Open Water Course

DPM Diving runs this Open Water course over 2 days on Koh Tao, about two minutes from the pier on the way to Sairee Beach — the school sits in front of Koh Tao Primary School, behind the main temple. It’s a compressed schedule compared to many other dive schools, condensing pool work, theory, and open-water dives into two days. Difficulty is rated moderate, and no previous diving experience is required — the course builds from zero, with online study materials to work through alongside the practical sessions.

The course runs as a private booking — only your own group takes part, up to 12 students, split into smaller teaching groups so instruction stays hands-on. Seven languages are covered — German, Portuguese, English, Italian, Hebrew, Dutch, and Spanish — useful for travellers who’d rather not learn to dive in a second language. Bottled water, fruit, cookies, and coffee or tea are available through the two days alongside the classroom and pool sessions.

SSI certification comes with the course, valid internationally and for life, and diving insurance is included alongside the SCUBA equipment itself. At 5.0 from 204 reviews, the course fits theory, pool work, and open-water dives into a tight two-day window rather than spreading them across a longer stay.

Insider Tip: The meeting point sits between the pier and Sairee Beach — an easy stop if arriving by ferry. Look for the school in front of Koh Tao Primary School rather than searching along Sairee’s main strip.

Watch out: Cancellation policy here is strict — all sales are final, with no refunds once booked. Confirm dates before paying if travel plans are still loose.