Advanced Diving Course Koh Tao – Dive to 30m and Improve Your Skills
Dive to 30 metres, complete 5 Adventure Dives, and explore some of Koh Tao’s best dive sites.
SSI Advanced Diving Course Koh Tao
The SSI Advanced Diving Course Koh Tao is designed to improve your diving skills, build confidence, and allow you to dive deeper — up to 30 metres. Over just 2 days, you’ll complete 5 Adventure Dives, including Deep and Navigation, while exploring some of Koh Tao’s best dive sites.
This course is equivalent to the Advanced Open Water Diver level offered by other agencies and focuses on real diving experience rather than classroom learning.
There is no final exam — this is a practical, experience-based course completed in the water.
You will complete a Deep Dive to 30 metres and can choose adventure dives such as Wreck Diving on the HTMS Sattakut or a Night Dive over Koh Tao’s colourful coral reefs.
Advanced Open Water vs Open Water – What’s the Difference?
If you’ve already completed your Open Water certification, the Advanced Open Water Course is the next step — but it’s very different in style.
- Less theory, more diving – most of your learning happens in the water
- No pool sessions – all training takes place in real ocean conditions
- 5 dives instead of 4 – more time exploring and gaining experience
- Just 2 days to complete – quicker and more flexible
- Dive deeper – up to 30 metres – access new dive sites and marine life
In short, the Advanced course is all about building confidence and experience while having more fun in the water.
Course Highlights
- ✔ Dive to 30 metres
- ✔ 5 Adventure Dives
- ✔ No classroom-heavy theory
- ✔ No pool sessions
- ✔ Small group sizes
- ✔ Complete in just 2 days
Why Take the Advanced Open Water Course?
Advancing beyond Open Water transforms you from a beginner into a confident, capable diver. The SSI Advanced Open Water Diver course improves buoyancy control, underwater navigation, depth awareness, and dive planning skills.
This training helps you feel more relaxed in the water, improve air consumption, and handle new environments safely. You’ll gain the confidence and situational awareness needed to dive in a wider range of conditions.
Whether your goal is to explore deeper dive sites, prepare for specialty training, or simply feel more comfortable underwater, advancing your skills opens the door to safer and more enjoyable diving.
Why Take This Course on Koh Tao?
Koh Tao is one of Thailand’s premier destinations for scuba diving training. Clear visibility, short boat rides, and diverse dive environments make it ideal for improving skills quickly and safely.
You’ll explore vibrant coral reefs and an incredible underwater world, encountering marine life such as fusiliers, trevally, giant groupers, and — in season — whale sharks at Chumphon Pinnacle.
Protected bays allow instructors to match dive sites to skill development, with calm reefs for training and deeper pinnacles for real-world experience.
Why Choose Chalok Reef Divers To Take Your Advanced Diving Course On Koh Tao
Located in beautiful Chalok Bay, Chalok Reef Divers provides a relaxed and professional learning environment focused on safety, comfort, and personalised training.
✔ Small groups for more personal attention✔ Experienced SSI instructors focused on safety and confidence
✔ Relaxed, no-rush training environment
✔ Modern, well-maintained equipment
✔ Strong focus on buoyancy control and reef protection
Our approach prioritises skill development, confidence, and enjoyment, ensuring you leave as a safer and more capable diver.
Explore Diverse Marine Environments
Experience the vibrant marine life and ecosystems of Koh Tao, from coral reefs teeming with aquatic organisms to encounters with giant groupers and whale sharks. Our specialty courses include:
- Deep Diving: Explore the depths and experience nitrogen narcosis. (Chumphon Pinnacle is a great dive site for this)
- Wreck Diving: Dive into history at the HTMS Sattakut naval vessel site.
- Night Diving: Discover the underwater realm in new light.
- Perfect Bouyancy: Perfect your trip to hover like a pro!
- Navigation: Use a compass to navigate the dive site
THE SCHEDULE
Our Advanced Diving Course is typically completed over 2 days, combining essential training dives with real-world experience.
Our 2-day Advanced diving course includes compulsory dives and elective dives tailored to your interests. Engage in training the two mandatory dives that cover essential skills like buoyancy control, underwater navigation skills and night diving.
Day 1
- 10:00 AM: Arrival time for course admin, medical form completion, and knowledge reviews.
- 12 PM – 5 PM: Afternoon out scuba diving, focusing on buoyancy and the underwater navigation dives.
- 6:30 PM – 8 PM: Evening adventure with a night dive.
Day 2
- 7 AM – 11 AM: Morning boat trips ideal for deep dives and wreck dives.
- Back to the dive center for certification.
Unlike many other courses, there is no final exam — the focus is on practical diving experience and building confidence in real conditions
Course Price & Options → Includes
- Five water dives over two days
- Rental dive equipment, including dive computers, dive torches and compasses.
- Online manual access for foundational knowledge
- Complimentary beverages, snacks and pier on dive boats
- Transfers to and from the pier and if you stayed elsewhere on the west coast your resort
- Diving insurance and accident insurance coverage
Skills & Training Dives Included
Our advanced courses focus on developing critical skills through a structured approach to diving. Engage in fun dives and challenging dives that enhance your understanding of natural navigation techniques, air consumption rate, body position, and more. Perfect your buoyancy with Perfect Buoyancy exercises.
Accommodation Options
Choose from nearby accommodation or stay with us:
• Woodlawn Villas – comfort & privacy near Chalok Bay
• Chalok Reef Divers Hostel – affordable, social accommodation perfect for divers
Ready to Advance Your Diving Skills?
Join Chalok Reef Divers for an unforgettable diving experience on Koh Tao.
Whether you’re a newly certified diver or an experienced underwater explorer, our advanced diving courses will elevate your skills, confidence, and comfort in the water.
Explore deeper dive sites Improve buoyancy and air consumption Build real-world diving confidence
Contact us today to plan your diving trip — your confirmation email will include everything you need to get started.
Need more details?
Visit our website, follow us on social media, or contact us using the links on this page. Our dive professionals are ready to help you explore the underwater wonders of Koh Tao.
PRICES, PREREQUISITES, AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFO
10,000THB
Minimum age for advanced open water 10 years unless they wish to do the deep dive which is a minimum age of 12 years old
To enrol, you must already be open water certified.
Your Open Water Diver certification can be from any diving agency, ie PADI, RAID, SSI, CMAS, BSAC, NAUI, SDI etc
Please download the medical form attached.
You’ll need to complete a short medical questionnaire to enrol on any our Advanced diving course or any other dive course we offer. Please contact us before booking if you’re unsure about anything on the form.
Responsible Diving & Environmental Awareness
Throughout the course, divers are encouraged to follow responsible diving practices, including proper buoyancy control and reef awareness techniques that protect fragile coral ecosystems. Developing these habits early helps preserve marine environments while improving overall dive safety.
Popular Add-Ons & Next Steps
- Enriched Air Nitrox — extend bottom time within recreational limits
- Perfect Buoyancy Specialty — refine trim & gas efficiency
- First Aid & Emergency Course — ideal before Rescue level
- Rescue → Dive Guide → Divemaster — SSI professional pathway
- SSI XR Extended Range theory — introduction to technical diving concepts
Note: This course remains within recreational diving limits and does not include decompression diving.
SSI Training Pathway & Continuing Education
The SSI Advanced Open Water Diver course is part of a complete diver education pathway recognised worldwide. After certification, divers can continue building experience through SSI specialty courses and professional training.
Popular progression options include:
- Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty
- Deep Diving Specialty
- Diver Stress & Rescue
- React Right emergency training
- Night Diving & Navigation specialties
- Dive Guide & Divemaster programs
- Instructor Training Course (ITC)
- Technical & sidemount diving pathways
These programs strengthen dive safety standards, situational awareness, and confidence in the underwater world.
Travel & Logistics
Koh Tao is easily reached by ferry from Koh Samui, Chumphon, or Surat Thani. We can help coordinate ferry arrivals with course orientation.
FAQs About the Advanced Open Water Diver Course
How deep do we dive?
The Deep Dive qualifies you to dive to 30 metres within recreational limits.
Is SSI as good as PADI?
Yes. SSI and PADI are globally recognised diving agencies with equivalent training standards and internationally accepted certifications.
How many dives are included?
Five training dives. Deep & Navigation are required; others may include Perfect Buoyancy, Wreck, or Night.
Do I need my own dive computer?
No. We provide guidance and ensure you are confident using one safely.
Can I join if I haven’t dived recently?
Yes. A refresher session can be arranged before the course. Contact us in advance and we will organise it for you.