{"id":39973,"date":"2026-05-26T15:27:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T08:27:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thediversboat.com\/?p=39973"},"modified":"2026-05-26T16:41:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T09:41:59","slug":"how-long-to-stay-in-koh-tao-to-learn-to-dive-the-divers-boat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thediversboat.com\/en\/how-long-to-stay-in-koh-tao-to-learn-to-dive-the-divers-boat\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long to Stay in Koh Tao to Learn to Dive? | The Divers Boat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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,<\/strong> 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 \ud83d\udd17<\/a> every single day<\/strong>, across more than 27 different dive sites<\/strong> including 3 military wrecks\ud83d\udd17<\/strong><\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

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2<\/span>
\nDays for OW<\/span><\/div>\n
27+<\/span>
\nDive sites<\/span><\/div>\n
3<\/span>
\nMilitary wrecks<\/span><\/div>\n
7\/7<\/span>
\nSail Rock every day<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Learn to dive Koh Tao: why is it the best place?<\/h2>\n

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 \u2014 for equivalent or even higher teaching quality.<\/p>\n

At The Divers Boat, we operate two dedicated boats<\/strong>: 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.<\/p>\n

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Two boats, two experiences: how does it work?<\/h2>\n
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\ud83d\udea4 The White Boat\ud83d\udd17<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n
Dedicated to training & Try Scuba<\/strong>
\nClassroom session: 9am to 10:30am
\nBoat departure: 11am
\nSites: Mango Bay, Japanese Garden, Twins, White Rock, Hin Pee Wee<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\ud83d\udea4 The Blue Boat\ud83d\udd17<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n
Reserved for certified fun divers<\/strong>
\nMorning: depart 6:30am to 11am
\nAfternoon: 11am to 6pm
\nSites: Sail Rock, Chumphon, 3S, wrecks…<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Try Scuba: 1 day, up to 3 dives<\/h2>\n

If you have never dived before and simply want to discover diving without committing to a full course, a Try Scuba\ud83d\udd17<\/a> experience<\/strong> is the perfect starting point. At The Divers Boat, the day is organised as follows: classroom session from 9am to 10:30am<\/strong>, then departure on the white boat at 11am<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong>. All 3 dives take place on the same day<\/strong> \u2014 and we are the only centre on Koh Tao to offer three dives in a single Try Scuba day<\/strong>. Lunch is included.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd3f Try Scuba at a glance<\/strong>
\nClassroom: 9am\u201310:30am \u00b7 Boat departure: 11am \u00b7 Up to 3 dives (max 12 m for 2nd and 3rd) \u00b7 Lunch included \u00b7 Bilingual guides \u00b7 No prior experience \u00b7 Exclusive to The Divers Boat on Koh Tao<\/div>\n

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SSI Open Water in 2 days: our signature offer on Koh Tao<\/h2>\n

One of the key differences at The Divers Boat: we offer the SSI Open Water\ud83d\udd17<\/a> certification in just 2 days<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n

The course follows the same daily structure as Try Scuba:<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcda<\/div>\n
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Theory (e-learning + classroom)<\/div>\n
Fundamental diving principles. E-learning available before you arrive. Classroom session from 9am to 10:30am.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\ud83c\udfca<\/div>\n
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Confined water session \u2014 boat departs 11am<\/div>\n
Practical exercises in shallow, protected water on the white boat. Equipment, buoyancy, controlled ascent, mask clearing. At Mango Bay or Japanese Garden.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\ud83d\udcdd<\/div>\n
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Final exam (multiple choice)<\/div>\n
Multiple-choice questionnaire to validate your theoretical knowledge. Our bilingual instructors support you throughout.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\ud83c\udf0a<\/div>\n
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4 open water dives (at sea)<\/div>\n
Four real dives in the sea to validate all skills. Lunch included on each training day.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83c\udf93 SSI Open Water in 2 days \u2014 at a glance<\/strong>
\nClassroom: 9am\u201310:30am \u00b7 Boat departure: 11am \u00b7 Lunch included \u00b7 1 confined session + multiple-choice exam + 4 open water dives \u00b7 Bilingual FR\/EN instructors \u00b7 Worldwide SSI certification \u00b7 Exclusive to The Divers Boat<\/div>\n

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SSI specialties: 1 to 2 days<\/h2>\n

Once Open Water certified, SSI specialty courses<\/strong> allow you to build specific skills \u2014 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<\/strong> for completion. We run a maximum of 3 training dives per day<\/strong>, in line with SSI standards. Lunch is included every day. Same daily structure: classroom from 9am to 10:30am, boat departure at 11am.<\/p>\n

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SSI\ud83d\udd17<\/strong><\/a>Divemaster: go professional in Koh Tao<\/h2>\n

The SSI Divemaster\ud83d\udd17<\/a><\/strong>is the first professional diving certification. Training runs over 1 to 3 months<\/strong>, but we strongly recommend a minimum of 2 months<\/strong> to get the most out of the programme. Divemaster trainees benefit from unlimited dives on the blue boat<\/strong> \u2014 giving access to all 27+ sites, including Sail Rock every day, double Sail Rock sessions and the exclusive 3S Trip.<\/p>\n

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Entry requirement<\/div>\n
Minimum 40 logged dives<\/strong>. The more you have, the better.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Exit requirement<\/div>\n
Minimum 60 dives<\/strong> to certify. Realistic target with us: 100 to 150 dives<\/strong>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udea4 The blue boat advantage for Divemaster trainees<\/strong>
\nUnlimited dives on the blue boat across all 27+ sites \u2014 Sail Rock every day, double Sail Rock sessions, 3S Trips (Southwest + Samran + Sail Rock), 3 military wrecks. Finishing with 100 to 150 dives is a realistic and achievable target. Exceptional experience for launching a professional diving career.<\/div>\n

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The fun dive programme: Sail Rock every day, 27+ sites, zero repetition<\/h2>\n

One of The Divers Boat’s unique strengths: we are the only centre on Koh Tao to offer Sail Rock every single day<\/strong>. But Sail Rock is just one of more than 27 sites we cover throughout the week \u2014 including 3 military wrecks. In practice, a full week of fun dives without ever repeating the same site<\/strong> is perfectly achievable.<\/p>\n

The blue boat runs two sessions per day. Morning fun dives depart at 6:30am<\/strong> \u2014 ideal for reaching sites before other boats. The afternoon programme varies every day. Some days include double Sail Rock<\/strong> sessions \u2014 two dives at Sail Rock in a single outing. Three times a week \u2014 Monday, Wednesday and Saturday \u2014 we run our exclusive 3S Trip<\/strong>: Southwest Pinnacle, Samran Pinnacle and Sail Rock in a single day, from 9am to 6pm.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f Blue boat programme overview<\/div>\n
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Monday \u00b7 Wednesday \u00b7 Saturday<\/div>\n
3S Trip \u2014 9am to 6pm
\nSouthwest + Samran + Sail Rock<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Tuesday \u00b7 Friday \u00b7 Sunday<\/div>\n
Morning: Chumphon, Suphairin, wrecks
\nAfternoon: Sail Rock x2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Thursday<\/div>\n
Morning: Chumphon + Green Rock
\nAfternoon: Sail Rock x2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Every day<\/div>\n
Sail Rock available
\n6:30am or afternoon<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Indicative programme \u2014 may vary according to weather conditions and demand<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Summary: how long to plan depending on your goal?<\/h2>\n
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\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f 1 day \u2014 Try Scuba (up to 3 dives)<\/div>\n
Classroom 9am\u201310:30am, boat 11am. Up to 12 m for the 2nd and 3rd dive. Lunch included. Exclusive to The Divers Boat.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f 2 days \u2014 SSI Open Water<\/div>\n
Classroom 9am\u201310:30am, boat 11am. Confined + exam + 4 open water dives. Lunch included. Exclusive offer at The Divers Boat on Koh Tao.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f 1 to 2 days \u2014 SSI Specialty<\/div>\n
Depending on dives required. Max 3 training dives per day. Lunch included.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f 5 to 7 days \u2014 The ideal stay<\/div>\n
OW in 2 days + varied fun dives: Sail Rock every day, 3S Trips, double Sail Rock, military wrecks. A full week without repeating sites.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f 10 days or more \u2014 Go further<\/div>\n
OW + AOW + specialties + varied fun dives including the exclusive 3S Trip. The dream stay for passionate divers.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f 2 months minimum \u2014 SSI Divemaster<\/div>\n
Unlimited dives on the blue boat. 40 dives at entry, 60 minimum to certify, target 100 to 150. The ultimate path to a professional diving career.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ready to take the plunge? We take care of everything.<\/div>\n

Contact The Divers Boat to plan your Try Scuba, Open Water course, specialties, Divemaster training or fun dives in Koh Tao \u2014 with a multilingual team that supports you every step of the way.<\/p>\n

Contact The Divers Boat<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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