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

Guides · Price comparison

Open Water Course on Koh Tao: Price, Days, Dive Count Compared

Four tracked Koh Tao operators publish an Open Water price: THB 9,900-12,950. Days and dive counts differ too, so a lower price isn't automatically the same course for less.

Prices as published by each operator · checked 25 Sept 2026

Price
THB 9,900–THB 12,950
Days
2.5–4
Dives
4–5

The four operators

Lowest price first. Not a quality ranking.

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Prices shown in

  1. Isla Tortuga Divers

    Lowest listed price
    THB 9,900

    Days: 3 days

    Dives: Not stated

    • Equipment
    • Digital materials
    • Certification fee
    • Boat trips

    Deposit THB 2,650, part of the price

  2. Big Blue Diving

    THB 12,000

    Days: 2.5 days

    Dives: 5 dives

    Not itemized on the operator's listing

    Dives to 18 m. Deposit not stated

  3. Siam Scuba

    THB 12,000

    Days: 3 days

    Dives: 4 dives

    Not itemized on the operator's listing

    Deposit not stated

  4. Black Turtle Dive

    THB 12,950

    Days: 3–4 days

    Dives: Not stated

    • Equipment
    • Digital materials
    • Certification fee
    • Boat trips: not stated

    Deposit THB 2,000, part of the price

What the numbers show

A gap of THB 3,050, and different courses behind it

The lowest listing, Isla Tortuga Divers, states that equipment, digital materials, certification fees and boat trips are included, but not how many dives. Siam Scuba and Big Blue Diving list the same price with different formats: 4 dives over 3 days against 5 dives over 2.5 days, and neither itemizes what the price covers.

Ask before you book

  • Are equipment, materials and the certification fee in the price? Two of four listings say so.
  • How many open water dives, over how many days? Two listings state a dive count.
  • Is the deposit part of the price? Two listings say yes, two don't say.

Common questions

How much does an Open Water course cost on Koh Tao?

THB 9,900-12,950 across the four tracked operators. Isla Tortuga Divers is cheapest at THB 9,900, Siam Scuba and Big Blue Diving are both THB 12,000, and Black Turtle Dive is THB 12,950.

How many days and dives is the Open Water course?

Isla Tortuga Divers and Siam Scuba list 3 days, Big Blue Diving lists 2.5 days with 5 dives, and Black Turtle Dive lists 3 to 4 days. Siam Scuba states 4 open water dives; the other operators don't state a dive count on the listing we checked, apart from Big Blue Diving's 5.

Is the deposit on top of the course price?

No. Isla Tortuga Divers states its THB 2,650 deposit is part of the THB 9,900 price, and Black Turtle Dive states its THB 2,000 deposit is part of THB 12,950.

Is Advanced Open Water cheaper here too?

Isla Tortuga Divers lists Advanced Open Water at THB 9,000 over 2 days, Siam Scuba at THB 11,000 (5 adventure dives, dive to 30 m) and Black Turtle Dive at THB 11,900 over 2 days.

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.

Dive sites nearby

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

How this guide was built

Source
Each operator's own published listing, checked 25 Sept 2026.
Order
By listed price, lowest first. Not a quality ranking.
Currency
Operators charge in THB; EUR and USD are conversions for orientation.