Big Blue Diving Resort

In 1991 we opened a small little dive shop at the end of the pier. At that time it was only the second shop on Koh Tao. We sat around most of the day waiting for customers to arrive on the island once a day! But it wasn't long before scuba divers started hearing of this unexplored diving paradise around a little known island about 90 kilometers north of Koh Samui, Thailand.

By 1999, as Koh Tao was beginning to get a mention in the Rough Guides & Lonely Planets, we expanded a little & opened Big Blue Diving Resort on Sairee Beach. A 5 Star PADI Gold Palm Resort, with a Beachside Dive center, bar & restaurant operating, with 4 purpose built Dive Vessels, offerring a choice of upto 17 Divesites each day, leaving directly from our Resort.

 Our accommodation comprises of 5 Beachside fan bungalows as well as over 20 fan rooms all with ensuite bathrooms & another 10 Air Conditioned rooms. Our own Big Blue Restaurant & Beach Bar quickly became a favourite with guests & locals alike with its ambient al fresco style dining quite literally on the waters edge & an amazing seat when it came to enjoying some of the worlds best sunsets at one of the islands most popular beachside bars.

By 2000 we branched out & opened up a small Dive Center in Koh Samui with luxury speed boat trips to Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan, Sail Rock, the best Divesite in the Gulf of Thailand & the then famous Angthong National Marine Park. (The setting for Alex Garlands Best selling book- The Beach).

Then in 2003 we opened Big Blue Diving Khao Lak, on the West Coast of Thailand in the sleepy seaside resort town about an hour north of Phuket. Here we originally offerred Full Day trips to the Similans and within a year or 2 were also offerring Liveaboard cruises onboard our own private Liveaboard MV Pawara, aswell as faster daily speedboat services to the Similan & Surin Islands including the legendary Koh Bon (Manta Rays) Koh Tachai (Leopard Sharks) & Thailands Number 1 Dive Site - Richelieu Rock (Whalesharks).

In 2004 Big Blue Diving Koh Tao became Koh Tao's first SSI Instructor Training Center with South East Asia's most experienced Instructor Trainer and of course a Big Blue Instructor for over 6 years, Simon Garrity.

In 2007 we opened Big Blue Tech- our Technical Diving division of Big Blue Diving specialising in Wrecks, Tech, Depth, Nitrox, Trimix, Rebreathers, Caves, & Side mount diving. With excursions around Thailand, Singapore & the Phillipines, Big Blue Tech fast became one of Thailands leading Tech, Wreck & Cave Diving Operators.

By 2008 we opened up Big Blue Bed & Breakfast also known as Preewa Guesthouse. A brand new clean, spacious & quiet little building set back about 100 meters from the beach & just a 2 minute walk from our main resort. It was perfect for light sleepers & also for Dive club Groups who were looking for something a little bit nicer & where everyone could stay at the same place.

2009 saw Big Blue Diving become a BSAC Center of Excellence, and with our present in house BSAC Instructor Trainer, James Foleher we have become the leading BSAC Instructor Training facility in Thailand.

Also in 2009 we officially opened Big Blue an Eco Conservation arm of our organisation with in house Marine Biologist Jennifer Matthews. She organised the Charity Event Swim for Sharks which raises money & awareness of the inhumane practise of Shark Finning. We've won awards every year since we formed Big Blue Conservation from the Project Aware Foundation for outstanding contribution to Eco Awareness & in 2010 won SSI's prestigious award for Most Environmentally Active Dive Center in Thailand.

In 2010 we also won other awards from SSI. Outstanding Contribution to Tech Diving, Best Dive Center in Thailand, Best SSI Instructor, Dive Center with the most SSI Certifications & the most SSI Instructor Certifications in Thailand. The same year we were also recognised for the highest amount of Tech Diving & Rebreather certifications in Thailand

In 2011 Big Blue Diving became the first Dive Center in the world to partner with the Coral Cay Conservation Society in the education of Marine conservation & Coastal resources.

Last year -2012 - we were (& still are) very proud to be opening our second Beach front resort also on Sairee Beach. A little more upmarket than our original resort Big Blue Two offers Air Conditioned Bungalows on the beach, Private AC & Fan rooms & 4 bed dormitories with ocean views, a purpose built divers pool, & another excellent Beach side Restaurant & Bar. From here we also offer the accommodation at Koh Tao's legendary backpacker beachside bungalows Pranee Bungalows & Mama O'Chais.