La Bombona Diving Koh Tao Open Water Course

La Bombona’s Open Water course runs across 3 days at a dive school right on the beach at Grand Beach Resort: reception doubles as the meeting point, with no separate commute between the classroom, pool, and gear room. Instruction covers theory videos, a full safety briefing, and one pool session before the group moves to open water for four dives on Koh Tao reefs. Difficulty is rated moderate on the course scale, accessible for first-time divers, though the pool session exists specifically to build underwater comfort before the open-water dives that follow.

Groups stay small: a maximum 4-to-1 student ratio, so no one waits around while an instructor works through a queue of first-timers. Gear is fitted to your measurements at check-in, and every diver keeps the t-shirt that comes with the course. The dive boat itself has showers and a sun deck, and a restroom on board plus insurance are both included for the certification dives.

Instruction runs in English and Spanish, worth checking at sign-up if a mixed group is booking together. The course certifies through PADI, valid internationally once complete. The format keeps things simple: theory and pool work first, open water once the group is comfortable, with a full refund available up to 24 hours before the start date.

Insider Tip: With a 4:1 student cap, morning sign-up slots fill first. Book a few days ahead if 3 days is a hard limit on the trip.

Watch out: Only English and Spanish instruction is offered here. Confirm ahead if a different teaching language is needed for anyone in the group.