Discover Scuba Diving

Time Needed: 1 day

Cost: 2,500THB, with an optional extra fun dive for a further 1000THB

Maximum Depth: 12 metres

Never been on scuba before and want to try diving on Koh Tao? Scuba diving on Koh Tao is one of the most popular activities thanks to the warm tropical waters, colourful coral reefs, and an abundance of resident marine life. Koh Tao is a mecca for scuba diving, so even if you don’t want to get certified, you’d be crazy to come all this way and not even try diving on Koh Tao! And the best part? It only takes a day…although we take no responsibility if you get addicted and end up a diver for life!

Depending on what scuba diving agency your dive centre is affiliated to, you’ll find that this one-day program will differ slightly in name, with program titles varying between Try Scuba, Basic Diver, or Discover Scuba Diving. But whichever variant you end up taking, what you get should be the same. When you sign up for your experience to try diving on Koh Tao, your day will be split into three parts:

1 – Theory: You’ll spend a little time with a qualified instructor going over the basics that will allow you to try diving on Koh Tao safely. Don’t worry, you won’t have to remember anything too complicated, but you’ll have enough information so you feel safe in your equipment and comfortable in the water. 

2 – Skills Practice: Before you head off to explore one of Koh Tao’s beautiful dive sites, you’ll go into a shallow water environment and practice a few skills. Some dive centres use a swimming pool for this, whereas others use one of Koh Tao’s beaches and bays. To begin with, you’ll be in water shallow enough to stand up, and you’ll learn a few basic skills like how to clear water from your mask and regulator. 

3 – Dive: Your instructor will lead you around one of Koh Tao’s amazing dive sites to see all of the beautiful corals and marine life that make the underwater world here on Koh Tao so stunning. One dive is rarely enough, and as most boats go out for a 2-dive trip, you’ll have the choice of signing up for the optional second dive. If you don’t want to dive again, you can relax and spend the rest of the afternoon swimming, snorkeling, or soaking up some sun on the boat. 

Important things to know when you try diving on Koh Tao

• The try diving experience program is not a diving certification. If you want to be qualified to dive, you need to take the Open Water Diver certification.
• The minimum age for participation is 10. 
• 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 try diving on Koh Tao.