PADI Open Water + Advanced
Our two most popular courses back to back.
฿20,000 More about the Open Water
PADI Advanced and Rescue on Koh Tao
Already hold your Open Water? Keep learning here, in a small group, in Dutch or English.
Continue training
Where you are now, and what comes next
Two PADI courses for divers who are already certified. Both are described in full below: what you do, what it costs and what you need.
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You have your Open Water
Then PADI Advanced Open Water is your next step. Go deeper, fine-tune your buoyancy and learn to navigate underwater, in 2 to 3 days.
Go to Advanced -
You have your Advanced
Then PADI Rescue Diver is the bigger step: spotting, preventing and solving problems, in other divers too. Three days.
Go to Rescue -
You have your Rescue
Then the road to PADI Divemaster is open: leading dives and assisting on courses, anywhere in the world.
Go to Divemaster
With an Open Water certification
PADI Advanced Open Water
The Advanced builds on your Open Water: more experience, new skills and more confidence underwater.
You don't need to be an experienced diver: a PADI Open Water certification, or an equivalent, is enough. You make five Adventure Dives in 2 or 3 days, depending on your elective dives. The course costs ฿10,000.
You learn to hover with better control, find your way with a compass and dive deeper safely: to 30 metres instead of 18. The group is small, so there is room for your questions and extra explanation.
Ask about AdvancedBefore you start: PADI eLearning
Before the course you get access to PADI eLearning, which covers the theory behind the Adventure Dives. Please finish it before you arrive, so we can get straight into the water on the practical days. Let us know in advance which elective dives you'd like, and we'll plan around them.
Day 1: buoyancy and navigation
You start with about two hours of theory on the three set dives: Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Navigation and Deep. After lunch, the boat takes you to the first dive site.
- Peak Performance Buoyancy. Better trim, steadier hovering and lower air consumption. You glide over the reef more easily and keep clear of the coral.
- Underwater Navigation. Holding a compass heading and using natural references such as reef edges, sand ripples and rocks.
Day 2: the deep dive and your first elective dive
On the Deep dive you go down to a maximum of 30 metres, under your instructor's direct supervision. You see how colours change as you descend and why good planning matters at depth. Your first elective dive follows.
Two elective dives
Alongside the three set dives, you choose two from this list:
- Night dive. The most popular choice. You leave around 18:00 and are back around 20:30. With a torch you see the animals that hide during the day.
- Wreck dive. Navigating safely around a wreck. The wrecks and artificial reefs around Koh Tao are overgrown with coral.
- Search and Recovery. Search patterns, using a lift bag and working as a team underwater.
- Rescue Adventure Dive. A first taste of helping other divers.
- Fish Identification. Recognising fish families and understanding how the reef works.
- Dive Against Debris. Collecting rubbish from the sea and learning why it matters for the reef.
Under PADI's rules, an Adventure Dive can count as the first dive of the matching specialty. Fancy carrying on with Deep 40 or Wreck afterwards? Have a look at Specialties & Nitrox.
Good to know
Only on day 1 do you meet at the dive school in the morning. On day 2 we meet near the pier in Mae Haad. Not been diving for a while? We recommend doing the refresher first, so you start the Advanced with confidence.
With an Advanced certification
PADI Rescue Diver and EFR
Rescue Diver is a bigger step than the Advanced: it is no longer about your own skills but about the divers around you. You learn to recognise, prevent and solve problems, in yourself and in others.
The course is meant for divers with an Advanced certification who want to play a more active part underwater. Planning to become a Divemaster later? Then Rescue Diver is required. It costs ฿12,000; the EFR course (first aid) is booked separately for ฿5,000.
The three days are intensive and the subject is serious, but there is a lot of laughter. Plenty of divers call it the most fun and most challenging course in recreational diving. You become a more aware diver and a better buddy, and you benefit from that on every dive.
Ask about RescuePreventing problems
Most incidents don't come out of nowhere. Small signs come first: tiredness, stress, an equipment problem, a buddy behaving differently. You learn to see those signs in time, so you can step in before anything goes wrong.
Practising realistic scenarios
Over three days you practise in shallow and open water. Among other things, you learn to:
- Help tired or panicking divers
- Bring a diver safely to shore or to the boat
- Search for a missing diver
- Solve emergencies underwater
- Bring an unresponsive diver to the surface
- Work in a rescue team and take charge of an emergency
You combine separate skills with full scenarios. That way you learn the technique, and also how to stay calm and make the right calls.
Emergency First Response (EFR)
Rescue Diver goes together with the EFR course: first aid and CPR. Among other things, you practise:
- CPR and using an AED
- First aid for injuries
- Recognising and treating choking
- Providing care until professional help arrives
EFR is not included in the Rescue price and costs ฿5,000. Already hold a valid first aid and CPR certificate that is no more than two years old? Then you don't need to do EFR again.
Good to know
Only on day 1 do you meet at the dive school in the morning. In the afternoon and on day 2 we meet near the pier in Mae Haad.
Combo deals
Several courses back to back
Doing more than one course during your stay? You pay less than for each on its own.
After your Rescue
The next step: PADI Divemaster
With Rescue Diver and a valid first aid certificate, you're close to your first professional step. As a Divemaster you lead dives and assist on courses. The programme normally takes 4 weeks and costs ฿45,000.
To start you need 40 logged dives. Not there yet? Ask us how to get them.
More about Divemaster
Reviews
What divers say
Kim did a fun dive first and then her Advanced with us.
Did the PADI Open Water and Advanced at Below Zero Divers with Anouk as instructor, plus a full day of fun diving. Really fun dives and loads of cool things seen underwater. The lessons were really easy to follow, clear instruction and a really friendly vibe every day. On top of that we got beautiful photos! Genuine people who really want to teach you something and are always up for a drink and a chat after diving. Would absolutely recommend it. 10/10!
Translated from Dutch
Did the Open Water course at Below Zero in October 2026. By chance I ran into John at their place on Koh Tao. After a nice, relaxed chat I started the course one day later. Divemaster Anouk gave super professional and fun lessons. She and the team make you feel very safe underwater. Iris also takes great photos on the last dive day. A different dive site every day, so you get to experience different environments. This dive school has everything well organised, from the physical location to the equipment (all new). The team is very skilled and fun too! If you're looking for a PADI course or fun dive on Koh Tao in Dutch, choose Below Zero Diving.
Translated from Dutch
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to do the Advanced, or can I just go fun diving?
Either works. Many divers go on to the Advanced after their Open Water, but it is not compulsory. You can also build up experience first with fun dives from the daily boat.
Can I do the Advanced straight after my Open Water?
Yes. With the Open Water + Advanced combo deal you do them back to back, in 5 to 6 days, for ฿20,000.
How deep do you go on the Advanced?
On the Deep dive you go to a maximum of 30 metres, under your instructor's direct supervision. Your Open Water certifies you to 18 metres.
Which elective dives can I choose?
Night dive, Wreck dive, Search and Recovery, Rescue Adventure Dive, Fish Identification or Dive Against Debris. The night dive is the most popular choice.
Is EFR included in the Rescue price?
No. EFR (first aid and CPR) costs ฿5,000 extra. If you hold a valid first aid and CPR certificate that is no more than two years old, you don't need to do EFR again.
Do I need insurance?
Yes. Travel insurance that covers diving is required. As an extra option we recommend DiveAssure.
Do you teach in English?
Yes. Let us know in advance and we will schedule an extra instructor for the theory lessons. You always do the eLearning in your own language.
Still have a question?
Send a message, even if you are not sure yet which course suits you, and we will help you choose.
Ask us on WhatsApp+66 90 984 6090
Open daily from 8:30 to 11:00 and from 13:00 to 18:00