Course overview

Take your first real step into scuba with the SSI Basic Diver program on Koh Tao, a guided introduction that goes beyond a single try-dive. You complete confined-water training and guided open-water dives to around 12 metres at calm sites like Japanese Gardens, building genuine skills you can later credit toward full SSI Open Water certification.

What you’ll learn

• Assemble and use basic scuba equipment
• Breathe and move comfortably underwater
• Clear the mask and recover the regulator
• Equalise and control buoyancy
• Communicate with 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

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

   Work through the SSI Basic Diver digital lessons and practise core 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, applying your skills.
3. Day2
   Debrief & progression

   Review your diving and learn how the experience credits toward full SSI Open Water certification.

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