Everything you need to know about doing your Open Water diving course on Koh Tao
Hooray, you’ve decided to take an Open Water scuba diving course! 70% of the earth is covered in water, so why not take a look at what you’re missing out on? And scuba diving in Thailand means you can make so much more of your vacation than just sitting on a beach sipping a cocktail. Learning to dive will grant you entrance to a world of wonderment, filled with thousands of species of colorful fish and vibrant coral.
What is an Open Water scuba diving course?
The Open Water 20 course is your first step towards a scuba diving certification. While some people refer to it as getting their“PADI,” that is not entirely accurate. PADI is just one brand among many dive training agencies. Other well-known agencies include RAID, SSI, NAUI, and BSAC.
These agencies offer various curricula, but all provide the foundational Open Water Certification and follow the same standards.
The Open Water 20 course takes 3.5 days to complete at Hydronauts. It is important to allocate sufficient time and avoid dive schools promising a shorter duration. Investing the necessary time and effort will ensure a fun, rewarding experience and prepare you to become a skilled diver. You will also be better equipped to advance to the Advanced Open Water (Explorer 30) course if you choose to continue.
Now, let us take you through how Hydronauts will guide you through your Open Water course.
Course structure for a RAID Open Water diver course
There are three main parts of your RAID Open Water diver course:
- Knowledge development
- Confined water skills training (pool training)
- Diving in the open ocean
Knowledge Development: RAID FREe-Learning
To fully grasp what happens to your body while scuba diving, understand your equipment, and learn about the diving environment, you will engage in a series of academic sessions.
At Hydronauts, we follow the RAID method (find out why here). The RAID training curriculum combines in-class learning with FREe-learning online, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Once you enroll, you will have unlimited access to your Open Water course materials. The e-learning chapters are straightforward, covering basics like diver safety, equipment, and the underwater environment before delving into specifics. Small quizzes along the way help ensure you understand the material and are ready to proceed.
After your initial academic session with your instructor, you will have some homework. Fortunately, this can all be completed online, on your phone, and even while enjoying a fresh coconut at sunset.
Learn How to Set Up your Scuba Diving Equipment
Your instructor will provide a detailed review of how to set up your diving equipment on a scuba tank. You will learn how to properly assemble each piece of gear and test it to ensure everything is functioning correctly for your safety. This thorough setup process is crucial for a secure diving experience. Once you have mastered the assembly and disassembly of your equipment, you will take the next exciting step: entering the pool for your first underwater breaths. This initial experience will help you become familiar with breathing underwater and using your gear in a controlled environment.
At Hydronauts, we equip our courses with state-of-the-art gear to enhance your diving experience. We provide a range of fin and mask styles to ensure you find the perfect fit for your face and buoyancy, which is crucial for comfort and efficiency underwater.
Our diving equipment features backplate and wing buoyancy control devices, which offer superior control and comfort compared to traditional setups. Additionally, we provide the option to use regulators configured in either the long hose or short hose setup. This configuration promotes a streamlined position in the water, improving comfort and ease of movement. The modular design can be adjusted to fit divers of all sizes and incorporates unique safety features that surpass those of conventional diving equipment.
Blow your First Bubbles - Confined Water Scuba Diving Pool Training
It is time to take the plunge and experience your first breaths underwater.
During your pool training, your instructor will provide constant supervision as you learn a range of scuba skills. These include buoyancy control, equipment management such as clearing your mask and recovering your regulator, and mastering the art of hovering without sinking. You will also practice swimming efficiently with your equipment and acclimate to being underwater. In addition, you will acquire essential dive safety skills to handle potential situations, such as managing low air supplies and assisting a dive buddy in need.
Pool training is an exciting and challenging opportunity to discover your capabilities in a controlled and safe environment. The advantage of being in a pool is that you can stand up at any time if you have questions or concerns.
Your pool training will be completed in 3-4 hours, preparing you for your first open water dive the following day.
Let’s Go Diving - Boat Dives 1 & 2 in the Open Ocean
On the second morning of your course, you will complete your final classroom session with your instructor and take your last quiz. After a brief break, you will pack your dive bag and get ready to depart from our beachfront resort to the dive boat in Chalok Bay.
The departure from Chalok Bay on our dive boat is an exhilarating experience. The lush island scenery and the vibrant energy of fellow divers, all eager to explore Koh Tao’s premier dive sites, create an exciting start to your adventure.
Your initial ocean dives are designed to introduce you to the underwater environment and help you acclimate to your new surroundings.
Before each of your two dives, your instructor will provide a thorough briefing. This will outline the dive plan and what to expect, ensuring that you and your fellow divers are well-prepared and know what is expected.
During your dives, you will revisit some of the basic skills practiced in the pool, such as communication using hand signals, safe entry and exit techniques, and proper ascent and descent.
Your first dive will take place in shallow water, where your instructor will guide you along a secure line to the dive site. As beginner diving is common in Koh Tao, you will have ample space from other divers. Take your time, focus on your breathing, and get ready to experience a serene and majestic underwater world.
The second dive will build upon the skills from your first dive, allowing you to further refine your techniques and gain greater comfort in the water.
These dives offer not only practical learning but also plenty of opportunities to enjoy the stunning underwater landscapes you have just begun to explore.
Completing your Open Water Scuba Diving Course - Boat Dives 3 & 4 in the Open Ocean
Continuing Your Diving Education
Once certified as an Open Water diver, you will be licensed to dive to 20 meters. This certification opens up a world of incredible diving destinations, from freshwater lakes to saltwater oceans, in both warm tropical settings and colder mountain lakes. You will be certified to explore a vast array of marine life and will meet fascinating people around the globe who share your passion for the ocean and scuba diving.
Planning to stick around Koh Tao for a while? As a certified diver, you can experience the best dive sites on the island by signing up for Fun Dives after your course. If you are eager to continue your diving education, you can enroll in the Explorer 30 Advanced course. Fun Dives are highly encouraged after your Open Water course, as they provide the best opportunity to practice your new skills and explore this amazing underwater environment.
At Hydronauts Diving Resort, we offer everything you need to continue your education. Our recreational diving courses include the Explorer 30 Advanced course, the Master Rescue course, the Deep 40 course, and Enriched Air Diving (Nitrox). We also offer the Divemaster professional course, underwater photography courses, and marine conservation courses and internships through our Marine Biologist partner organization, Global Reef.
Our beautiful beachfront resort is the ideal place to stay while you learn to scuba dive. With the dive center, training pool, restaurant, and beach bar all on site, you will have everything you need right outside your front door.
Scuba Diving Course Prerequisites and Requirements
The Open Water scuba diving course requires no prior diving experience, but there are a few prerequisites to consider.
The minimum age for the Open Water 20 course is 15, but do not worry. Divers aged 11-14 can participate in the same curriculum through the Junior Open Water course. Once certified, they can dive to a depth of 20 meters with a certified buddy, and when they turn 15, their certification will automatically upgrade to Open Water 20.
For kids aged 8-10, there are also opportunities to start diving with the RAID Cadet Try Dive program. This certification allows younger divers to begin exploring the underwater world. Email us to learn more about kids’ diving courses and family course options.
You will also need to complete a brief medical questionnaire that addresses any underlying conditions that might prevent you from diving. If a medical examination is required to confirm your fitness to dive, Koh Tao has several clinics specializing in these evaluations. Most people pass without issues, but this is an essential safety measure to ensure you are fit to dive.
Finally, you must be able to swim 200 meters and float for 10 minutes without swim aids, or a bit longer if you require them. You will complete this in our on-site training pool, with your instructor there to encourage you every step of the way.
Where Do I Sign Up?
Right here! Fill in the form and you’ll get an email from us in 12-24 hours to get you started. And feel free to fill in the form to ask us some more questions. You can also email us at info@hydronautsdiving.com or call or WhatsApp us at +66 080-065-8782.
We look forward to diving with you!
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