Thailand » Gulf of Thailand » Koh Tao
Top Things to Do in Koh Tao
We compared all 11 experiences in Koh Tao so you can choose in minutes — real prices, verified reviews and our editorial picks.
4.9 11 experiences
from US$ 31
✓Free cancellation on most experiences
Sort
Open Water Diver Koh Tao: 3 days, 4 ocean divesYou complete three days of academics, pool training, and four ocean dives around Koh Tao, progressing from 12 meters to the full 18-meter limit. All equipment is provided, and you walk away with a digital PADI certification card that's valid worldwide. The final two dives are pure exploration — no drills, just diving on some of Koh Tao's best sites.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to dive independently after the course without arranging training elsewhere — three days is what it takes to go from zero to certified at 18 meters. You need moderate fitness and should be comfortable in water, since the pace moves from pool to ocean dives by day two.
Bali: SSI Basic Diver Day Experience & Two Guided DivesYou’ll meet your SSI instructor in Bali for a small-group intro to scuba diving—starting with basic theory over coffee or tea, then heading out for two guided dives (up to 12 meters). Expect hands-on help getting comfortable underwater, real-time tips from your local guide, and time to just float quietly among Bali’s marine life. It’s less about perfection—more about those first surreal moments below the surface.
Open Water Scuba Certification Koh Tao: 4 days, 4 ocean divesYou complete a four-day PADI Open Water certification with one pool session and four open-water dives at different Koh Tao sites. The dive boat includes showers, sun deck, and meals on Sail Rock days. All equipment, insurance, and refreshments are included in the price, and you leave with a certification card and real underwater experience.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to learn diving properly without rushing: four days gives you time to build confidence in the pool before you're underwater for real. The boat and all gear are included, so you show up and dive—no rental hassles or hidden costs.
Koh Tao & Nangyuan: Vintage Boat Snorkeling, Sunset BBQ, PickupYou’ll ride a vintage wooden boat around Koh Tao & Nangyuan with a local guide, snorkel six different bays (gear included), try kayaking or paddleboarding if you want, then share a fresh buffet lunch and sunset BBQ dinner on deck before heading back as evening falls. It’s relaxed but full of small moments you’ll remember.
Koh Tao Snorkel Tour: 5 Bays & Nangyuan Island with LunchYou get hotel pickup, snorkel gear, and a professional English-speaking guide for five different bays and Nangyuan Island. Lunch and drinks are on the boat. The small group size means you're not fighting for space or visibility, and you're back on land by midday, which leaves your afternoon open for onward travel or rest.Is it for me?Right for anyone staying on Koh Tao who wants to see multiple snorkel sites in one morning without arranging their own boat or fighting crowds — the small group and fixed timing are what make five bays fit into a half-day without rushing.
Koh Tao: PADI Open Water Diver Certification in 3 DaysYou complete five theory chapters, take a written exam, and log four open water dives across three days on Koh Tao. The course moves from confined water at Nang Yuan Island to depths of 12 meters on day two and 18 meters on day three. All equipment, certification, and boat refreshments are included; you walk away with an internationally recognized PADI card and a log book.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to get certified without committing weeks to a course and are comfortable with an intensive three-day schedule. Expect early starts on days two and three — day two begins at 10am and day three at 8am — which is what lets you fit four dives and all the theory into the timeframe.
Koh Tao: Try Scuba Diving & SSI CertificationYou arrive at 8:30am for a 30–40 minute briefing on scuba basics and equipment, then boat out to Koh Nang Yuan around 11:20am for your first dive in shallow, clear water. The program includes one dive with the option to add a second; you'll see coral, tropical fish, and possibly sea turtles. You leave with an SSI card valid for six months and all gear, insurance, and refreshments included.Is it for me?Right for anyone curious about diving but hesitant to commit to a full certification course — you get the real experience, the card to dive again, and an instructor who keeps the group small enough to notice if something feels off.
Koh Tao Try Dive: First Scuba Lesson & Boat TripYou arrive at the dive school at 10am, get fitted with new gear, and spend an hour learning the basics in a calm, unhurried way. Then you board a three-story boat stocked with refreshments and head to a beginner-friendly bay where you'll complete shallow-water skills before descending to 12 meters to see tropical fish and corals. The boat, professional instructor, all equipment, snacks and drinks are included; you're back on land by 4:30pm.Is it for me?Book this if you've always wondered what diving feels like but don't want to commit to a full certification course — one morning of instruction and one calm dive answers the question without the multi-day commitment.
Koh Tao: 3-Day PADI Open Water Scuba CertificationYou complete four open water dives across three days with a private boat, expert instructor, and all equipment provided. The course includes classroom theory each morning, hands-on training in shallow water on day one, then two official open water dives on days two and three. You'll log everything in the PADI app and walk away with your certification card and the skills to dive independently anywhere in the world.Is it for me?Choose this course if you want to earn your PADI certification without arranging a boat, buying or renting gear, or coordinating multiple instructors—the operator handles all of it across three days, and you leave with a card valid worldwide.
Koh Tao: 3 Dive Catamaran with MV Chaba & LunchYou board at 7:45 AM and complete three guided dives at Koh Tao's premier sites—Sail Rock, Chumphon Pinnacle, Southwest Pinnacle—with a professional guide and small group. Lunch and refreshments are served onboard between dives. You return by 3:00 PM with all gear and insurance included; the fast catamaran means less travel time and more time underwater.Is it for me?Book this if you're a certified diver who wants to maximize time underwater without the hassle of coordinating transport, equipment, and multiple boats—the catamaran's speed and smaller groups mean you spend less time traveling between sites and more time actually diving.
Koh Tao: PADI Advanced Diver Course & 30m Depth CertificationYou complete five specialized dives over two days—two mandatory (deep to 30 meters and navigation) and three you choose based on your interests. Your PADI instructor briefs you before each dive, sharing site-specific tips; equipment is provided; and there are no written exams, only knowledge reviews of the manual chapters. You leave with an Advanced Open Water certification card and the depth limit to back it up.Is it for me?Right for certified divers who want to extend their depth limit and explore specific underwater activities without classroom time—the two-day format and choice of three dives means you're learning what you actually came to do.
