Big Blue Diving School Koh Tao
Sairee Beach dive shop that turns nervous first-timers into certified divers without any drill-sergeant nonsense.
Plan your visit
- Hours
- Daily 08:00–18:00
- Vet Elephant Sanctuaries
- Only visit sanctuaries that prohibit riding, use no chains or bullhooks, and let elephants roam freely. Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai set the standard. If a place offers painting shows or circus tricks, walk away.
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See pricesWhy go, and how to do it well
If you're coming to Koh Tao to learn to dive, this is the sort of operation you want: big enough to run courses every day, small enough that instructors notice when someone in the group isn't enjoying themselves. Reviewers name their instructors, which tells you something. The recurring theme is patience with people who don't take to it straight away, and a bit of humour to go with it.
Open Water and Advanced courses are the bread and butter, and certified divers can join fun dives out to Sail Rock, South West Pinnacle and White Rock. Conditions vary. One group reported plankton and poor visibility at the first two sites, and the crew switched plans rather than push on, which is exactly what you want from people making that call. They're also flexible with rescheduling if illness or a changed itinerary gets in the way. It's right on Sairee Beach, so you're not being shuttled around the island between a classroom and the water.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Sep 2026 · How we check places
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Big Blue Diving School Koh Tao, round out your day in Koh Tao with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
I originally came to Koh Tao planning to do only the Open Water Diver at Big Blue Diving. I simply wanted to experience something new, try a new hobby, and step a little outside my comfort zone with a new kind of adventure. To be honest, the first day was a bit frustrating for me. Things didn’t immediately click the way I had imagined. Some people seem to be natural talents underwater — that wasn’t me. But Liam immediately sensed that I wasn’t fully enjoying it the way I hoped to, and he genuinely made an effort to lift the mood and keep me motivated. He has this incredible way of correcting you without making you feel bad or scared of making mistakes. And in my opinion, mistakes are exactly how you learn best — especially at the beginning. Liam is patient, kind, warm, empathetic, and incredibly supportive. You can truly feel his passion for diving and for being an instructor. He doesn’t just teach skills — he shares his fascination for the underwater world. And you can see how happy it makes him when someone starts to share that excitement. I definitely got infected by that passion. It’s honestly partly because of him that I decided to continue and do my Advanced Open Water as well. I ended up spending five days of my time in Koh Tao with SSI, and I’m so proud that I did. Jumping from 3–6 meters off the boat during the Advanced course was such a fun and memorable highlight to finish it all off. Beyond Liam, every instructor and dive master I met at Big Blue was incredibly friendly and welcoming. It’s such a great place to connect with people from different countries and cultures and to build new friendships. By the end of our Open Water course, we were only three Germans in the group — and it was actually beautiful how international everything felt. These five days were something I won’t forget anytime soon. It’s such a different and special way to experience a vacation. I’m beyond grateful for this experience and I truly hope I can come back next year and continue where I left off — hopefully again with Liam. Thank you, Big Blue. And especially thank you, Liam. It honestly couldn’t have been better. I’ll definitely be back. Iva :)
We are a couple of Advanced certified divers and we did 3x recreational dives in one day with Big Blue Diving in Koh Tao, including Sail Rock, South West Pinnacle and White Rock, and overall it was a great experience. Conditions at Sail Rock and South West Pinnacle were challenging that day due to low visibility and lots of plankton in the water, but the team handled it well and made good decisions by changing sites. The third dive at White Rock was absolutely fantastic, much better visibility, a beautiful reef and amazing marine life. Our guide, Nadine, truly made the day special. Her briefings before each dive were excellent, very clear and specific to what we could expect on that particular dive. She was incredibly kind, professional and enthusiastic. Honestly one of the best dive guides we’ve ever had. We would definitely recommend Big Blue Diving, especially if you’re lucky enough to dive with Nadine. :)
We went diving with Big Blue Diving School and had Denise as our guide for several fun dives. She was very professional, knowledgeable, and also had a great sense of humor, which made the dives even more enjoyable. We had a lot of fun and felt well taken care of throughout the experience. Overall, it was a great experience and we would definitely recommend diving with them!
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 5,573 reviews on Google.
Sairee Beach, 14, 148, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, สุราษฎร์ธานี 84360, Thailand
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Tips for Visiting Activities & Tours
Book Popular Activities Online
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Do Outdoor Activities in the Morning
Heat and humidity peak from noon to 3 PM. Schedule jungle treks, cycling tours, and outdoor cooking classes for early morning. Water activities are more flexible since you're in and out of the sea.
Check Operator Safety Records
For adventure activities (zip-lining, bungee jumping, diving), check recent reviews specifically mentioning equipment condition and safety briefings. Thailand's regulation varies — reputable operators will have insurance and certified guides.
Big Blue Diving School Koh Tao: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Big Blue Diving School Koh Tao worth visiting?
Big Blue Diving School Koh Tao holds a 5.0★ rating from 5,573 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated activities & tours in Koh Tao.
What are the opening hours of Big Blue Diving School Koh Tao?
Big Blue Diving School Koh Tao is typically open 08:00-18:00 — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.
When is the best time to visit Big Blue Diving School Koh Tao?
The best months to visit Koh Tao are March – September (calmest water, best visibility), with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – January & July – August — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: November (monsoon swell peaks).
Where is Big Blue Diving School Koh Tao located?
Big Blue Diving School Koh Tao is at Sairee Beach, 14, 148, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, สุราษฎร์ธานี 84360, Thailand, in Koh Tao. Getting around Koh Tao: Walking around Sairee and Mae Haad; Motorbike rental (฿200–300/day; some concrete roads are extremely steep).
Also popular in Koh Tao

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995 Roasted Duck
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Dough Koh Tao
Dinner only, 18:30 to 22:00, and the tables go fast once divers come off the boats.
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