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Home / SSI courses / Open Water
SSI Open Water
course in Koh Phangan
Learn to dive in three days and leave with a certification that lets you dive to 18 metres anywhere in the world. Small groups of four, our own boat from Chaloklum, and your open-water dives at Sail Rock, the best dive site in the Gulf — 12,900฿ with everything included.
Four students, one instructor
At a glance
Your first
certification
SSI Open Water Diver is the course that turns you from someone who has tried diving into a diver. You learn the theory, practise the skills in the shallow water of Chaloklum Bay, then put them together on real dives in the Gulf of Thailand. At the end you can dive with a buddy, without an instructor, to 18 metres.
- Duration
- 3 days
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Ratio
- 4:1
- Minimum age
- 10 years
- Price
- 12,900฿
- SSI instructor teaching in English, Spanish or French
- All equipment, new in 2024, sizes XS to XXL
- Boat days with hot lunch, fruit and drinks
- Camera rental 600฿, or have your instructor film your dive for 800฿
- Digital SSI certification the day you pass
How the course runs
Three days,
step by step
Every course starts in the shallow water of Chaloklum Bay, right in front of the dive centre, and moves on to real dives at Sail Rock. The exact plan follows the sea and the group, but this is the shape of it.
Skills in Chaloklum Bay
Theory review, then the core skills one at a time in shallow water off the beach, and a short first dive. A pool only if the sea does not allow it.
First open-water dives
Out on the boat to Sail Rock. You repeat the skills on real dives and start to enjoy the fish — barracuda, batfish, trevally.
Last dives and exam
Your final training dives, a little deeper, then the final exam. If the sea or the group need it, we dive the calmer, shallower Koh Ma instead.
Certified
Your SSI certification appears in the MySSI app straight away, recognised at dive centres all over the world.
Your first giant stride
Who can do it
No experience
needed
You do not need to have dived before, and you do not need to be an athlete. If you are comfortable in the water and reasonably healthy, this course is for you.
- From 10 years old — 10 to 14 year olds certify as Junior Open Water
- Able to swim and float comfortably; we check this in the water on day one
- A short medical questionnaire; some conditions need a doctor's signature
- No flights for 18 hours after the course's last dive
Why learn with us
A calm place
to learn
Koh Phangan is quieter than Koh Tao, and so are its dive sites. Learning without a crowd around you makes the first dives far more relaxed — and you still get to dive Sail Rock, which is closer to our pier in Chaloklum than to anywhere else on the island.
- Maximum four students per instructor, never a big class
- Our own boat, the Rungworawan, with a maximum of 20 divers on board
- Instructors with more than ten years of teaching around Asia and Egypt
- More than 400 divers certified since we opened in January 2024
- 5.0 on Google from 354 reviews
- Water at 28–30°C all year
Questions
Open Water FAQ
How much is the SSI Open Water course in Koh Phangan?
12,900฿ per person. That includes your SSI instructor, the digital learning, all the equipment, the boat days with lunch and drinks, and your certification. The only optional extra is an underwater camera (600฿ rental) or a video of your dives filmed by your instructor (800฿).
How long does the Open Water course take?
Three days. Before the first day, you can read the theory online at your own pace, which leaves more time in the water.
Is SSI recognised like PADI?
Yes. SSI and PADI both train to the same international standards, and an SSI Open Water Diver certification is accepted at dive centres all over the world — including PADI centres.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
No. You need to be comfortable in the water: able to swim a short distance without stopping and float for a few minutes. Speed does not matter, and we check it together on the first day.
Can children do the Open Water course?
Yes, from 10 years old. Divers aged 10 to 14 certify as SSI Junior Open Water Divers, with some depth limits until they turn 15, when the card upgrades to the full Open Water Diver.
What if I'm nervous or not sure I will like it?
Start with a Try Dive: one day, no certification needed. If you enjoy it, tell us and we will explain how to continue into the Open Water course. Nervous students are normal, and small groups of four give us time for everyone.
Where do the training dives take place?
The first skills are practised in Chaloklum Bay, in shallow water off the beach. We prefer the sea to a pool: salt water feels different from fresh water, and the beach gives more space and a first short dive. The open-water dives on days two and three are at Sail Rock, an open-sea pinnacle about an hour by boat. When the sea or the students need it, we go to Koh Ma instead, a calmer, shallower coral garden ten minutes from the pier.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, a towel, sun protection and something warm for the boat ride home. All the diving equipment is on the boat in your size. If you wear glasses and need a prescription mask, tell us before you arrive.
When can I fly after the course?
The usual guideline is 12 hours after a single shallow dive, 18 hours after several dives or a deep dive, and 24 hours after a decompression dive. The course has several dives a day, so plan on 18 hours. The ferry needs no wait: we are back at the pier around 15:30, in time for a 17:00 ferry.
Ready to become
a diver?
Send us your dates on WhatsApp and we will confirm a place in the next Open Water group. A deposit holds your spot; the rest is paid in cash or by Revolut.
Already certified? See the next courses or come on a Fun Dive.