Getting to Koh Tao
How to get to Koh Tao by plane, train, or bus on domestic and international routes. Discover the fastest and cheapest ways to travel to Koh Tao.
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The waters around Koh Tao are a haven for aquatic life. Colorful fish cruise the reefs, and both green and hawksbill turtles are spotted regularly. Of course, the ultimate highlight for any diver is to swim with a whale shark. We are delighted that these beautiful creatures regularly frequent our dive sites and share the water with our diving visitors.
Whether you want to try it out for the first time, get your certification, or join a fun dive trip, scuba diving on Koh Tao is a spectacular experience. Dive sites are generally no more than a one-hour boat journey away and boast calm and easy conditions for most of the year. You can find more information about Koh Tao marine life and diving conditions on our nature and weather pages.
Scuba diving on Koh Tao is safe and fun! All Koh Tao dive centers offer ‘Try Scuba Diving’ experiences where you can take your first breaths underwater under the careful supervision of a professional instructor. This one-day program starts with a safety briefing and a gentle introduction to all the basic information you’ll need to have a safe and enjoyable experience. After this, you’ll progress to a swimming pool or shallow, sandy bay to master a few beginner skills and take a dive around one of our stunning coral reefs to explore the wonders of the marine world. If you enjoy your day, you can continue directly to get your full Open Water Diver certification.
The Open Water Diving certification is the most popular scuba diving course on Koh Tao. If you want to keep diving on your travels, this is the minimum qualification you’ll need. Learning to scuba dive on Koh Tao takes between three and five days, and dive centers offer training through a number of internationally recognized agencies, including PADI, SSI, and RAID.
The course consists of some classroom-based diving theory, learning in-water skills in a pool or shallow bay, and a minimum of four dives in the open ocean. Koh Tao offers safe and easy diving for beginners, and there’s always lots to see underwater.
If you fall in love with scuba diving on Koh Tao, you can continue your education through a variety of additional courses. The ones you choose will depend on your goals and interests, but the most popular options include:
If you are already a certified diver, Koh Tao is a great place to explore the underwater world. Water conditions are usually warm, calm, and there is minimal current. Whether you have four dives or four hundred, there’s something to wow every type of diver. Here are just a few examples.
Some of the best scuba diving pros in the world completed their training right here on the island. So why not change your life and take an extended stay to complete your Divemaster or Instructor training courses on Koh Tao? With high safety standards, years of experience, and a constant stream of diving customers, you’ll soon develop into a credible and competent dive pro. Of course, committing to a longer-term stay also means you get to fully embrace island living and become one of the locals. By staying longer than most other visitors, you’ll have plenty of time to explore all the viewpoints and beaches, check out our hiking trails, and try out a variety of other fun activities like rock climbing, trapeze, and free diving.
How to get to Koh Tao by plane, train, or bus on domestic and international routes. Discover the fastest and cheapest ways to travel to Koh Tao.
