Course overview

Earn your PADI Open Water Diver certification at Khao Lak, the launch point for the Similan Islands, and gain a licence to dive anywhere in the world to 18 metres. Over confined-water sessions and four open-water training dives on the sheltered local reefs you master core scuba skills, ready to join day trips and liveaboards to the Andaman's well-known sites.

What you’ll learn

• Assemble, use and care for scuba equipment
• Clear your mask, recover the regulator and manage air
• Achieve neutral buoyancy and controlled ascents/descents
• Plan dives with tables or a dive computer
• Perform out-of-air and buddy-assist procedures
• Dive independently with a buddy to 18 metres

Prerequisites

• No prior certification required
• Minimum age 10 (Junior) / 15 for Open Water Diver
• Able to swim and float comfortably
• Reasonable health (diver medical questionnaire required)

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

   Complete knowledge reviews and the first confined-water skill sessions in calm shallows near Khao Lak.
2. Day2
   Open-water dives 1–2

   Apply your skills on the first two open-water training dives at a sheltered local reef.
3. Day3
   Open-water dives 3–4 & certification

   Complete the final two training dives, demonstrate all skills and earn the Open Water Diver rating.

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 Similan Islands.

Frequently asked questions