Dive shops of koh tao in Thailand
by spotmydive
How to book your dive shop in Koh Tao?
If you go to Koh Tao, you will definitely dive. Indeed, the island is a paradise for diver and has the largest number of PADI certification issued per year in the whole world, in front of the Great Barrier Reef. Like Koh Lipe, located in the Andaman Sea, on the other side of Thailand, the island is entirely dedicated to scuba diving. Obviously, the offer is extremely wide on the island of Koh Tao since there is around 70 dive shops on the small island. The spotmydive team knows Koh Tao well since we have dived with more than 30 centers in Koh Tao over the past 2 years.
Questions you should ask yourself before to book a dive in Koh Tao in Thailand.
On which part of the island do you want to stay?
Some diving centers offer pick-ups all over the island but this system is a little constraining as you are dependent on the shuttles of the dive center. You can also rent a scooter in Koh Tao but be careful because many scams have been reported. You should take videos and photos of the scooter before the rental. Furthermore, your passport will be kept by the rental companies. For these reasons, we always advise to choose the center depending on the type of diving environment you want. By booking your dive shop with spotmydive, you are sure to get the best price, the best advices and service.
Sairee Beach
If you prefer to stay in a festive atmosphere, with a nice social life and many great bars on the beach, we advise you to stay on the famous Sairee Beach. It is the main beach of the island and is located on the west coast. The largest dive shops have settled there and this part of the island will be perfect for divers wanting to enjoy night life.
Mae Haad
The small town of Mae Haad, located south of Sairee beach is also very nice. You can easily find a small hotel or sleep in one of the dive centers that have settled there. The small town and its little beach does not lack charm. Furthermore, the boats to koh tao arrive in Mae Haad and it is pretty convenient to come and leave the island.
Chalok Bay and south of koh tao
More distant and calmer, the southern part of the island is less crowded and perfect for lazy afternoons. There is less party, less bar and absolutely no stress. This part of the island will suit divers that comes on koh tao to relax.
Would you like to dive with instructors speaking your language?
If you are not a native English speaker you might prefer dive centers that speak your mother tongue. Given the strong competition, many diving centers have specialized in several languages. We thus find centers entirely French speaking such as French kiss or Aqua Tao or Spanish speaking dive center such as DPM or La Bombona Diving.
Does the dive center goes to the best dive sites of koh tao?
Although it is difficult to predict the dive sites on which the centers will dive in advance, you can check the dive sites on which the centers goes on the pages of the dive shops registered on spotmydive. The list of dive shops below will give you the details and specialties of each diving centers. Moreover, all the pages of the centers referenced on spotmydive give the details of the languages spoken by their instructors.
Diving gear and instructor’s qualification
On these two last points, you do not need to worry to much since most of the centers or in any case, all centers registered on spotmydive, are very professional in Koh Tao. Indeed, they dive all year round and, as a result, instructors all know very well the diving sites and the scuba diving equipment is in very good condition. Some diving centers such as La Bombona Diving pay particular attention to the detail and maintenance of their equipment such as regulators, dive computers or BCDs. It is also important to note that the vast majority of centers dive only with groups of four divers maximum.
Do you prefer to dive in small or in a medium sized diving shop?
You should know that koh tao is the Mecca of diving. As a result, some centers are very large. Ban’s, which is the largest dive shop in the world in term of PADI qualifications per year, offers a very high quality service but is not suitable for divers who prefer calm and small structures.
Do not hesitate to compare the offers from different diving shops in Koh Tao if you want to spend your PADI open water in Koh Tao or just to do a fun dive in Koh Tao.
Best dive shop in Koh Tao
Dive shop of Sairee Beach
Ban’s
Price of an open water
9800 thai bath
Course advantage
Important: Accommodation is free in the basic rooms of the center called Pools view rooms. These rooms have only small fans and are not extraordinarily comfortable but still very adequate. A very good deal that made the success of this institution.
Languages
- French
- German
- Dutch / Flamish
- English
- Spanish / Castilian
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Italian
- Thaï
Size of the dive shop
As mentioned earlier, Ban’s is one of the largest dive center in the world and today nearly 30 instructors during the high season.
Description of the dive center
Ban’s is simply the largest dive center in the world or at least the one with the largest number of PADI certification issued in the world. Obviously, some divers will find that the center is too big and that it loses its charm. But it is an institution, a legend on the island. This center exists since 1993 and its professionalism has never been questioned. Moreover, the location of the dive shop on sairee beach is ideal. The bar, restaurant on the beach is perfectly located and even has a floor. The bar is very nice and some bands regularly come to play music. In addition, the center has all the facilities you could wish for and has many rooms. The pools view rooms are offered with diving courses and it is possible to obtain interesting discounts in the event of fun dives. Do not hesitate to contact us directly if you want a room of higher standing.
Roctopus
Price of open water
8600 Thai bath
Languages
- French
- German
- Dutch / Flamish
- English
- Spanish / Castilian
- Swedish
Size of the dive center
Roctopus is a relatively large center. It has experienced one of the biggest growths of the island in terms of number of dive carried out and today counts nearly 25 instructors during the high diving season.
Description of the dive shop
Roctopus has probably been the most trendy and fun dive shop for the last 4 years. The atmosphere is young and relaxed. It has all the facilities that a diver should need with classrooms, stalls on the beach, an additional diving center for professionals and a freediving dive center, a bar, a shop, a swimming pool, a restaurant and since recently a small hotel. Free fun and good atmosphere in a very clean and professional environment. The boss is genuinely friendly and welcoming, the team is nice, pleasant, attentive and very open. We can only advise this great diving shop which is quite in its place on Sairee Beach. We love it.
Big Blue
Price of an open water
9800 thai bath
Languages
- English
- Thaï
Size of the diving shop
The dive resort Big blue is very well known on koh tao and is one of the big centers of the island. Nearly 25 professional divers work full-time at Big Blue. When we dived with big blue for the first time almost 3 years ago, the center had an annex consisting of a small shop and a bar in the center of Sairee beach. Big blue no longer has this small space but the diving center which is located to the north of the beach is still as nice.
Description of the dive shop
Big Blue is a great dive center very nice in line with the centers of sairee. The atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant, the instructors are very friendly and take care of the divers. We especially dived with Steven who is probably the funniest diver we have encountered. The center is very professional and the equipment in particularly good condition. Like all major diving centers in Sairee, Big Blue has all the facilities you could wish for.
Coral Grand diver
Price of an open water
9900 thai bath
Languages
- French
- German
- Dutch / Flamish
- English
- Spanish / Castilian
- Chinese
- Danish
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Thaï
Size of the diving shop
Coral grand diver is a medium-sized dive center and today has around 12 diving instructors.
Description of the dive center
Coral Grand Diver is a real Resort. It is located at the northern end of Sairee beach. Unlike many other centers of the beach, the latter is not particularly young and cool but rather zen, green and pleasant. It has more space than most other centers and the rooms of the resort are more comfortable and refined. It is thus particularly well suited family diving trip. The center is less festive but nothing forbid you to walk 100 meters on the beach to find all the animation of the bars and restaurants of Sairee Beach.
Dive shop of Mae Haad
Simple Life Divers
Price of open water
8600 thai bath
Language Spoken
- English
- Thaï
Diving shop size
Simple life diver is a medium to large divecenter. At least fifteen instructors, who all are very professional, work in this center.
Description of the dive center
Simple life diver is located between Mae Had and Sairee beach. It is a very high up center and its bar and its splendid billiard dominate the sea. You can easily access a small beach of fine sand by a long staircase. The center, whose management is European, is very professional and has all the facilities necessary for the smooth running of the course including three air-conditioned classrooms and a large swimming pool on the beach. Moreover, the two boats that the center own are very clean and in very good condition. The equipment is also very well kept. A very good center, just 400 meters away from the Sairee beach crowed.
La Bombona diving center
Price of an open water
7500 thai bath
Language Spoken
Specialty Spanish
English
Dive center size
The bombona is a small diving center and has only 4 or 5 instructors. The couple who created this new dive shop is very professional and pleasant.
Description of the dive shop
The center is exceptionally beautiful and design for Koh Tao. Particular attention has been paid to the facilities which are very well maintained. Their boat is very modern, well designed, comfortable and fully adapted for diving. One of the best dive center of Koh Tao for Spanish speaking divers.
Dive shop of Chalok Bay
Alvaro Diving
Price of an open water
9400 thai bath
Language Spoken
- French
- German
- Polish
- English
- Spanish / Castilian
- Russian
- Italian
- Thaï
Size of diving shop
Alvaro diving is a medium-sized diving center with about 8 full-time instructors.
Description of the dive shop
Alvaro diving is a pirate haunt. Perched on the waters, west of Chalok Bay, you have to cross a long wooden bridge to get to the small but nice and hidden bar on the beach. Continuing our journey a few meters we reach this amazing dive center. A real haven of peace, far from the hustle and bustle of Sairee. The atmosphere is very nice in this small atypical center of Koh Tao. The staff is very friendly and pleasant. We can only advise.
Koh Tao Dive resort
Price of an open water
9800 Thai bath
Languages
- French
- German
- Chinese
- English
- Spanish / Castilian
- Swedish
- Korean
- Thaï
Size of the dive shop
The Ko Tao dive resort is of medium size for the island of ko tao. However, this is one of the largest centers in Chalok Bay with nearly 10 diving instructors.
Description of the dive center
The Dive Resort, is located just in front of a beautiful beach with turquoise waters. The center has all the facilities necessary but also has all the infrastructure of a great resort such as a large bar, a restaurant, located in front of the dive shop and a large swimming pool, very useful for the first confined dives of the open water. In addition, the ko tao resort has a large equipment storage room, a classroom and a very powerful boat capable of accommodating up to 40 divers. The center is also very professional and perfect for a family diving trip. Finally, very nice evenings are often organized at the end of the pontoon.
Big Bubble Dive Resort
Price of an open water
9800 thai bath and 10 600 bath to spend 3 nights in basic room during the open water. Breakfast is included in this second package.
Language Spoken
- French
- German
- English
- Spanish / Castilian
- Thaï
Size of the dive shop
Big bubble is a medium sized center with nearly 10 instructors. The atmosphere of the diving center, nevertheless, allows the latter to keep a very cozy and family atmosphere.
Description of the diving center
Big Bubble is probably one of the best dive centers and resort in koh tao. It is located on the road to Chalok Bay. Nestled just above a beautiful beach, the infrastructure is beautiful, charming and does not distort at all the beauty of the shore. You can feel at ease sipping tea on the bar terrace after a long diving trip. Beyond the young and friendly atmosphere of this center apart, big bubble has all the facilities you could dream of and its equipment is particularly well maintained. There are three types of rooms in this center, fan rooms without hot water, with hot water and air conditioning rooms with hot water. The center also proposes a very interesting offer allowing to pass the PADI Open water or the PADI advance open water with nights included at very competitive prices. You can book this offer that we loved on the page of the dive center. It is one of our favorite.
What do you think of this article? Do you know another scuba center that you like very much on Koh Tao? Share it with the community !