Our Local FriendSSI certification2 days2 ocean divesTo 12mMax 4 per instructor
SSI Scuba Diver Course
Mae Haad, Koh Tao · Starts daily
$317
per person · everything included ฿9,500
About this course
A real certification, in two days instead of three.
This is the Open Water course stopped one day early. You get a genuine, internationally recognised card — you just dive with a guide rather than independently, and to 12 metres rather than 18.
It exists for people whose trip is two days shorter than their ambition. If you find the time later, the days you've done credit straight into the full Open Water course from any dive shop in the world.
Course structure
Your day-by-day journey
Day 1 — Digital theory in the morning, then the pool: gear assembly, mask clearing, regulator recovery, buoyancy, and what to do if something goes wrong. You repeat each skill until it's boring, which is the goal.
Skills you'll earn
What you'll be able to do
Full gear assembly, checks and pre-dive safety Mask clearing, regulator recovery and air sharing Buoyancy control and a controlled ascent Dive planning basics and no-decompression limits
Certification
What you take home
SSI Scuba Diver
A lifetime certification recognised worldwide. It qualifies you to dive to 12 metres in the company of a dive professional, and credits in full towards Open Water whenever you decide to finish it.
Lifetime validGlobally recognisedMax depth 12mUpgrades to Open Water
What's included
What the price covers
- All dive equipment for the length of the course
- A dive computer to use, free
- Digital learning materials and your certification
- Boat trips, with drinks and snacks aboard
- 30 days of dive accident insurance
- A free T-shirt, and 10% off anything you book afterwards
Honest Corner
— real talk before you enrolYou'll love this if…
- A real card at the end, not a taster certificate
- Two days instead of three if that's all you have
- Every day credits towards the full Open Water course
Worth knowing before you enrol
- You can't dive without a professional — that's the trade-off
- 12 metres rules out some of Koh Tao's better sites
- For ฿3,000 more the full Open Water course removes both limits
Student fit
Who's this course for?
Great fit
⏳
Tight schedules
Two days is what you have. This is the most certification that fits in them.
Great fit
🧭
Guided divers
You'd always dive with a guide anyway, so the supervision limit costs you nothing.
Maybe
🤿
Future regulars
If you'll dive more than once or twice, the full Open Water course is better value — you'd only pay again to upgrade.
Not for you
🌊
Non-swimmers
There's a 200m swim and a 10-minute float. Both are untimed, but you do have to do them.
Common questions
