Best Diving in Thailand

Koh Tao is the beating heart of scuba diving in Thailand, and one of the cheapest places in the world to get certified. Sitting in the Gulf of Thailand on a compact, species-rich reef system, the island packs more dive sites into a small area than almost anywhere else in the region, with warm water, easy conditions and visibility that regularly reaches 30 metres in high season.

Dozens of dive schools cluster around Sairee Beach, Mae Haad and Chalok Baan Kao, teaching PADI, SSI and RAID courses from the first Discover Scuba experience through Open Water, Advanced and Rescue, all the way to Divemaster and Instructor level. Alongside scuba, the island is a major centre for freediving and technical diving, with dedicated schools running courses from beginner breath-hold sessions to deep and rebreather training.

The dive sites themselves range from gentle coral gardens ideal for first-timers to the granite pinnacles of Chumphon and Southwest, the swim-throughs of White Rock and Green Rock, and the HTMS Sattakut wreck. Turtles, reef sharks, barracuda and moray eels are regular sightings, and between March and May whale sharks pass through the deeper sites.

Whether you are learning to dive, logging fun dives between courses or training toward a professional qualification, browse the dive centres below and find the school that fits your level and pace on Koh Tao.