Cost for the PADI certificate in Koh Tao
The prices are very similar for all diving schools in Koh Tao. Generally a PADI course will cost you around 9,800 baht (About $ 300) including accommodation with a fans room. Take your time to check the accommodation, especially if you are a difficult person.
If you prefer, you can organize your own accommodation And this will result in the price of the course About 8,500 – 9000 baht (approximately $ 260/270). Don’t be afraid to negotiate a little.
For your last two dives, a videographer and photographer will come and assemble a 15 -minute video of your incredible experience that will be watched the last evening. The video will also be on sale from around 1000 – 2500 baht ($ 30/75). You can also hire an underwater camera or bring yours Bopro If you have it (I highly recommend it, I have it and I love it!). Rental will cost you around 1,500 baht for a dive.
Do not forget to check if the school has special offers during the progress for a certain period. Some schools also have special packages that include fun free dives at additional costs.
Top 5 diving sites in Koh Tao:
1 | Pinnacle chummon:
Source: http://www.alexinwanderland.com/
Located about 40 minutes from Koh Tao by boat, Chumphon is one of the most popular diving sites around Koh Tao. The Pinnacle offshore offers chances of seeing whale sharks (in season) and more common exhilarating meetings with reef and bull sharks. The pinnacle starts at around 14 meters and descends to 40 meters.
2 | Green rock
Image by: David Rubin Source: www.lonelyplanet.com
Located on the Koh Nangyuan coast, this site is a 15 -minute boat trip from Koh Tao. It offers giant granite rocks and exciting “swimming”. Also well known, a reproduction ground for aggressive trigger fish, so be careful not to get closer.
3 | Japanese gardens
Beautiful corals Source: www.thailand-diving.net
As mentioned above, they are located in one of the bays of Koh Nangyuan. Good for beginners’ divers, and also for snorkeling, but do not let the ease of this dive make you think that it is not so beautiful. More deeply in the bay, you can also find a shipwreck which is a good place to practice your shipwreck specialties.
4 | Sail
Sail Rock expeditions! Source: www.phoenixdiverskohtao.com
Located halfway between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. Whale sharks and the giant barracuda can be identified here. There is also a chimney formation which is very popular among technical and advanced divers.
5 | Southwest Pinnacles:
Image source: www.simplelifedivers.com
A series of pinnacles located 30 minutes by boat from Koh Tao. It descends 28 meters deep and is called to the house by lots of Barracuda, snappers and groups. It is a perfect location for the beginner with advanced divers as well as for technical diving lessons.
Basic advice for diving safely
There are obvious reasons why diving is considered a dangerous sport, since you immerse yourself in an ocean or a deep lake.
There are a lot of debates on the dangers of scuba diving, but in the end, it is fundamentally as dangerous as any other recreational sport if good precautions are not taken.
Here are some basic tips to make sure you come back to the surface, alive.
- If you don’t have special training To dive into Wrecks or cavesMake sure you stay in free water and always have a clear way on the surface. Especially if you suffer from claustrophobia or if you are still not confident enough with your equipment.
I was once plunged Sardinia And entered a small cave, when I suddenly lost my balance and mounted too quickly, slightly bunching my head against the top of the cave (nothing dangerous but always …)
My instructor could not locate me immediately and the experience was rather unpleasant. Without forgetting that when the dive was finished, I had a little discomfort in my ears, while I went up too fast, so my advice is: always be careful and do not push yourself to the limits!
- Know how qualified and experienced you are: Stay as deep as you feel comfortable and always within recreational limits. Not more deep than 40 meters and no more than 20 for beginners. Same advice as above, never push yourself too much. Take advantage of the views, follow your instructor religiously and relax!
- Learn professionals: If you want to try something new, always ask a professional to come and show you how to properly manage all possible situations / obstacles. Sometimes, a site that we consider to be sure for diving can be dangerous due to high-underwater currents or other conditions. A professional will always know better than you.
When I was in the Philippines, I asked a professional if I could dive and he said that he was better to wait a few days because the visibility was quite poor on the diving site due to certain underwater currents.
- Stay healthy: Most accidents in diving, even mortals, occur more often than none, due to personal health problems such as heart attacks and other specific problems. So keep yourself in good shape and know your limits. It is always good to check your health problems (especially your ears, your heart and your lungs) if you plan to obtain a scuba diving certificate.
- Be an active diver: This means that there are a lot of technical details and procedures to follow the dive. If you have not dive for a long time, do a recycling lesson just to come back and remind you of all the ins and outs.
- Dive with a boyfriend: As I mentioned earlier, a boyfriend can become a life buoy. And always make a pre-cling check with a boyfriend before entering the water. See if the air is lit, the straps of secure weights, etc., also see where the versions for your boyfriend are located. These easy -to -follow safety precautions can potentially save lives. Do not neglect them!
- Use legitimate equipment: Always check that your equipment is well maintained. If you rent, check it out and test it before jumping in the water, most companies keep their equipment well. Use yours? Be sure to rinse it carefully after diving and store it in an appropriate place.
According to these basic rules and advice, diving can be A safe and wonderful experience To all those who want to explore the deep blue sea. Be an active diver, keep good health, good equipment, bring friends and know your limits with well -planned diving trips. By doing these things, you essentially eliminate the danger factor and you stay with Incredible adventures to come!
What are you waiting for? Immerse yourself directly, get this plane ticket and get certified to explore the deep blue sea!
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