Planning a trip to Koh Tao and thinking about learning to dive? Great news: you don’t need to block out two weeks. Thailand’s diving island is one of the most accessible destinations in the world for getting your dive certification. At The Divers Boat, our international SSI dive centre, we offer the Open Water course in just 2 days, one of the very few centres on the island to do so, while most others take 3 days. We are also the only centre to offer Sail Rock 🔗 every single day, across more than 27 different dive sites including 3 military wrecks🔗. A full week of diving without ever repeating the same site. In this guide, we tell you exactly how long to plan depending on your level and your ambitions.
Days for OW
Dive sites
Military wrecks
Sail Rock every day
Learn to dive Koh Tao: why is it the best place?
Koh Tao is nicknamed “Thailand’s diving island” for very good reason. Thanks to its warm, clear water year-round, more than 27 dive sites and an exceptional concentration of SSI centres, this small island in the Gulf of Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in the world for learning to dive. Furthermore, the cost of training here is significantly lower than in Europe or North America — for equivalent or even higher teaching quality.
At The Divers Boat, we operate two dedicated boats: the white boat for training and Try Scuba, and the blue boat exclusively for certified fun divers. This organisation ensures the best possible experience at every level.
Two boats, two experiences: how does it work?
Classroom session: 9am to 10:30am
Boat departure: 11am
Sites: Mango Bay, Japanese Garden, Twins, White Rock, Hin Pee Wee
Morning: depart 6:30am to 11am
Afternoon: 11am to 6pm
Sites: Sail Rock, Chumphon, 3S, wrecks…
Try Scuba: 1 day, up to 3 dives
If you have never dived before and simply want to discover diving without committing to a full course, a Try Scuba🔗 experience is the perfect starting point. At The Divers Boat, the day is organised as follows: classroom session from 9am to 10:30am, then departure on the white boat at 11am.
In line with SSI standards, the first Try Scuba dive takes place under controlled conditions at a shallow, appropriate depth. The second and third dives allow you to explore down to a maximum depth of 12 metres. All 3 dives take place on the same day — and we are the only centre on Koh Tao to offer three dives in a single Try Scuba day. Lunch is included.
Classroom: 9am–10:30am · Boat departure: 11am · Up to 3 dives (max 12 m for 2nd and 3rd) · Lunch included · Bilingual guides · No prior experience · Exclusive to The Divers Boat on Koh Tao
SSI Open Water in 2 days: our signature offer on Koh Tao
One of the key differences at The Divers Boat: we offer the SSI Open Water🔗 certification in just 2 days. Most other centres on the island take 3 days. Thanks to our organisation and teaching approach, we follow all SSI standards while optimising each day so you get certified faster.
The course follows the same daily structure as Try Scuba:
Classroom: 9am–10:30am · Boat departure: 11am · Lunch included · 1 confined session + multiple-choice exam + 4 open water dives · Bilingual FR/EN instructors · Worldwide SSI certification · Exclusive to The Divers Boat
SSI specialties: 1 to 2 days
Once Open Water certified, SSI specialty courses allow you to build specific skills — Nitrox, Deep Diver, Underwater Photography, Perfect Buoyancy and more. At The Divers Boat, a specialty takes 1 to 2 days depending on the number of dives required for completion. We run a maximum of 3 training dives per day, in line with SSI standards. Lunch is included every day. Same daily structure: classroom from 9am to 10:30am, boat departure at 11am.
SSI🔗Divemaster: go professional in Koh Tao
The SSI Divemaster🔗is the first professional diving certification. Training runs over 1 to 3 months, but we strongly recommend a minimum of 2 months to get the most out of the programme. Divemaster trainees benefit from unlimited dives on the blue boat — giving access to all 27+ sites, including Sail Rock every day, double Sail Rock sessions and the exclusive 3S Trip.
Unlimited dives on the blue boat across all 27+ sites — Sail Rock every day, double Sail Rock sessions, 3S Trips (Southwest + Sail Rock + Shark Island), 3 military wrecks. Finishing with 100 to 150 dives is a realistic and achievable target. Exceptional experience for launching a professional diving career.
The fun dive programme: Sail Rock every day, 27+ sites, zero repetition
One of The Divers Boat’s unique strengths: we are the only centre on Koh Tao to offer Sail Rock every single day. But Sail Rock is just one of more than 27 sites we cover throughout the week — including 3 military wrecks. In practice, a full week of fun dives without ever repeating the same site is perfectly achievable.
The blue boat runs two sessions per day. Morning fun dives depart at 6:30am — ideal for reaching sites before other boats. The afternoon programme varies every day. Some days include double Sail Rock sessions — two dives at Sail Rock in a single outing. Three times a week — Monday, Wednesday and Saturday — we run our exclusive 3S Trip: Southwest Pinnacle, Shark Island and Sail Rock in a single day, from 9am to 6pm.
Southwest + Sail Rock + Shark Island
Afternoon: Sail Rock x2
Afternoon: Sail Rock x2
6:30am or afternoon
Summary: how long to plan depending on your goal?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get an Open Water certification in Koh Tao?
At The Divers Boat in Koh Tao, the SSI Open Water certification takes just 2 days — one of the few centres to offer this while most others take 3 days. Classroom sessions run from 9am to 10:30am, and the boat departs at 11am. The course includes a confined water session, a multiple-choice exam and 4 open water dives. Lunch is included every day.
Can you do 3 dives in a single Try Scuba day in Koh Tao?
Yes, at The Divers Boat it is possible to complete up to 3 dives during a single Try Scuba day in Koh Tao. The 2nd and 3rd dives allow a maximum depth of 12 metres. All 3 dives take place on the same day — and we are the only centre on Koh Tao to offer this. Lunch is included.
Does The Divers Boat offer Sail Rock every day?
Yes, The Divers Boat is the only dive centre on Koh Tao to offer Sail Rock every single day of the week — in the morning from 6:30am or in the afternoon. Some days include double Sail Rock sessions (two dives at Sail Rock in the same outing). In addition to Sail Rock, we offer more than 27 different sites including 3 military wrecks.
How long does the SSI Divemaster course take in Koh Tao?
The SSI Divemaster course in Koh Tao takes between 1 and 3 months, but 2 months minimum are strongly recommended. Entry requires at least 40 logged dives, and certification requires 60 dives minimum. Thanks to unlimited dives on The Divers Boat’s blue boat, finishing with 100 to 150 dives is a realistic and achievable target.
What is The Divers Boat 3S Trip?
The 3S Trip is The Divers Boat’s signature dive day on Koh Tao: Southwest Pinnacle, Shark Island and Sail Rock in a single day at sea. Departure at 9am, return at 6pm. Offered three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday), it is virtually exclusive to The Divers Boat on Koh Tao.
Contact The Divers Boat to plan your Try Scuba, Open Water course, specialties, Divemaster training or fun dives in Koh Tao — with a multilingual team that supports you every step of the way. Check our diving prices Koh Tao page for the full rates on every course and trip.
