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Scuba diving in Koh Tao: Best spots and prices
Koh Tao offers a wide range of centers, courses, and unique locations for scuba diving on this beautiful island in Thailand.
Scuba diving in Koh Tao is renowned worldwide, with the island offering several dive sites that are ideal for more experienced divers due to its sea conditions and strong currents.
But there are also places where beginner divers can safely get started in the sport, thanks to the dive centers in Koh Tao, which have many years of experience guiding travelers through diving courses and excursions.
Here you’ll find out which dive centers and sites are best for you, depending on your experience level. At the end, you’ll also find a list of approximate prices to keep in mind if you plan to dive on this paradise island.
Diving centers and courses in Koh Tao
Koh Tao offers plenty of dive centers, as the island is one of the most popular and appealing places to practice this underwater sport. No matter your experience level, you can start from scratch, sharpen your skills, or even take a specialty course.
The dive centers we’ll feature go beyond just courses. They offer experiences ranging from beginner dives to excursions at exclusive spots for advanced divers. Many also provide accommodations and extras like private boats or liveaboard trips, making the experience even more special.
1. IHASIA Diving Koh Tao
This center opened in 2009 and is known for its strong focus on safety. Classes are kept small, with no more than three divers per instructor, allowing for personalized attention and care.
At IHASIA Diving, you can dive right from Chalok Beach, and unlike other centers, their courses include up to six dives, giving you more time in the water for a richer experience. All diving equipment is included in the course.
If you want to fully experience diving in Koh Tao with this center, you can even book their liveaboard package. It takes you to various dive spots around the island and includes accommodation, meals, and a unique social atmosphere with divers from all over the world.
2. Isla Tortuga Divers
On the west coast of Koh Tao, you’ll find Isla Tortuga Divers, a PADI 5-star center that specializes in diving experiences. They offer everything from day and night recreational dives to accommodation and PADI certification courses at all levels.
Their accommodation, called Isla Hotel, is fully equipped with everything you need not just to prepare for diving, but also to enjoy the island. It’s ideally located on Koh Tao, with the beaches just 100 meters away.
Isla Tortuga offers all its services in English, with some instructors also fluent in Spanish. This ensures clear guidance, making it easier to learn diving skills and stay safe during dives.
3. DPM Diving Koh Tao
DPM is a dive center staffed by young but highly experienced instructors who provide all the necessary safety measures for a secure and enjoyable diving experience.
This center has all the equipment needed for dives of any level. Whether it’s your first time or you’re an experienced diver, you can enjoy a safe and fun underwater experience.
Their trips and packages are highly rated, partly because they promote ocean conservation through ecological programs. You’ll learn to identify corals and fish, and gain a better understanding of the habitats of sharks, manta rays, stingrays, and turtles.
They offer courses with SSI and PADI certification for all levels and specialties. You can also meet other divers at their on-site hostel, conveniently located near Mae Haad Beach.
Courses you can take in Koh Tao
The courses available in Koh Tao range from beginner to advanced levels, making the island one of the top diving destinations in the world, according to DiveSSI. You’ll find everything from introductory courses to specialized training for experienced divers.
- Introductory diving course: They only provide basic safety tips and equipment guidance, along with instructions for the maximum of two dives you can do. This training lasts one day and does not include certification.
- Basic open water diving course: This course lasts 3 to 4 days, combining theory, practice, and between 4 to 6 dives depending on the dive center. Upon completion, you receive PADI certification and can dive up to 18 meters in the ocean.
- Advanced open water diving course: You’ll be able to dive up to 30 meters while practicing one of the specialties offered by the dive centers. Over three days, you’ll learn the techniques needed to master deep diving and handling ocean currents.
- Rescue diving and first aid courses: If you want to gain technical skills as a rescue diver, this course will teach you the best ways to respond in an emergency and how to assist and resuscitate a diver who has experienced a problem with their equipment.
- Specialty courses: With solid diving experience, you can progress to specialties such as deep diving, night diving, underwater photography, coral and fish identification, marine conservation, or Nitrox diving.
- Divemaster: If you want to become a professional diver, you can get certified and start your diving career at almost any of the centers on Koh Tao.
The best places to dive in Koh Tao
Koh Tao has nearly 30 dive sites suitable for all levels, making it a popular destination for diving enthusiasts looking to try a first dive or improve their skills. Below, we’ll highlight three must-visit spots for diving on this Thai island.
Chumphon Pinnacle
This spot is unique for its natural granite tower, known as a pinnacle, which rises from 30 to 40 meters deep and comes within about 15 meters of the sea surface.
The area is teeming with marine life, from massive pelagic species like whale sharks and giant groupers to schools of jacks, snappers, batfish, and other colorful reef fish.
Because of its conditions, this site is better suited for advanced divers. To fully enjoy all that Chumphon Pinnacle has to offer, you need to descend more than 5 meters, which isn’t allowed for beginners.
Undoubtedly, it’s one of the best dive spots on Koh Tao, thanks to its crystal-clear waters and unique, natural setting. To reach it, you’ll need to take a 45-minute boat ride northwest of the island.
Sail Rock
Perfect for divers of all levels, this spot boasts excellent visibility and a stunning natural pinnacle. About a two-hour boat ride from Koh Tao, between the island and Koh Phangan, it’s a must for anyone seeking an unforgettable diving experience in Thai waters.
Beneath the waters of Sail Rock, you’ll encounter schools of jacks, fusiliers, and barracudas alongside larger species like whale sharks, which commonly inhabit these open-water areas. The pinnacle provides shelter and food, offering thrilling predation scenes that could easily belong in a nature documentary.
Sail Rock also draws divers with its chimney and rock formations, which you can swim through while discovering a wide variety of marine life.
White Rock
On the west side of Koh Tao, you’ll find a dive site suitable for all levels. Here, you can explore a coral reef formed between two large rock walls. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, White Rock offers dives ranging from 5 to 30 meters.
The marine life at this site offers a unique experience compared to the other Koh Tao spots. You might encounter sea turtles, blue spotted rays, lionfish, and titan triggerfish, with night dives giving the best chance to see them in action.
It’s one of the best dive sites, located about 2 kilometers off Koh Tao’s west coast. With calm currents and a safe environment, it’s suitable for divers of all experience levels to enjoy a hassle-free dive.
Connectivity while diving in Koh Tao
To stay connected with friends and family and easily communicate with your dive center and instructors, we recommend Holafly’s monthly subscription plans.
With these plans, you can get between 25 GB and unlimited data and even share it with other devices. You can use it in over 160 destinations effortlessly. Just set it up once and keep it active until you no longer need it.
If you want unlimited data just for your time in Koh Tao, you can use Holafly’s Thailand eSIM. This way, you don’t have to worry about international roaming fees or swapping physical SIM cards that could get lost.
Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 160 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍
How much does it cost to dive in Koh Tao?
Diving in Koh Tao is one of the most budget-friendly ways to enjoy the sport. Unlike other top diving destinations, expenses here are generally low to moderate.
Considering the quality of the dive sites and the highly rated dive centers, which are praised even by experienced divers worldwide, the prices here are surprisingly affordable for almost any budget. Below is a list of approximate costs.
Recreational diving experiences
- Introductory diving between $90 and $110.
- Excursions for certified divers with double tanks and equipment included between $30 and $50.
Diving courses
- Basic open water between $300 and $350.
- Advanced open water between $340 and $380.
- Specialties between $280 and $300.
- Rescue and first aid from $350.
Accommodation and meals
- Hostels between $18 and $42 per night.
- 3-star hotels from $55 per night.
- Daily food budget between $8 and $18.
Frequently asked questions about scuba diving in Koh Tao
There are different times of the year to go diving in Koh Tao. From March to September, conditions are ideal, with calm currents and good weather. Between October and February, rainfall can reduce visibility, but it’s also a quieter period with fewer tourists.
It’s not necessary. Any dive center you choose will provide all the equipment needed for dives of any level, along with full safety measures.
No, the dive centers provide all the guidance you need for a safe experience, so you don’t need extensive diving knowledge. Just be sure to follow the instructions given by your instructors.
There are two main ways to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok. One option is to fly from the capital to Chumphon, which takes about an hour, and then take a ferry to the island, a journey of three to four hours. The other option is to take a bus from Bangkok to Chumphon and then a ferry to Koh Tao, which takes around 12 hours in total.
It’s not required, but investing in travel insurance is a smart move, as it provides medical coverage in case of emergencies and adds extra security for your trip.
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Hi! I'm a Spanish-English translator working with Holafly, helping bring travel content to life for curious travelers. As a digital nomad with a passion for exploring, I'm always adding new spots to my bucket list. If you love to travel like me, stick around because you're in the right place to find inspiration for your next trip! ✈️🌍
