First step down
Just below your Open Water limit: checking your air more often, and how depth changes your no-decompression time.
Home / SSI courses / Deep and Nitrox
Deep and Nitrox
in Koh Phangan
The two specialties that really change your diving: 40 metres at Sail Rock, and longer bottom times on every dive. Together they make the SSI Specialty Diver course — two days, four dives, 13,500฿.
Sail Rock · down to 40 m
Our pick after Open Water
Specialty Diver
Deep + Nitrox
SSI awards the Specialty Diver rating for any two specialties. Of all the options, Deep and Enriched Air Nitrox are the two that genuinely extend what you can do — which is why we recommend them as the next step after Open Water.
- Duration
- 2 days
- Dives
- 4
- Max depth
- 40 m
- Minimum age
- 15 years
- Price
- 13,500฿
- Usually taught by Boris, our lead instructor, in English or Spanish
- All equipment and nitrox tanks included
- Boat days with hot lunch, fruit and drinks
- Camera rental 600฿, or have your instructor film your dive for 800฿
- Two SSI certifications plus the Specialty Diver rating
The course
Four dives,
step by step
The Deep dives go down in three stages, so each new depth feels familiar before you go further. All of them happen at Sail Rock, whose walls drop to a sandy bottom at 40 metres.
Getting comfortable
Planning your gas, noticing narcosis in yourself, and watching the colours fade as the light changes.
The bottom of Sail Rock
Down to the sand at the base of the pinnacle, with a careful ascent and safety stop on the way up.
Diving on enriched air
You analyse your own tank, label it and plan the dive for its mix — then enjoy the longer bottom time.
The classroom is the boat
Theory, seriously
Learning on
the way out
In these courses the theory really matters, and we treat it that way. We use the hour-long ride out to Sail Rock and the surface interval between dives to go through Deep and Nitrox theory, with the sea in front of you.
On the last day, as with our Open Water courses, we go back to the shop after the boat for the written exam, and use it to clear up any last questions. Boris, our lead instructor, usually teaches these courses himself when they are in English or Spanish.
Separately
One at
a time
If you only want one of the two, each specialty can be taken on its own.
2 days · SSI
Deep Specialty
The three Deep dives down to 40 metres at Sail Rock, with the Deep theory and exam.
2 days8,500฿
BookTheory · SSI
Nitrox · theory
The Enriched Air Nitrox certification with theory and exam, no dives needed.
Theory4,500฿
BookTheory + 2 dives · SSI
Nitrox · with dives
The same certification plus two dives on nitrox at Sail Rock, to put it into practice straight away.
With 2 dives7,500฿
BookQuestions
Deep and Nitrox FAQ
How much are the Deep and Nitrox courses in Koh Phangan?
The Specialty Diver course with Deep and Nitrox together is 13,500฿. Separately, Deep is 8,500฿, and Nitrox is 4,500฿ for the theory only or 7,500฿ with two dives. Equipment, nitrox tanks and lunch are included; underwater camera rental is 600฿.
What is the SSI Specialty Diver rating?
SSI gives you the Specialty Diver rating when you complete two specialty courses. We recommend Deep and Nitrox because they are the two that most extend the diving you can do afterwards.
How deep can I dive after the Deep Specialty?
Down to 40 metres, the limit for recreational diving. At Sail Rock that means you can reach the sandy bottom at the base of the pinnacle.
What is Nitrox and why use it?
Nitrox, or enriched air, has more oxygen and less nitrogen than normal air. You absorb less nitrogen, which means longer no-decompression times and shorter surface intervals — very useful on a day with several dives. It does not let you dive deeper; in fact the course teaches you the maximum depth for each mix.
What are the requirements?
An Open Water Diver certification and a minimum age of 15.
Who teaches the course?
Usually Boris, our manager and lead instructor, when the course is in English or Spanish. He has been a dive professional since 2015 and has more than 5,000 dives.
Where does the theory happen?
Mostly on the boat: during the hour-long ride out to Sail Rock and the surface interval between dives. On the last day we finish at the shop with the written exam and time for any final questions.
Ready for
40 metres?
Tell us your certification level and your dates on WhatsApp, and we will tell you which option fits best.
See also the Advanced Open Water course or all our courses.