Selecting a scuba dive school in Koh Tao, Thailand can be a daunting task, given the abundance of options available. You might be interested in taking a course or you might be relatively advanced and keen to avoid the training sites and see some of the islands more exciting dive sites. To make the decision-making process easier, here are ten crucial factors to consider:
- Check their Reviews: Check the school’s reviews on Google, Facebook and Trip Advisor to gauge the experiences of other divers. Consider both positive and negative feedback, but ensure that the highlighted aspects align with your priorities. Be mindful of the review dates to ensure their relevance.
- Class Sizes: Evaluate the class and group sizes. Some dive schools on Koh Tao maintain smaller groups for more personalized attention, while others accommodate larger numbers. Determine your comfort level, keeping in mind that smaller groups often offer better instructor attention. 4 students to 1 instructor is a good size.
Your Instructor will show you exactly what you need to know to enjoy your diving - Location! Location! Location!: Is your Dive school on Koh Tao close enough and convenient enough for you to meet at? Does the dive center have beach access which means they can leave from the beach rather than jumping on taxis with all the scuba equipment and tanks and driving down to the islands main pier in town and shuffling yourselves and all that equipment before you’ve even left dock! Choose a dive school on Koh Tao that can shuttle you over from the beach at the Dive school straight out to the dive boat. You will save yourself at least an hour per trip just in shuttling back and forth!
- Instructor Qualifications: Consider whether you prefer newer instructors with updated information or seasoned ones with experience. Your comfort level and learning preferences will play a significant role in this decision. And make sure you choose SSI when it comes to training as it’s so much more focused on the course in hand rather than the blowhorn blasting other dive agencies shove down your necks!
- What do they offer the certified diver: A dive shop that has more than 1 boat in their fleet is invaluable as it means they can offer a variety of different dive sites every day. Generally these dive schools on Koh Tao offer trips for certified divers only, so no courses which means more exciting dive sites, than most shops with 1 boat who are then limited to mainly training sites only.
Waverunner is one of the largest most comfortable boats on Koh Tao, excellent in rough seas. - Boat Size: If prone to seasickness, opt for a school with larger boats that provide a more stable ride. The size of the boat can significantly impact your overall diving experience. Speedboats are great when it comes to saving on travel time but terrible for space for kitting up and not a great place for having a chat with your fellow divers. Dive sites around Koh Tao are all within 40 minutes travel time so enjoy your trip, take photos as you cruise around Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan and know you have ample room on the dive deck for kitting up.
- Budget: While scuba diving isn’t a cheap activity, consider your budget. Koh Tao offers relatively affordable courses, but avoid choosing solely based on price. Allocate sufficient funds for quality training and consider at least some fun dives after your training so you can practice what you’ve learnt.
- Equipment Quality: Check the school’s scuba diving equipment for compliance with regulations. Ensure they have gear in your size and inquire about the maintenance and cleaning schedules.
- Departure Times: Different schools have varying boat departure times. Consider your preference for early or more relaxed departures and choose a school that aligns with your schedule. Benefit of leaving around 7am or earlier is you tend to be one of the 1st dive schools on Koh Tao to the dive sites.
- Dive Sites: If your dive school on Koh Tao doesn’t dive Sail Rock at least once a week then go to another dive school on Koh Tao! If you ask the question “Where are you diving?” and they don’t reply with “Where would you like to go diving?” then go to another Dive school. Choose a dive school on Koh Tao who takes you to dive sites you want to go to, and if you are open to suggestions then listen to the Divemasters as to where the best visibility is at that time. Traditionally if you are looking for the Top 10 dive sites it would be Sail Rock, Chumphon Pinnacle, Southwest Pinnacle, Sattakut Wreck, Shark Island, White Rock, Red Rock, Green Rock, Hin Wong Pinnacle and Laem Thien Caves.
Additional Tip: If torn between schools, narrow down your options to 3-5, visit each one, and assess their overall vibe and equipment. The atmosphere and gear quality often contribute significantly to a positive diving experience.