Fun Diving

Time Needed: half a day

Cost: 800-1000THB per dive

Are you a certified diver already? People travel from far and wide to go diving on Koh Tao, and the benefit of having your license already is that you don’t need to take any training courses. You can just jump in with a dive guide and explore the beautiful coral reefs and marine life! Being qualified prior to arrival also makes your diving on Koh Tao cheaper, as joining a fun diving group does not require any course materials, certification fees, or instructor charges. There are several reasons why diving on Koh Tao is so popular:

Diving Season – Our all round diving season means that while other diving destinations may close for up to 6 months at a time in off-season, Koh Tao diving remains accessible 365 days of the year. Conditions do vary of course, so be sure to do a little research on when is the best time for you to visit Koh Tao. 

Dive Sites – There is a tremendous variety of dive sites on Koh Tao, so there is always something interesting to see and plenty of options to suit all levels. Wide sandy bays are perfect dive sites for beginner divers, while shallow reef formations are more interesting dive sites for intermediate divers. The deeper pinnacles further out to sea are great dive sites for advanced divers, and dotted around Koh Tao there are also some interesting artificial dive sites that are suitable for a range of certification levels. 

Diving Schedules –Dive centre schedules for fun diving on Koh Tao are very accommodating. Most dive sites are within an hour or so of travel, and the majority of dive operators run morning and afternoon trips, so you can spend the rest of the day relaxing – or getting involved with more Koh Tao activities! Most Koh Tao fun diving packages are inclusive of equipment hire and your guide, and the majority of boats provide complimentary snacks and refreshments.

Safety – Diving on Koh Tao is incredibly safe. All dive centres follow strict protocols to avoid accidents and emergencies, and although not regularly needed, Koh Tao has world-class emergency response and rescue teams.  The nearest recompression chamber is on the neighbouring island of Koh Samui , which is only 2 hours away by boat. This is much closer than you will find at many other diving destinations worldwide. 

Diving Conditions – With a reputation for calm seas, great visibility, and minimal currents for the majority of the year, diving on Koh Tao offers relaxed and enjoyable experiences for all skill and certification levels. 

Need a Refresher Course?

In order to go fun diving on Koh Tao you need to have dived recently. Your dive centre will ask for proof of your last logged dives, so be sure to bring your log book, electronic log app, or dive computer with you. If you cannot provide proof of your last dives, you may be asked to take a refresher course. This is normally a half day program that costs around 1500THB. Whatever dive agency scuba review you take, you’ll get a recap in basic diving theory, followed by some scuba skills practice in shallow water, and a mini dive to reacquaint you with the principles of buoyancy control and proper weighting. Once you have refreshed your skills and techniques, you’re good to go out fun diving on Koh Tao and explore our amazing dive sites in more depth!

Important things to know before you go fun diving on Koh Tao

• Fun diving groups are normally determined by your dive certification as this will affect how deep you can go. So if you are travelling with a partner or as part of a group with different diving qualifications and experience levels, it is worth asking your dive centre about having a private guide if you want to go diving on Koh Tao together. 
• You will be required to wait 18-24 hours after diving before you can fly. So do bear this in mind when you are planning your travel to and from Koh Tao. 
• Participation in any scuba diving activity requires you to fill in a medical checklist. Some medical conditions may prevent you from diving, while others require prior written approval from a physician. So be sure to discuss any medical conditions you have with your dive centre before you go fun diving on Koh Tao.