Learn to Dive with Purpose

Newly certified diver exploring tropical coral reefs during an Open Water course in Koh Tao, Thailand.
Open Water Diver student learning to scuba dive in warm tropical waters during a beginner diving course in Koh Tao, Thailand.
Students learning to scuba dive in Koh Tao, considered one of the best destinations in Thailand for Open Water Diver courses.

Learning to dive is more than earning a certification — it’s the beginning of a relationship with the ocean.

Our PADI Open Water course on Koh Tao introduces you to the underwater world in a safe, supportive, and environmentally responsible way. You’ll learn the fundamental skills needed to dive confidently while developing awareness of marine life, reef systems, and responsible diving practices from your very first breaths underwater.

This course is your gateway to exploring coral reefs, understanding marine ecosystems, and taking your first step toward marine conservation.

Your First Step Into the Underwater World

The PADI Open Water Diver course is designed for beginners with no previous diving experience. At Black Turtle, we go beyond basic certification by focusing on comfort, buoyancy, confidence, and respect for the marine environment.

You’ll learn how to dive safely and calmly, how to move through the water with control, and how to interact responsibly with marine life — all while exploring Koh Tao’s shallow reefs, sandy bays, and vibrant coral ecosystems.

This course lays the foundation not only for future diving adventures, but also for deeper learning in marine conservation.

What you’ll learn:

  • How to use scuba equipment correctly and safely
  • Core diving skills such as mask clearing, regulator recovery, and buoyancy control
  • Safe descent and ascent techniques
  • Underwater communication and buddy awareness
  • Basic understanding of coral reefs and marine life
  • How to dive with minimal impact on the reef

This course is ideal if you want to:

  • Learn to dive in a calm, supportive environment
  • Build confidence and control from day one
  • Start your diving journey with strong foundations
  • Prepare for future conservation and ecology courses
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WHY THIS COURSE MATTERS

Diving gives us access to fragile ecosystems that are already under pressure from climate change, pollution, and human activity. How we learn to dive matters.

At Black Turtle Conservation, we believe good divers are created through awareness, not shortcuts. From your first pool session, we emphasize buoyancy, body position, and reef-friendly behavior so you develop habits that protect marine life throughout your diving journey.

By learning to dive responsibly, you become part of the solution — not part of the problem.

Through this course, you will:

  • Learn to move underwater without damaging the reef
  • Understand why buoyancy control is essential for coral protection
  • Build confidence through skill mastery, not rushing
  • Develop respect for marine life and ecosystems
  • Create a solid base for conservation-focused diving

price

12,000 THB

DURATION

3 days

classes

5 Confined dives

DIVES

4 Open Water training dives

CERTIFICATION

PADI Open Water Diver

LEVEL REQUIRED

Able to swim
book now

* Not a diver yet? No problem! You can start your journey by learning to dive with us.
Our PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water courses are the perfect first step before joining our marine conservation programs.

START WITH A DIVING COURSE

COURSE STRUCTURE

Our PADI Open Water course combines e-learning theory, pool-based skill development, and four ocean dives over two days. E-learning is issued after a course deposit is received so you can complete this before arrival ready to start the water work and fun.

Open Water
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Morning 07:00
09:00 Confined Water Training Briefing Briefing
Lunch
Afternoon 12:00 Confined Water Training Open Water Dive 1 Open Water Dive 3
14:00 Open Water Dive 2 Open Water Dive 4
Evening 17:00 Debrief Debrief Debrief

* Please note that the following schedule is indicative and may vary.
* Exact times for each session and dive will be confirmed before the course begins.

DAY 1 – FOUNDATIONS & CONFIDENCE BUILDING

Your journey starts with orientation and confined water training in a swimming pool, allowing you to focus on skills in a calm, controlled environment.

You’ll learn how to breathe underwater, equalize comfortably, and perform essential diving skills step by step. Each skill is demonstrated by your instructor and practiced at your own pace.

Confined Water Skills include:
  • Regulator and mask skills
  • Buoyancy control and trim
  • Equipment setup and safety checks
  • Underwater communication
  • Controlled descents and ascents

This day is all about building comfort, trust, and confidence before entering the ocean.

DAY 2 – OCEAN SKILLS & EXPLORATION

You’ll begin your open water training dives at shallow dive sites around Koh Tao.

Open Water Dives 1 & 2:
  • Practice core skills in real conditions
  • Improve buoyancy and body position
  • Explore coral reefs and sandy habitats
  • Learn how to plan and conduct a safe dive

Between dives, you’ll review knowledge with your instructor.

DAY 3 – BECOMING A CERTIFIED DIVER

Open Water Dives 3 & 4:
  • Apply all learned skills independently
  • Dive to a maximum depth of 18 metres
  • Focus on relaxed, confident diving
  • Enjoy extended reef exploration

After completing your final dives, you’ll be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver, qualified to dive anywhere in the world with a buddy.

By the end of the course, you won’t just be certified — you’ll be a confident, aware, and responsible diver.

Contact us
Price:
12,000 ฿
BOOK NOW
Includes:
  • PADI Open Water eLearning
  • 5 confined water training dives
  • 4 open water training dives
  • PADI Open Water certification
  • Full scuba equipment & dive computer
  • Dive insurance during training
  • Logbook
  • Small groups (max 4 students per instructor)
Prerequisites:
  • Minimum age: 10 years
  • Medically fit to dive
  • Able to swim and float comfortably

Testimonials

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Chee yen Wong profile picture
Chee yen Wong
1 days ago
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+1
This dive shop is highly recommended! The diving guide Isbella is very professional, enthusiastic and patient in explaining everything.
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matthias p
1 days ago
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Ich war jetzt bereits zum wiederholten Male tauchen bei Black Turtle Dive und bin begeistert. Der Service, die Hilfsbereitschaft & Professionalität sind überragend! Vor allem meine Fun Dives mit den Dive Master Nils und Hailey waren perfekt. Danke für diese tolle Erfahrung!!
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Amy Burnett
2 days ago
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+0
If you’re looking to complete your PADI open water course, I could not recommend Black Turtle Dive more. We completed the 3 day course. Learnt so much about the ocean and the safety behind diving, that we can take forward to any future dives. Our instructors Jaa and Arisa were so encouraging and patient when it came to learning new skills. As well as the incredible dive locations they take you too.
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Zoe Clark
2 days ago
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If I could give more than 5 stars I would. The staff were so friendly and welcoming as soon as we stepped through the door. Our instructors were more than perfect Jaa and arisa. Could not recommend them more. Hope to dive with them again sometime. Highly recommend
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Alya F
3 days ago
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Ich durfte meinen Open Water Diver hier absolvieren und war wirklich sehr zufrieden. Meine Tauchlehrerin war Nadine, sie ist wirklich mega super! Ich habe mich in der Ausbildung immer sehr wohl und verstanden gefühlt. Sie hat mich immer mit viel Geduld und Passion in meinem Lernprozess begleitet, VIELEN DANK Nadine! Ich schätze generell bei Black Turtle die Professionalität und Hilfsbereitschaft sehr! Man merkt das sie viel Leidenschaft im Tauchen leben (das ganze Team) und ihnen Sicherheit beim Tauchen sehr wichtig ist. Ich habe mich vom Empfang bis zur letzen Ausbildungseinheit gut betreut und beraten gefühlt. Komme gerne wieder 🤟🏼
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Federico Bertorello
4 days ago
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Hice el curso de open water, la atención de las chicas 10! Mi instructora Rhi excelente!
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Toby
4 days ago
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If your looking for low cost, high quality dive school to do your scuba open waters and/or more through, black turtle is the place to go. Ask around for an instructor named Naim and a soon-to-be instructor named Annie. They were great company and even better instructors. Strongly recommend.
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Miriam schlenker
4 days ago
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Michael Clarke profile picture
Michael Clarke
4 days ago
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Chae was awesome. Super patient and helpful with the refresher course we did together. I had some serious trouble equalising and he kept me calm, was really understanding, and managed to get me down for two great experiences. Totally recommend him and the whole staff.
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Mats Lory
5 days ago
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Amazing dive center, super professional and chill people!
Scuba instructor supervising Open Water Diver students with a strong focus on safety, buoyancy, and relaxed learning conditions in Koh Tao.

Keep Learning

Continue your diving journey with the next steps:

PADI Advanced Open Water Diver – build confidence and explore deeper
Marine Conservation Courses & Programs – when you’re ready to turn your dives into real impact

If marine conservation inspires you, Open Water is the perfect first step — and we’ll be here to guide your journey from your very first breath underwater.

ECOLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAM

Prerequisites: AOW

The Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) introduces reef survey methods and scientific diving techniques. You’ll learn to assess fish, invertebrates, substrate, and coral health, and report your findings to an international database.

Coral Taxonomy & Identification

Prerequisites: AOW + EMP

Learn to identify coral species based on skeletal and anatomical characteristics, both on land and underwater.

This course builds essential skills for research, restoration, and monitoring projects.

NUDIBRANCH & SEA SLUG ECOLOGY

Prerequisites: AOW + EMP

Dive into the world of nudibranchs and sea slugs, key indicators of reef biodiversity and water quality. You’ll explore their taxonomy and ecology while participating in an ongoing research project at Black Turtle Conservation.

CORAL RESTORATION THEORY & TECHNIQUES

Prerequisites: AOW + EMP

Explore the science behind coral restoration.

You'll learn about restoration strategies, site selection, coral health assessment, and attachment methods.

ARTIFICIAL REEF THEORY & TECHNIQUES

Prerequisites: AOW + EMP + Coral Restoration

Artificial reefs help restore damaged habitats and provide alternative dive sites. You’ll explore the science behind their design and even create your own reef project as a classroom exercise.

CORAL PREDATORS: POPULATION MANAGEMENT & MONITORING

Prerequisites: AOW + EMP

Identify and monitor coral predators such as crown-of-thorns starfish and Drupella snails, and understand their impact on reef health.

This course teaches practical techniques for population control and long-term reef protection.

ADVANCED CORAL TAXONOMY

Prerequisites: AOW + EMP + Coral Taxonomy

Expand your coral identification skills by learning to recognize more challenging and rare genera.

This course deepens your knowledge of skeletal and anatomical traits, strengthening your abilities for advanced research and monitoring.

CORAL DISEASES & COMPROMISED HEALTH

Prerequisites: AOW + EMP + Coral Taxonomy

Discover how to identify and record common coral diseases and signs of stress in reef ecosystems.

This course equips you with the skills to assess reef health and contribute valuable data to monitoring efforts.

ADVANCED EMP

Prerequisites: AOW + EMP + Coral Taxonomy + Coral Disease + 3 Monitoring Courses

Gain experience using additional monitoring techniques, including quadrants, transects, and advanced survey methods. This course enhances your ability to collect accurate data and analyze long-term changes in reef ecosystems.

SEA TURTLE ECOLOGY & MONITORING

Learn about the ecology, behavior and threats facing sea turtles, all of which are endangered. Develop skills in turtle ID and data collection, allowing you to contribute to real conservation initiatives by recording sightings to support ongoing monitoring efforts in Koh Tao and internationally.

SHARK ECOLOGY & POPULATION STUDIES

Sharks play a crucial role as apex predators, yet many species are now critically endangered. Explore their evolution, anatomy, and ecological role. Learn population monitoring techniques and how to contribute to local and global shark databases to aid conservation efforts.

CORAL WATCH SPECIALITY

Learn how to assess coral health and contribute to a global monitoring effort using a powerful method developed by CoralWatch and supported by PADI AWARE. Gain insight into coral biology, bleaching, and climate change, while participating in real reef surveys.

PLASTIC POLLUTION: MONITORING & ASSESSMENT

Learn about the scale and impact of plastic pollution in the ocean. Gain hands-on experience monitoring microplastics and help protect reef ecosystems by removing macroplastics.

3 DAY PADI OPEN WATER DIVER

PADI ADVANCED OPEN WATER DIVER

PADI RESCUE DIVER + EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONSE (EFR)

Contact us

Grow Your Skills with Our Conservation Programs

All our marine conservation programs begin with the Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP), providing a solid foundation in scientific diving and hands-on conservation.

From there, you can continue learning through our carefully designed programs, which follow a progression we’ve developed to maximize learning and practical experience. Each course builds on the last, helping you
develop your skills step by step while contributing to meaningful conservation projects.

Whether your goal is to specialize in coral restoration, turtle research, or broader reef monitoring, our programs guide you along a clear path, so you can grow as a marine conservationist while enjoying every step of the journey.

CONSERVATION SPECIALIST

  • EMP
  • Coral Taxonomy
  • Sea turtles
  • BTD Sea slugs

REEF SPECIALIST

  • Coral Restoration
  • Artificial Reefs
  • Coral Taxonomy III
  • BTC Marine Pollution

MASTER CONSERVATIONIST

  • Giant Clams
  • BTD Cleaning Stations
  • BTD Coral Predators
  • Sharks

SCIENTIFIC DIVER

  • Image J
  • Coral Disease
  • Advanced EMP

Learning Pathway

← Scroll horizontally to see full pathway →

courses

ANY LEVEL

Open to Divers & Non-Divers
  • Sea Turtle Ecology & Monitoring
  • Coral Watch Speciality
  • Shark Ecology & Population Studies
  • Plastic Pollution: Monitoring & Assessment

ADVANCED DIVERS

AOW Required
Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP)
  • Coral Taxonomy & Identification
    • Advanced Coral Taxonomy
    • Coral Disease Monitoring
  • Nudibranch & Sea Slug Ecology
  • Coral Restoration Theory & Techniques
    • Artificial Reefs Theory
  • Coral Predators Monitoring & Mgmt
Advanced
EMP

programs

ANY LEVEL

Open to Divers & Non-Divers
3 days

CITIZEN SCIENCE

  • Coral Watch Speciality
  • Citizen Science Initiatives
  • Marine Ecology

This infographic shows the progression of the different marine conservation courses and programs we offer at Black Turtle Conservation.

Developed in collaboration with Conservation Diver, PADI AWARE, and our own in-house certifications, these courses and programs provide hands-on opportunities to learn, dive, and actively contribute to real conservation and research efforts.

ADVANCED DIVERS

AOW Required
1 week

CORE CONSERVATIONIST

  • EMP
  • Coral Taxonomy I
2 weeks

CONSERVATION SPECIALIST

  • EMP
  • Coral Taxonomy I & II
  • Sea Turtles
  • BTD Sea Slugs
+ 2 weeks

REEF SPECIALIST

  • Coral Restoration
  • Artificial Reefs
  • Coral Taxonomy III
  • BTD Marine Pollution
+ 2 weeks

MASTER CONSERVATIONIST

  • Giant Clams
  • BTD Cleaning Stations
  • BTD Coral Predators
  • Sharks
+ 2 weeks

SCIENTIFIC DIVER

  • Image J
  • Coral Disease
  • Advanced EMP

pro

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL

Dive Master Required

RESEARCH
ASSISTANT

INSTRUCTOR
DEVELOPMENT
COURSE (IDC)

EMP
INSTRUCTOR

EMP

SPECIALITY
INSTRUCTOR

EMP + ≥5 courses

MASTER
INSTRUCTOR

EMP + ≥10 courses

INSTRUCTOR
TRAINER

← Scroll horizontally to see full pathway →
Contact us

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need any previous diving experience to join the PADI Open Water course?

No. The PADI Open Water course is designed for complete beginners. You don’t need any prior diving experience — just curiosity, a willingness to learn, and comfort being in the water. We take everything step by step, at your pace.

How long does the PADI Open Water course take on Koh Tao?

The course is completed over three days. It includes eLearning completed before arrival, five confined water (pool) dives, and four open water dives at local dive sites around Koh Tao.

What is the maximum depth I can dive after certification?

Once certified as a PADI Open Water Diver, you are qualified to dive anywhere in the world with a buddy to a maximum depth of 18 metres.

Is the Open Water course safe for beginners?

Yes. Safety is our priority. Training is performance-based, not rushed, and conducted in small groups (maximum four students per instructor). Skills are practiced in a pool before entering the ocean, ensuring you feel confident and supported at every stage.

What marine life will I see during the course?

Koh Tao is known for its vibrant coral reefs and marine biodiversity. During your open water dives, you may see reef fish, hard and soft corals, stingrays, moray eels, and occasionally sea turtles. Sightings vary, but every dive offers something new to observe and learn.

Do I need to complete eLearning before arriving?

Yes. The PADI Open Water eLearning is completed before the course begins. This allows you to spend more time in the water and less time in a classroom. Your instructor will review the theory with you and answer any questions during the course.

What equipment is included in the course?

All scuba diving equipment is included, as well as the free use of a dive computer, logbook, and dive insurance during training. You’re welcome to bring your own gear if you prefer, but it’s not required.

Why is buoyancy control emphasized so much during training?

Good buoyancy is essential for diver safety, comfort, and reef protection. Learning proper buoyancy early helps you avoid damaging corals, reduces stress underwater, and makes diving more enjoyable. It’s a key foundation for all future diving — especially marine conservation courses.

What can I do after completing my Open Water certification?

Many divers continue with fun diving or the PADI Advanced Open Water course. If you’re interested in marine conservation, you can also start learning about reef ecology through courses like Coral Watch or Marine Plastics, all while gaining diving experience.

Why choose Black Turtle for your Open Water course on Koh Tao?

At Black Turtle, we believe learning to dive comes with responsibility. We focus on small groups, strong foundations, neutral buoyancy, and environmental awareness from day one. Our approach creates confident divers who respect the ocean and are ready to explore it — thoughtfully and responsibly.

Still have questions?

contact us