Crystal Dive Koh Tao
Crystal Dive Koh Tao has been teaching diving on Koh Tao for over 25 years—we’re one of the originals.
Our beachfront dive resort is one of the best places for SSI dive courses on Koh Tao, and our SSI Diamond Instructor Training Centre is led by some of the most experienced SCUBA trainers in Southeast Asia.
Learn to dive on Koh Tao with Crystal!
Why Choose Crystal Dive Koh Tao?
We are proud to have been a leader in safe yet fun SCUBA training for over 25 years. With over 100,000 divers trained, we believe our standards speak for themselves.
At Crystal Dive, we teach 45+ SSI dive courses from our beachfront dive resort so that your SCUBA skills have room to grow in whatever direction you want. With specialty courses like Independent Diving, Shark Ecology and Coral Restoration, and pro-level courses like the SSI Instructor Training Course, Crystal Dive Koh Tao can help you take your diving to some unexpected places
Learn to dive on Koh Tao – with Crystal
When it comes to SSI dive courses on Koh Tao, we have everything from beginner-level courses, advanced specialties like Deep Diving and Nitrox, to professional courses to get you working in the dive industry.
Beginner Diving Courses
Click here
New to diving?
Learn to dive on Koh Tao with our SSI beginner courses and take the first steps to experiencing a whole new underwater world
Advanced Diving Courses
Click here
Already a certified diver?
Nab a few SSI specialty courses so that you can dive deeper, dive safer, explore sunken shipwrecks, improve your buoyancy control, and better understand the ecology of the marine world.
Professional Diving Courses
Click here
Turn SCUBA diving into a career with our professional-level SSI training courses. As a top Instructor Training Centre on Koh Tao, our instructors will get you started on the right foot in the industry.
Award-winning Beachfront Dive Resort
VARIETY OF
ACCOMMODATION
2 X CUSTOM BUILT
DIVE BOATS
2 x SWIMMING
POOLS
AIR CONDITIONED
CLASSROOMS
FREE
WIFI
25 + YEARS
EXPERIENCE
BEACH
BAR
Discounted Accommodation on Koh Tao
At Crystal Dive Koh Tao, we offer a variety of different accommodation options, many of which feature discounts on the days that you’re diving with us.
See our Accommodations page for our current discounts and stay with us for less!
What People Think About Our SSI Dive Courses on Koh Tao
Valeria Barbadillo
2 weeks ago
I completed my Open Water Diver program with Crystal Dive and had a mixed experience overall.
The highlight of the experience was definitely the instructors, Jack and P’Aex. They were patient, professional, supportive, and fun throughout the entire course. During my first open water dive, I became very anxious and thought I might not be able to complete the certification. Thanks to their calm guidance and encouragement, I was able to regain confidence, complete my second dive successfully, and earn my certification. Even the boat crew was incredibly kind and encouraging, reminding me that I could do it when I was doubting myself.
Unfortunately, the booking and administrative process was much less organized. When my friend contacted the company through Instagram and later tried to reconfirm our reservation, important details such as our dates, number of participants, and package information could not be found. We visited the office a day early and discovered that our booking had not been recorded correctly. My friend had specifically requested one English-speaking instructor and one Thai-speaking instructor, but both had been registered as Thai-speaking. The team did resolve everything on the spot, which we appreciated.
What I did not appreciate was the attitude of the receptionist we dealt with, who came across as quite condescending despite the mistakes not being ours.
We also had an unpleasant experience with the driver provided as part of the package transfer between our resort and the dive center. There was a misunderstanding regarding the resort entrance during pickup. We explained that we only knew the entrance we had originally used to arrive at the resort, but instead of helping find a solution, the driver became quite rude and seemed more interested in arguing than resolving the issue. Considering he had the vehicle and was far more familiar with the area than we were, the situation could have been handled much more professionally and efficiently.
I honestly thought the trip might be ruined because of the administrative issues, but the instructors completely turned the experience around.
The underwater photographer was also very helpful, making sure we were positioned in the best spots and helping us get some great photos during the dives.
Now I’m just waiting for my SSI certification card to appear in the app and for my pictures! 🤿🐠🐟🌊🪸🏝️🏖️🌅🛥️⚓️
The highlight of the experience was definitely the instructors, Jack and P’Aex. They were patient, professional, supportive, and fun throughout the entire course. During my first open water dive, I became very anxious and thought I might not be able to complete the certification. Thanks to their calm guidance and encouragement, I was able to regain confidence, complete my second dive successfully, and earn my certification. Even the boat crew was incredibly kind and encouraging, reminding me that I could do it when I was doubting myself.
Unfortunately, the booking and administrative process was much less organized. When my friend contacted the company through Instagram and later tried to reconfirm our reservation, important details such as our dates, number of participants, and package information could not be found. We visited the office a day early and discovered that our booking had not been recorded correctly. My friend had specifically requested one English-speaking instructor and one Thai-speaking instructor, but both had been registered as Thai-speaking. The team did resolve everything on the spot, which we appreciated.
What I did not appreciate was the attitude of the receptionist we dealt with, who came across as quite condescending despite the mistakes not being ours.
We also had an unpleasant experience with the driver provided as part of the package transfer between our resort and the dive center. There was a misunderstanding regarding the resort entrance during pickup. We explained that we only knew the entrance we had originally used to arrive at the resort, but instead of helping find a solution, the driver became quite rude and seemed more interested in arguing than resolving the issue. Considering he had the vehicle and was far more familiar with the area than we were, the situation could have been handled much more professionally and efficiently.
I honestly thought the trip might be ruined because of the administrative issues, but the instructors completely turned the experience around.
The underwater photographer was also very helpful, making sure we were positioned in the best spots and helping us get some great photos during the dives.
Now I’m just waiting for my SSI certification card to appear in the app and for my pictures! 🤿🐠🐟🌊🪸🏝️🏖️🌅🛥️⚓️
Chanitporn Sakontawat
1 month ago
My boyfriend and I completed Open water course and had amazing experience at Crystal Dive!
We had Kelvin as our instructor. He was incredibly helpful and shared his knowledge in a very clear and professional way. I truly appreciated his patience, support, and encouragement throughout the entire experience. We enjoyed it so much. Highly recommend Crystal Dive Koh Tao to anyone thinking about learning to dive!
We had Kelvin as our instructor. He was incredibly helpful and shared his knowledge in a very clear and professional way. I truly appreciated his patience, support, and encouragement throughout the entire experience. We enjoyed it so much. Highly recommend Crystal Dive Koh Tao to anyone thinking about learning to dive!
Maia Massimello
2 months ago
Amazing experience! I just completed my Open Water certification with Crystal and it was great. Huge shoutout to Kelvin for being the best instructor ever. I was really scared at the beginning, but he was so patient, attentive, always available, and incredibly kind throughout the whole course. He made me feel safe and confident underwater, and thanks to him I truly enjoyed every moment of the experience. Highly recommend!
Lea Rosinski
3 months ago
I had an amazing experience with Crystal Dive! I completed my Advanced Open Water course with Kelvin, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better instructor. He made me feel very comfortable the entire time, was patient, and always took the time to answer any questions I had. You can really tell he cares about his students and wants them to enjoy every moment of the experience. It was also so much fun diving with the whole group!
Before that, I also did two fun dives with Aman as my instructor, which were just as enjoyable. He made me feel very safe underwater, and I had a great time exploring with him.
Overall, a fantastic experience with an awesome team. I would definitely recommend Crystal Dive to anyone looking to dive in a safe, fun, and professional environment!
Before that, I also did two fun dives with Aman as my instructor, which were just as enjoyable. He made me feel very safe underwater, and I had a great time exploring with him.
Overall, a fantastic experience with an awesome team. I would definitely recommend Crystal Dive to anyone looking to dive in a safe, fun, and professional environment!
Colby Dean Turner
4 months ago
I looked around at many dive shops to do my Open Water and Advanced Open Water courses with and many of the staff at these places when I asked about Crystal, said that they ran a really good school. They recommended it more than their own shops. I was so happy diving at Crystal. They run great courses and awesome fun dives! The staff are so much fun! I was getting chocked up saying goodbye to my instructors. Khosro and Todd are absolutely legends!!! They’re the type of instructors that genuinely want to teach you and will also go out for a beer and shoot the shit with you while having a laugh. Really going to miss seeing those guys everyday. I originally had only planned to do 1 week, but extended it to 2 weeks after having so much fun. Also be sure to get some underwater photos taken from Zoey.
Илья Зыскунов
4 months ago
Fun dives with Crystal Dive Koh Tao!
I just finished my Open Water Diver course two days ago and stayed for some fun dives with Crystal Dive. It was a great experience.
Special thanks to our guide, Aman. He is very experienced and clearly knows his job well. Since I’m a new diver, I really appreciated all the tips and pointers he gave me along the way. He was very helpful to everyone in the group and kept showing us interesting things underwater.
I also enjoyed diving with the rest of the group—it was a cool atmosphere. I’m especially grateful to the guys Lexa and Jeroen who were filming and taking photos; it was awesome to get those shots. Thanks to Aman and the whole team for a great time!
I just finished my Open Water Diver course two days ago and stayed for some fun dives with Crystal Dive. It was a great experience.
Special thanks to our guide, Aman. He is very experienced and clearly knows his job well. Since I’m a new diver, I really appreciated all the tips and pointers he gave me along the way. He was very helpful to everyone in the group and kept showing us interesting things underwater.
I also enjoyed diving with the rest of the group—it was a cool atmosphere. I’m especially grateful to the guys Lexa and Jeroen who were filming and taking photos; it was awesome to get those shots. Thanks to Aman and the whole team for a great time!
Kali Röhdl
4 months ago
I just completed my Open Water Diver course at Crystal Dive Koh Tao, and it was an absolutely incredible 3-day experience! A massive shoutout to my instructors, Tom and Jack. They were professional, patient, and made me feel completely safe and confident from the very first breath underwater. Crystal Dive has a great setup, but it’s instructors like Tom and Jack who make it special. If you’re coming to Koh Tao to get certified, definitely ask for these guys. Thanks for an unforgettable start to my diving journey!
Oda Ueland
5 months ago
I had the most amazing experience taking the open water course with Crystal Dive! My instructor Todd was incredible, the way he taught us everything was so professional. He was so good with communication and answering questions. He was also such a funny guy that made the experience even better! This was my first time diving, but I felt very safe the whole time. It was amazing to explore the big underwater world! We saw many cool creatures and corals!
Sarah
5 months ago
An absolutely amazing experience! We didn’t just have a highly professional instructor (Kelvin), he was also incredibly friendly, warm-hearted and funny, which made the open water course not only very educational but also a lot of fun 😁
I really appreciated that we were such a small group (only three people), which meant the instructor could take plenty of time for each of us. He always made sure everything was well understood and that we felt completely safe.
After we had learned all the necessary skills, we were also very well guided during the dives in the open water. This allowed us to fully enjoy the beautiful underwater world while feeling safe and confident at all times.
I can absolutely recommend this dive center. Everything was well organized, very professional, and so much fun & would happily do next courses again here 🐠
I really appreciated that we were such a small group (only three people), which meant the instructor could take plenty of time for each of us. He always made sure everything was well understood and that we felt completely safe.
After we had learned all the necessary skills, we were also very well guided during the dives in the open water. This allowed us to fully enjoy the beautiful underwater world while feeling safe and confident at all times.
I can absolutely recommend this dive center. Everything was well organized, very professional, and so much fun & would happily do next courses again here 🐠
Brad Bennett
5 months ago
Crystal Dive is *the* place to go if you’re looking to get into or improve your skills and experience around scuba diving. My girlfriend and I had a phenomenal experience here. We came to do our open water diver certification, and ended up extending our stay to dive longer. Our instructor Evandro was a fantastic teacher – he is knowledgeable and hilarious and made the learning process engaging and exciting. We will definitely be coming back to dive again, and would highly recommend Evandro as an instructor 🤙🏼
It was also great to see how Crystal works to protect the marine life and practice reef responsibility. Their high standards made me feel like I could enjoy the experience and know that by supporting Crystal, I’m supporting the environment that’s so exciting to explore with scuba diving.
It was also great to see how Crystal works to protect the marine life and practice reef responsibility. Their high standards made me feel like I could enjoy the experience and know that by supporting Crystal, I’m supporting the environment that’s so exciting to explore with scuba diving.
Stanley Daniels
5 months ago
Had an awesome 5 days with Kelvin, doing our open water and deep diver certifications. Kelvin was a really personable and friendly instructor, and made both courses very
fun and easy to grasp. We were even treated to a rare sight of a whale shark, which topped off the experience. Would highly recommend both kelvin and crystal dive school!
fun and easy to grasp. We were even treated to a rare sight of a whale shark, which topped off the experience. Would highly recommend both kelvin and crystal dive school!
Peter T
6 months ago
The best dive school on Koh Tao. Well organised with friendly and capable instructors and a strong focus on skills and safety. I enjoyed the experience so much that after my OpenWater and Advanced OpenWater I extended my stay for Wreck, Nitrox and Deep. After diving, the Crystal restaurant and the Crystal bar were fun places to meet up with fellow divers and instructors. A big thank you to the entire Crystal team for a great time!
Can Akin
6 months ago
We signed up for 3-day Open Water certification course with Crystal Dive and had a very positive experience. Everybody was very welcoming and professional. Although we had to change parts of the schedule and cover a lot of material in a short time, it was always ensured we learned everything properly.
We did 4 dives and ended up signing up for 2 additional fun dives. Starting out with a fear of sharks and being underwater in low visibility, I found myself enjoying the experience and will definitely be returning! Special thanks to Todd for being a legend through this whole experience and always keeping it fun while remaining professional.
We did 4 dives and ended up signing up for 2 additional fun dives. Starting out with a fear of sharks and being underwater in low visibility, I found myself enjoying the experience and will definitely be returning! Special thanks to Todd for being a legend through this whole experience and always keeping it fun while remaining professional.
Lu Alex
6 months ago
I didn’t know what I do right to deserve such a lovely instructor Na to teach my rescue course. It goes way more fun than I expected😭😭😭 in the end I keep extending my stay here and sign up for more course
I was bit worried about my rescue diver course since I heard extreme opinions on it. With 60 dives to come in, i realize an instructor/ dm can affect my learning experience, especially in the overwhelming sessions, like OW or rescue. Buuuuuuuuut Na was making it such a lovely memory at the beginning of 2026.
She is super super patient, compassionate, extremely confident in the water. She can handle all my weird random questions, and give me bit challenge to drive me forward, which I 1000000% appreciated. I followed up with nitrox and wreck diving course with her, which was the moooooooost cool thing I have done
Anyway if you are looking for a good experience learning diving, find Na. Or it will be you that’s missing out tho ✨✨✨✨
I was bit worried about my rescue diver course since I heard extreme opinions on it. With 60 dives to come in, i realize an instructor/ dm can affect my learning experience, especially in the overwhelming sessions, like OW or rescue. Buuuuuuuuut Na was making it such a lovely memory at the beginning of 2026.
She is super super patient, compassionate, extremely confident in the water. She can handle all my weird random questions, and give me bit challenge to drive me forward, which I 1000000% appreciated. I followed up with nitrox and wreck diving course with her, which was the moooooooost cool thing I have done
Anyway if you are looking for a good experience learning diving, find Na. Or it will be you that’s missing out tho ✨✨✨✨
Crystal Chronicles – a Blog About Diving Koh Tao
Being An Advanced Diver
Being An Advanced Diver Considering whether to pursue your advanced course is akin to removing the training wheels when riding a bike—it sets you free. While the Open Water course imparts the…
The Buddy System
The Buddy System A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed As scuba divers, the buddy system becomes ingrained in our minds from the moment we embark on our Open Water course . It extends beyond…
Plastic Pollution
Diving Against Debris Trash in our oceans is a big problem, and Thailand is facing it too. From busy cities like Bangkok to beautiful beaches in Koh Tao, there’s too much plastic causing…
CHECK OUT OUR LATEST VIDEOS FROM OUR DIVES
Our Valued Industry Partners
