Dive Curated
Hawksbill turtle while diving in Koh Tao
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75554154@N00/54256522485/ · CC BY 2.0 · source

Guides · Price overview

Koh Tao Dive Prices 2026: What Diving Actually Costs

Koh Tao built its reputation as one of the world's cheapest places to get PADI certified, and our tracked operators mostly bear that out: Open Water courses run THB 9,900-12,950, with the spread coming from included dive count and boat fees rather than instruction quality alone. A standard 2-dive fun trip runs THB 2,000-2,200; the Sail Rock day trip, Koh Tao's signature dive site, runs THB 3,200-4,000 depending on dive count and operator.

Real fun dive, Sail Rock trip, and PADI course prices from our tracked Koh Tao operators.

Prices shown in

  1. Coral reef
    joakant · Pixabay Content License · source

    Thailand / Gulf of Thailand

    Koh Tao

    Beginner-friendlyBudget

    Open Water course from THB 9,900 · Day trip from THB 1,000

    A standard 2-dive fun trip runs THB 2,000-2,200 across our tracked operators. The Sail Rock day trip (2-3 dives at Koh Tao's best-known site) runs THB 3,200-4,000. PADI Open Water certification runs THB 9,900-12,950; Advanced Open Water runs THB 9,000 at the one operator we track it with as a standalone course. A combined Open Water + Advanced package runs THB 23,000 at the one operator offering that bundle.

All tracked dive prices

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    1 x Fun Dive

    Day trip

    THB 1,000

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    Scuba Review (Refresher)

    Course

    THB 1,800

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    2 x Fun Dives

    Day trip

    THB 1,900

  • Big Blue Diving

    Guided Fun Dive (2 Boat Dives)

    Day trip

    THB 2,000

  • Siam Scuba

    Guided Fun Dive (2 Boat Dives)

    Day trip

    THB 2,000

  • Black Turtle Dive

    Fun Dives for Certified Divers (2 Dives)

    Day trip

    THB 2,200

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Discover Scuba Diving

    Course

    THB 2,500

  • Siam Scuba

    Discover Scuba Diving

    Course

    THB 2,600

  • Black Turtle Dive

    Sail Rock 1 Day Dive Trip

    Day trip

    THB 3,200

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    Sail Rock Trip (1 Day)

    Day trip

    THB 3,200

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    Scuba Review + 2 Fun Dives

    Day trip

    THB 3,400

  • Big Blue Diving

    Basic Scuba Diver (Try Dive)

    Course

    THB 3,800

  • Siam Scuba

    Sail Rock Flagship Trip (3 Dives)

    Day trip

    THB 4,000

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    Emergency First Response (EFR)

    Course

    THB 4,750

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    6 x Fun Dives

    Package

    THB 5,400

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Night Diver Course

    Course

    THB 7,000

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Course

    Course

    THB 7,500

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Scuba Diver Course

    Course

    THB 7,900

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Deep Diver Course

    Course

    THB 8,000

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    10 x Fun Dives

    Package

    THB 8,000

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Wreck Diver Course

    Course

    THB 8,000

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Advanced Open Water Course

    Course

    THB 9,000

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Open Water Course

    Course

    THB 9,900

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Rescue Diver Course (without EFR)

    Course

    THB 10,000

  • Siam Scuba

    Advanced Open Water Course

    Course

    THB 11,000

  • Siam Scuba

    Rescue Diver Course

    Course

    THB 11,000

  • Black Turtle Dive

    PADI Advanced Open Water Course

    Course

    THB 11,900

  • Big Blue Diving

    Open Water Diver Course

    Course

    THB 12,000

  • Siam Scuba

    PADI Open Water Diver Course

    Course

    THB 12,000

  • Black Turtle Dive

    PADI Open Water Course

    Course

    THB 12,950

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Rescue Diver Course

    Course

    THB 14,000

  • Black Turtle Dive

    PADI Rescue Diver Course

    Course

    THB 18,000

  • Big Blue Diving

    Open Water + Advanced Package

    Package

    THB 23,000

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Divemaster Course

    Course

    THB 30,000

  • Isla Tortuga Divers

    PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC)

    Course

    THB 41,900

Before you book

Coral reef
MonicaVolpin · Pixabay Content License · source

Koh Tao

Season

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Also good: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Nov, Dec.

Getting there

  • Fly to Koh Samui (USM, direct from Bangkok and Singapore) or Surat Thani (URT, main budget hub), then ferry to Koh Tao (2–3 hr from Surat Thani, 1.5 hr from Koh Phangan).
  • Night train from Bangkok to Chumphon + ferry is the classic budget option ($15–25 total).
  • Overnight bus + ferry combinations also run from Bangkok.
  • The island has no airport.

Minimum stay

3 nights (5+ if doing an Open Water course)

Good for your first trip if

Open Water minimum; no special cert needed for any standard site. This is one of the world's most popular learn-to-dive destinations. PADI OW courses $250–350 (among the world's most competitive prices). Nearest hyperbaric chamber is in Koh Samui (~2 hr by ferry + ambulance).

Know before you go

  • Nearest hyperbaric chamber is in Koh Samui, evacuation takes 2+ hours.
  • Dive conservatively.
  • The main non-diving risk is motorbike accidents; many divers rent scooters without experience on unfamiliar roads.
  • Party-related dehydration significantly raises DCS risk the next day.
  • Enforce your own surface interval from alcohol the night before diving.

Top dive sites

Top sites in Koh Tao

blacktip reef shark underwater
Franziska_Stier · Pixabay Content License · source

Sail Rock

Intermediate

Depth5–30 m

Submerged rock between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan with a vertical chimney swim-through. Glassfish inside, barracuda above, and occasional whale sharks. The best dive in the area.

  • chimney swim-through
  • glassfish
  • barracuda
  • whale sharks (seasonal)
  • trevally
shark underwater
Franziska_Stier · Pixabay Content License · source

Chumphon Pinnacle

Intermediate

Depth5–36 m

The deepest, most exposed site near Koh Tao, barracuda schools, big-eye trevally, and occasional whale sharks. Best pelagic diving in the area; cancelled in rough conditions.

  • whale sharks (seasonal)
  • barracuda
  • big-eye trevally
  • pinnacle
  • current

Common questions

How much does a fun dive cost on Koh Tao?

THB 2,000-2,200 for a standard 2-dive trip across our tracked operators. The Sail Rock day trip, Koh Tao's signature site, costs more (THB 3,200-4,000) since it's a longer boat run to reach.

How much does PADI Open Water certification cost on Koh Tao?

THB 9,900-12,950 across our tracked operators. Check what's bundled before comparing on price alone: included dive count, materials, and certification fees vary between the cheaper and pricier listings.

Is Koh Tao still cheap for diving compared to other Thailand or Southeast Asia spots?

Based on what we track here, yes: Open Water certification at THB 9,900-12,950 (roughly USD 300-400 at typical exchange rates) is well below what most Red Sea or Caribbean operators charge for the same course. Compare directly against our other destination price guides if you're weighing options.

How this guide was built

Every fact above is pulled live from the same destination and operator records used on Dive Curated's destination pages. It can never drift out of sync with what those pages say.

Beginner-friendly
Rated on the destination's own current strength, depth range, and visibility.
Budget tier
Verified accommodation, food, and diving costs; not marketing claims.
Price
Lowest tracked operator listing at time of publish. Check the destination page for current pricing.