Koh Tao Seals - Junior Diving School

Have you ever wondered what it's like to dive with flashlights, take digital pictures underwater or float like an astronaut? Well come and find out! Whether you are 8 or 80 Koh Tao Seals has something for you.
We are based in Ban’s diving resort which is a nestled in beautiful tropical surroundings right on Sairee Beach, Koh Tao's main beach and the place to be for sun lovers and beach goers. Centrally located, the resort is within walking distance of restaurants, shopping, viewpoints, live music and everything else that will make your stay on Koh Tao and your time in Thailand memorable.

We offer courses from Bubblemaker and Seal Team (aged 8+) to Divemaster and even Instructor. Our specialties are for those aged 8 to 14, but don’t think mums and dads you will be relaxing on the beach – Oh no, come join your children and learn how to dive with them!

We look forward to seeing you on Koh Tao

Bubblemaker

Come and take your first breath underwater. See what it’s like to be a fish and look at the under waterworld.
We will first learn about the scuba gear and then jump into the swimming pool.
We only go to 2 metres so you don’t have to be a super swimmer.

This is the best way to try scuba, even if you are a little bit scared. Our fully trained PADI Instructors will show you how to breathe and swim underwater. So if you like blowing bubbles in milk or bubble gum, you’ll love blowing bubbles underwater.

What You Learn

- See what scuba diving is like under the direct care and supervision of PADI Instructors
- Take your first breath underwater
- Learn about and use scuba diving equipment made for children – not adults
- Each bubblemaker program lasts about 90 minutes

SEAL Team

You’ve heard of superhero’s like Spiderman and Superman, well come and be a hero of the underwater world. Here you go on special aqua missions with PADI Instructors where you learn the skills of scuba! From breathing underwater to floating like an astronaut and even special night missions. As a member of the PADI SEAL Team your skills help you to go further into Wreck diving and Photography and maybe one day the Open Water World!
Aqua Mission 1 - All about diving, your ears, the air in your tank
Aqua Mission 2 - How to take out your regulator, the purge button, how to wear the mask.
Aqua Mission 3 - Your BCD, the extra regulator, S.A.F.E. diving
Aqua Mission 4 - How to find your regulator, the fin pivot and hovering - feels like you're in space!
- Come and be an aquanaut!
Aqua Mission 5 - How to move through the water, SEAL Team skill circuit.

You can take further SEAL Team programs to become a Master SEAL Team Member. These include:

- Creature ID - Search and Recovery
- Environmental Specialist - Specialist
- Innerspace Specialist - Skin Diver Specialist
- Navigation Specialist - Snapshot Specialist
- Night Specialist - Wreck Specialist
- Safety Specialist

For SEAL Team it is a 2 day course after meeting your Instructor. Once SEAL Team is completed you have the chance to dive in the Open Water.
Each Master SEAL Team speciality takes a morning or afternoon.

Discover Scuba Diving

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to breathe underwater out in the Ocean. If you want to find out but aren’t quite ready to take the Junior Open Water Diver course, Discover Scuba Diving will let you try scuba to see if you like it.

While not an actual scuba certification, during the Discover Scuba Diving experience you’ll learn how to use scuba equipment in shallow water and get a quick and easy introduction to what it takes to explore the underwater world.

The PADI Discover Scuba Diving program lets you experience the thrill of diving with a PADI Instructor in swimming pool like conditions. During your adventure, you’ll master some basic rules and scuba skills in the pool before heading off on an open water dive. To take part in the Discover Scuba Diving experience, you must be at least 10 years old.

Junior Open Water

Come see a whole new world of adventure, from skills in the pool to entering a new universe where the fish are in charge. Diving in the Open Water you will find yourself next to hundreds of fish where you can watch them in a special way. If you are aged 10 or older, then this is the course for you. Once finished you will have your own license to dive anywhere in the world.
From learning skills in the swimming pool to diving in the Open Water, the Junior Open Water is the first certification. We go down to a depth of 12 meters and see all different marine life from butterfly fish to stingrays.

The skills our Instructors teach you both in the pool and the open water include:

- Regulator skills
- Mask skills
- How to breathe from your buddy's air source
- How to take your scuba unit off underwater!
- Hovering in mid water
- Plus swimming with the fishes and in and out of the corals.
- This is a 4 day course starting the first day at 5pm where you will meet your PADI Instructor.

Junior Advanced Open Water

Now we’re talking! The Junior Advanced Open Water course takes you to deeper waters, diving on your own and options from being like James Bond to taking photographs underwater and even better diving at night. If you are aged 10 or above and have your Junior Open Water Diver Certificate then this is the course for you.
The Junior Advanced Open Water takes you to a depth of 21 meters (aged 12 and above) taking your diving skills further into Speciality Programs.

There are so many to choose from, the list is endless, but this is a sample below:

- Deep Diving
- Navigation Diving
- Night Diving
- Photography
- DPV - Underwater Scooter
- Multilevel and Computer Diving
- Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Fish ID
- This is a 2 day course which includes 5 dives. The one day course – 3 dives, is also available making you a PADI Adventure Diver.

Adult Course

Whether you are 15 or 150 don’t think that the kids have all the fun! You can either join them and get your license at the same time or, if you already have a license upgrade to Advance, Rescue, Dive Master and even Instructor.

Discover Scuba Diving - The PADI Discover Scuba Diving program lets you experience the thrill of diving under the supervision of a PADI Instructor in ideal conditions, such as those found at the resort. During your adventure, you’ll master some basic concepts and scuba skills before heading off on an open water dive.

Open Water - Throughout the course, you’ll learn the fundamentals of scuba diving, including dive equipment and techniques. You will also earn a PADI Open Water Diver certification that is recognised worldwide. You earn this rating by completing five pool dives and knowledge development sessions and by making four open water dives. Virtually anyone who is in good health, reasonably fit, and comfortable in the water can earn a PADI Open Water Diver certification. At some point in the course, your PADI Instructor will ask you to demonstrate the ability to swim 200 metres/yards without swim aids or 300 metres/yards with mask, fins and snorkel and complete a bit of paperwork, to get you on your way.

Advanced Open Water - New experiences, new skills, lots of diving and thrilling adventures! So take your diving to new limits! The Advanced Open Water Diver program is the perfect opportunity to gain additional experience and skills under the guidance of a PADI professional. To become a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver you need your PADI Open Water Certification (or equivalent). This open-water performance based program includes a total of five dives(must include deep and navigation dive) and the desire to experience thrilling adventures.

Rescue Diver - The PADI Rescue Diver program develops your knowledge and skills so you can effectively perform diver assists and rescues, manage diving accident situations and render first aid. The program is an important step in expanding your knowledge and experience as a diver. PADI Rescue Diver (or equivalent) certification is also a prerequisite for all PADI leadership programs. To get into the PADI Rescue Diver program, you’ll need to be certified as an Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent) and must be at least 15 years old. Or Junior Open Water Diver, 12 years old. You’ll also need to have successfully completed the
PADI Emergency First Response or a sanctioned program in CPR within the past 2 years. After successfully completing the program, you’ll receive the internationally recognised PADI Rescue Diver certification card. Answer the call!

Divemaster - The PADI Divemaster program is your first step leadership level in the PADI System of diver education. This rating denotes you as a person who has a high level of personal diving skills, has Instructor level knowledge of diving theory, has had significant training in how to assist an Instructor during training activities and is able to assume appropriate responsibilities that benefit the welfare of other divers. As you may know, many PADI Divemasters go on to become PADI Instructors. So, the training and experience you gain through the PADI Divemaster program helps shape your abilities and attitude toward becoming a professional level diving educator.

Instructor - The Instructor Development Course (IDC) is a 10-day training program, which teaches you how to instruct recreational scuba diving. During the IDC you will use the latest teaching techniques, the complete system of PADI support materials, and will be continuously assessed on your teaching and presentation skills. You will be required to give additional teaching presentations beyond that of the usual IDC Program. This gives you an added advantage not only during the final Instructor Examination (IE), but also prepares you for your future career as a diving professional. Upon successful completion you will be awarded an IDC completion form, which is your passport to the IE.

Courses

PADI Bubblemaker 2,000 THB
PADI SEAL Team 5,000 THB
SEAL Team Open Water Dive 1,000 THB
PADI Discover Scuba Diver 2,000 THB
PADI Open Water Diver 9,800 THB
PADI Scuba Review 2,000 THB
PADI Adventure Diver 6,000 THB
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver 8,500 THB
EFR 3,500 THB
PADI Rescue Diver 9,500 THB
PADI Divemaster 25,000 THB
PADI Instructor Contact for details

10% Discount on continuing education courses.

All courses prices except the Divemaster course include a personal set of PADI materials

What is the easiest way to get to Koh Tao?

Getting to Paradise!!!
Koh Tao is located in the Gulf of Thailand, just a short boat ride away from the bigger island of Koh Samui. There are a number of options for getting to Koh Tao depending on where you are coming from and your budget.

From Bangkok
Bus and Boat: Tickets can be arranged for you at our offices or made directly with the company, please make reservations at least a day in advance. To see a schedule of the prices, routes and times to and from Koh Tao visit the Lomphrayah

Train and Boat: The State Railway of Thailand has daily departures to Chumphon and combined train and bus options can be purchased. The best train to take is the 2nd or 1st class sleeper trains which travel through the night. The express (EXP SP 85) train leaves at 19:15 from Bangkok and arrives in Chumphon around 5:00 am. Once in Chumphon the boat leaves around 7:00 in the morning arriving at 10:30 on Koh Tao. Prices depend on classes, train reservations can be made at Hua Lamphong station in Bangkok or online

Airplane and Boat: If long hauls are not for you then I recommend flying to the island of Koh Samui and then taking a boat from there. Tickets can be purchased on-line from Bangkok Airways. There are daily departures from 6:00 to 19:40. If you would like to arrive on Koh Tao the same day that you leave Bangkok then make sure you take the flight that leaves at 10:10 or any earlier flights. There are 2 boats to Koh Tao daily one at 8:00 am and then the last ferry at 12 noon. Once at the Samui airport, tickets can be purchased for the Lomprayah Catamaran or the Seatran Company, both boats are roughly a 2 hour journey. Tickets for both companies are 550 baht and they provide pick-up from the airport to the pier.

For planning your holiday and itinerary boat schedules can be found at Lomphrayah and airline tickets schedules at Bangkok Air.
Both websites offer online booking.

From Krabi, Phuket, Phi Phi
If coming from the south directly to Koh Tao then make your way to Surat Thani. From there a night boat leaves daily at 23:00 and arrives at 5:00 the following morning. Tickets are 500 baht. This ride is not particularly comfortable for all and another option would be to fly from Phuket or Krabi to Koh Samui and then take the boat here.

Koh Tao Dive Sites

Can you imagine being in a tropical location diving in crystal clear water, surrounded by brightly coloured coral and fish. You and your buddy put on your dive equipment to enter the water and explore the abundance of marine life -- all the while hovering weightlessly underwater.

Chumphon pinnacle (1) : is one of the best dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand. It lies about 11 km northwest of Koh Tao and is formed by huge granite pinnacles surrounded by a series of smaller ones. It takes about 40 minutes to get there. The anemone covered boulders run in a north-south direction in water ranging from 14 to 38 meters. The Pinnacles are abundant with batfish, trevallies, big shoals of barracudas and snappers. Occasionally this site also attracts larger visitors such as whale sharks and manta rays. To the south of the main pinnacle lies Barracuda Rock, where large shoals of great barracudas aggregate.This is my favourite divesite on Koh Tao after years of diving on this island!

South-West Pinnacle (2) : Located 13 km southwest of Koh Tao, the site is made up of seven pinnacles at different depths (5 to 28 meters). Like Chumphon Pinnacle, the site is covered with pink sea anemones on the upper levels and rich layers of whip corals and sea fans along the lower edges. Chevron barracudas, giant groupers, leopard sharks, shoals of batfish, snappers can be seen. The pinnacles are full of cracks and ledges, which shelter small reef fish. Infrequent sightings of whale sharks and manta rays!

Shark Island (3) : is rich in terms of marine diversity! Located only 300 m southeast of Koh Tao, this small, uninhabited Island is surrounded by a colourful belt of corals. Depth ranges from 10 to 22 meters. The main attractions include various kinds of corals such as soft, hard or gorgonian. You will also find whip corals and sea fans. Marine life such as blue-spotted stingrays, filefish, harlequin sweetlips, starry pufferfish, groupers and titan triggerfish can be spotted easily. The "fish junction" at the northern end of Shark Island provides an excellent vantage point for photographing. Although Shark Island is suitable for divers of all levels, the current can be quite strong, especially around full moon.

White Rock (4) : features an expansive coral garden that stretches between two distinct granite boulders. With a depth range from 5 to 21 meters, it is suitable for all divers. Blue-spotted stingrays and different species of barracudas are common. White Rock is well known for its thrilling night dives. You will have the opportunity to watch feather stars, hermit crabs, octopus, cuttlefish and crabs looking for food. This is one of the most popular dive sites for anyone taking the PADI Open Water Diver Course. I normally conducted Open Water Dive number 2 and 4 on this particular divesite. Also perfect for a relaxed shallow dive. Excellent for night diving!

Green rock (5) : offers both swim-thrus for divers as well as nesting areas for yellow-margin triggerfish. Depth varies from 3 to 30 m. Shoals of bright-blue damsel fish, tube anemones with tiny translucent shrimps and blue-ringed angel fish are common. Caution! Some of the swim thrus are very narrow. Without proper training avoid all “overhead” environments.

Red Rock (6) : is famous for it's long swim thrus and turtles. Red Rock itself drops down to 23 meters, but a compass heading of 240 degrees will bring you straight to the entrance of the swim thru, which is occasionally 'guarded' by a titan triggerfish. It is most fun to make a drift dive, starting at Red Rock either to Japanese Garden or to Green Rock (takes about 50 minutes).

Hin Wong Pinnacle (7) : lies on the east side of Koh Tao and is a large and very varied site ranging from depths of 10 to 32m. Although visibility here is unpredictable, Hin Wong is covered with lacy sea fans and curly whip corals, as well as filefish, shrimpfish, coral grouper and other reef fish. The resident green turtle is only shy if you get too close. For the macro-minded, Hin Wong also has some beautiful invertebrates such as brightly coloured nudibranchs. Don't miss the impressive bright-blue soft corals at 26+ meters! This is one of my favourites (number two after Chumphon). Great divesite with large fish! Currents and bad visibility parts of the year makes it hard to reach and dive this site. But if the conditions are ok and the divecenter is going there – sign up!

Light house (8) : has one of the most beautiful table, lettuce and staghorn corals. Depths range from 4 to 14 meters. Two years ago a fishing boat sank there, the remains still scattered around the dive site. Spot blue-ringed angelfish, porcupinefish, parrotfish, pink anemonefish and occasionally turtles.

Divesites also suitable for snorkelling

Japanese Garden (9) : is named after the ornate arrangement of the coral boulders on this site. Depths range from 2 to 12 meters and is suitable for snorkellers & beginners. Unlike a Japanese Garden, you will get to see moray eels, trigger fish, sting rays, sea snakes (July-August) and an occasional hawksbill turtle.

Twins (10) : is located between the three adjoining islands which comprise world-famous Koh Nang Yuan. Twins is made up of two main rocks and a smaller, deeper offshoot (18m). The boulders range in depth from 5 to 18 meters, making this dive site perfectly suitable for beginners (Open Water Course). The rocks are embedded into white sand where the symbiosis of goby fish and their blind shrimp housemates can be observed. Divers can spot rock cods, blue-ringed angelfish, yellow raccoon butterflyfish, parrotfish and wrasses. Don't forget to say 'Hello' to "Mark" and "Mindy", a friendly pair of the rare saddleback clownfish! Great divesite for PADI Open Water classes. This is the site where I normally take my students on their first dive!

Mango Bay (11) : is an excellent dive site with depths ranging from 2 to 14 meters. This popular site is a favourite with beginners and snorkellers, since most of the corals are above 8 meters. You will see mushroom, staghorn, and table corals. Also notice the giant barrel sponges, tiger clams and the tiny but colourful nudibranchs. Amazing bay and great for both snorkelling and diving. Shallow and very relaxed divesite. Great for snorkelling!

Laem Thian (12) : has a series of swim-thrus, caves and canyons along the shallow coastline. Depths range from 6 to 20 meters, so all divers are welcome to explore this isolated dive site on the east-side of Koh Tao.

Ao Leuk Pinnacle (13) : offers a vast array of whip corals. Ao Leuk bay is a place to spot banded sea snakes, unicorn surgeonfish, hawksbill turtle, and eels at nightfall. Great for snorkelling!

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Koh Tao Seal @ Ban's Diving Resort

Sairee Beach , Koh Tao , Suratthani 84360 Thailand.
Tel : +66 (0)77 456 466.