Open Water Diver Course on Koh Lipe, Adang Sea Divers

Adang Sea Divers teaches this three-day Open Water Diver course on Koh Lipe. The operator describes itself as an eco-friendly dive resort and says it prefers small classes: normally two students per instructor, and never more than four in a class.

The course is the entry-level certification, aimed at people who have never dived. The operator’s course text names the SSI Open Water Course, so expect an SSI instructor and an SSI e-card at the end. The tour’s title and the centre’s own description also mention PADI, which is worth clarifying before you pay. Online learning comes first, and the operator says it specialises in flexible schedules, so lessons and dives are fitted around you rather than a fixed timetable.

The package includes online learning, an e-logbook, the instructor, a certification e-card and lunch. Entrance fees are extra. The operator gives no meeting point or pickup, so ask Adang Sea Divers where to arrive on day one. Teaching languages are English, Spanish, French, Italian and Thai.

Insider Tip: Send your arrival and departure dates when you book. Flexible scheduling only helps if the centre knows how many days you have, and three days is the course length.

Watch out: Medical fitness matters for diving. The operator does not recommend the course for travellers with spinal injuries, asthma, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy. Allow at least 24 hours between your last dive and any flight.

Already certified? The same operator runs guided fun dives on Koh Lipe. This course suits beginners who want a small class and a relaxed pace, and its main trade-off is that the agency (SSI or PADI) is not stated consistently by the operator.