Frequently Asked Questions

We offer SSI Open Water (full certification), SSI Advanced Adventurer, Try Dive (no certification needed), and daily Fun Dives for certified divers. All courses are conducted in small groups from our base in Chalok Bay.

The SSI Open Water course takes 3–4 days: one day of theory and pool skills, followed by 2–3 days of open-water dives. You'll complete 4 open-water dives in total and receive a globally recognised SSI certification.

For the Open Water and Advanced courses you need basic swimming ability — you don't need to be a competitive swimmer, but you should be comfortable in the water. For a Try Dive no swimming test is required.

The minimum age is 10 years old for the Try Dive and Junior Open Water. Adult Open Water certification starts at 15. Children under 15 receive a Junior certification, which is automatically upgraded to a full certification when they turn 15.

Both are internationally recognised scuba certification agencies. SSI and PADI certifications are accepted at dive centres all over the world — there is no practical difference for travelling divers. Carabao Diving is an SSI centre.

Yes. With SSI you can complete the digital learning (theory + quizzes) on your phone or laptop before you arrive in Koh Tao. This saves you roughly half a day and means you can start pool work and open-water dives sooner.

The Open Water course starts from 9,900 THB per person (course only). If you book with accommodation, dorm packages start from 9,900 THB and private-room packages from 10,900 THB — both include the course, accommodation, and daily breakfast. Group discounts apply for 2+ people.

Yes. Prices drop for every additional person in your group: 2 people get roughly 5% off per person, 3 people get 10% off, and the same rate applies from the 4th person onwards. The discount applies automatically when you specify your group size in the booking widget.

Dive packages include the full SSI course (materials, certification, all dives), accommodation in Chalok Bay (dorm or private room), daily breakfast, and all equipment rental. You just need to bring a swimsuit, sunscreen, and yourself.

A Try Dive (Discover Scuba) is 2,500 THB for one person, 2,400 THB per person for 2 people, and 2,300 THB per person for 3 or more. No certification or experience needed.

We accept cash (Thai Baht) and credit/debit cards. You can also pay a deposit via bank transfer to secure your booking. The full balance is due on arrival.

We are based in Chalok Bay on the south side of Koh Tao, Thailand. Chalok Bay is one of the most sheltered bays on the island, which means calmer conditions and better visibility even during windier months.

Koh Tao has two main seasons. The dry season (January–September) offers the best visibility — often 15–25 metres — with calmer seas and water temperatures around 28–30 °C. March to May is peak whale shark season. October and November can be choppy due to the northeast monsoon, but diving still goes ahead most days from Chalok Bay thanks to its sheltered position.

Koh Tao is famous for its rich marine life: whale sharks (seasonal), blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, giant moray eels, hawksbill turtles, barracuda, and huge schools of fusiliers and batfish. The reefs around Chalok Bay also host a variety of macro life including nudibranchs and frogfish.

The most common route is by ferry from Chumphon (2 hours) or Surat Thani (6 hours). High-speed catamarans run daily from both ports. From Bangkok, the overnight train to Chumphon + morning ferry is a popular option. We can help you with transfer advice when you book.

The easiest way is to use the booking widget on this site — pick your course, choose a date and group size, and send us a WhatsApp message with your details. We confirm within a few hours and can hold your spot with a small deposit.

We recommend booking at least 3–5 days ahead, especially in peak season (December–March and July–August). If you are flexible on dates, last-minute spots do come up — just send us a WhatsApp and we'll let you know availability.

Life happens. Contact us via WhatsApp as soon as possible. We can usually reschedule to another date at no extra cost. For cancellations with less than 48 hours notice the deposit may be non-refundable, but we will always try to find a solution.

No — all equipment (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, tank) is included in your course or dive package. If you have your own mask or wetsuit you are welcome to bring it.

Scuba diving is safe when practiced with proper training and within your limits. Before any course you will complete a standard SSI medical questionnaire. If you have a pre-existing condition (asthma, heart condition, diabetes, etc.) you may need a doctor's sign-off — let us know in advance and we'll guide you through the process.