Course overview

A PADI Basic Diver-style guided program on Koh Tao gives you a proper introduction to scuba, on the world's leading place to learn. It combines confined-water skill practice with guided open-water dives to around 12 metres at calm reefs like Japanese Gardens, building real diving ability that can credit toward the full PADI Open Water Diver course.

What you’ll learn

• Set up and use basic scuba equipment
• Breathe and move comfortably underwater
• Clear the mask and recover the regulator
• Equalise and manage buoyancy
• Use core underwater hand signals
• Dive a shallow reef under direct supervision

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 10
• No prior experience or swimming certification required
• Reasonable comfort in water
• Basic medical questionnaire / fitness to dive

What's included · What's not

Not included? Sort the rest of your trip

Flights and accommodation aren’t part of the course price, here’s how to book them around your dates.

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Theory & confined water

   Cover scuba basics and practise key skills in shallow, confined water.
2. Day2
   Guided open-water dives

   Make guided dives to around 12 metres at a calm reef such as Japanese Gardens or Mango Bay.
3. Day2
   Debrief & progression

   Review your diving and how the experience credits toward the full PADI Open Water course.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Koh Tao.

Frequently asked questions