Course overview

Short on time? The PADI Scuba Diver certification at Khao Lak is a subset of the Open Water course that gets you diving to 12 metres under professional supervision, ideal before short Similan Islands trips. You complete the core skills on the sheltered local reefs and can later upgrade to full Open Water Diver whenever you wish.

What you’ll learn

• Set up and use scuba equipment
• Clear the mask and recover the regulator
• Manage basic buoyancy and air supply
• Dive to 12 metres with a PADI professional
• Communicate and stay with your buddy and guide
• Apply core safety procedures

Prerequisites

• No prior certification required
• Minimum age 10 (Junior) / 15 for Scuba Diver
• Comfortable swimming and floating
• Reasonable health (diver medical questionnaire required)

What's included · What's not

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 the first knowledge sections and confined-water skills in calm shallows near Khao Lak.
2. Day2
   Open-water dives & certification

   Apply skills on two open-water dives at a sheltered local reef and earn the Scuba 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