divemaster programme, we recommend you have or acquire your own equipment during the course, as you'll be diving daily. We can advise on what to buy and what to prioritise.
Is Nitrox worth it for recreational divers?+
For most divers who do 2 or more dives per day, yes โ it's genuinely worth it. Nitrox extends your no-decompression limits, which means more time at depth and shorter surface intervals. The course is also one of the shortest and most affordable specialty options.
Ready to keep growing?
Tell us where you are.
We'll tell you what's next.
Message us with your certification level, number of dives, and what you're aiming for. We'll recommend the best training path for your goals and available time.
โก Fast reply ยท SSI certified ยท Small groups ยท Chalok Bay, Koh Tao
SSI Divemaster Course Koh Tao โ Diving Specialties Koh Tao
SSI Divemaster and specialty diving courses in Koh Tao with Carabao Diving. Specialties include Wreck Diving, Night Diving, Navigation, Deep Diving, Nitrox (Enriched Air), and Perfect Buoyancy. Small groups, expert instructors, Chalok Bay. The best place to continue your SSI training in Thailand.