The Adventure Doesn’t Stop at 18 Meters
Advanced Open Water Course Koh Tao
Think of this as your license to explore the cool stuff. You’ll get down to 30 meters, master skills you actually care about, and unlock the world’s most epic dive sites. Ready to level up?
Is The Advanced Course Right For You? (Spoiler: Hell Yes)
So, you’re an Open Water diver, but you feel like you’ve only just scratched the surface. You’re right. The Advanced course is where you stop just ‘being a diver’ and start thinking like one. It’s less about passing tests and all about real-world adventure.
- It's Your Next Logical Step: You've got the basics down. Now it's time to build on them. This course is all about practice, which means more confidence and better skills. Each dive will feel easier and more natural than the last.
- 100% Practical, Zero boring Exams: Forget spending hours in a classroom. This course is all about the diving. You'll fine-tune your skills in the water across 5 exciting adventure dives. We believe this is the best way to become a truly great diver.
- Get Advanced Certified in Just 2 Days: We know your vacation time is gold. Our course is smartly designed to get you certified in just two days, giving you more time to enjoy everything else Koh Tao has to offer.
- Real Confidence, New Horizons: This course is the ultimate confidence booster. You'll get the skills to safely dive to 30 meters, experience the magic of a night dive, learn the basics of Nitrox, and feel ready for anything.
- Max 2 Students. That's a Promise. This is critical for advanced skills. Unlike other schools that pack their courses, we GUARANTEE a maximum of 2 students per instructor. This isn't just a class; it's personalized coaching to make you an exceptional diver.
- Clear, Simple Instruction: We know that language barriers can be a concern. Our courses are taught in clear, simple English by a team of passionate instructors who know how to explain things in a way that just makes sense. Your safety and understanding are key.
Master Your Skills.
Dive with Confidence, Anywhere.
Your 5 Adventure Dives: Skills, Specialties & Fun
This isn’t just about logging dives; it’s about becoming a better, more capable diver. The SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program focuses on practical experience and flexibility. You’ll complete 5 different Adventure Dives to earn your certification. with minimal theory and no final exam. While you can choose from various specialties, we highly recommend this combination as the best foundation for becoming a well-rounded advanced diver:
PERFECT BUOYANCY
Dominate your position and movement, hovering effortlessly like an astronaut. With this specialty, you’ll use less air, protect the reef, and master the core skill of every great diver, all while tackling new underwater challenges.
NAVIGATION
Gain the confidence to lead your own dives. In the Navigation specialty, you’ll master using a compass, natural navigation techniques, and estimating distances. You’ll become a more self-reliant and capable diver, ready to guide your own explorations.
COMPUTER
Master the most important tool in modern diving: your computer. You will learn to set it up and plan dives accurately, managing your no-decompression limits. An essential skill for diving with more safety and confidence anywhere in the world!
DEEP DIVE
Dare to dive down to 30 meters with total safety. In this adventure, you’ll learn to plan deep dives, manage narcosis, and follow decompression procedures, opening up a whole new world of fascinating dive sites here in Koh Tao.
NIGHT DIVE
The adventure doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Discover a different underwater world that comes out at night. You’ll learn the techniques and signals for night diving to see the incredible marine life that emerges
⭐ Make Your Advanced Course Even More Complete with the Nitrox Specialty!
The Nitrox specialty is one of the most popular and useful. As an Advanced Course student, we offer you the opportunity to get the full SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 40% certification at an exclusive price, with a discount of over 40%! This means that upon completion, you will not only be an advanced diver but will hold 2 separate certifications, allowing you to dive with enriched air worldwide to enjoy longer bottom times. Ask us when you book!
Your Advanced Adventure: A Typical 2-Day Schedule
So you can plan your time in Koh Tao, here’s a rough idea of how we usually pack the 5 awesome adventure dives into two days. It’s all about maximizing your time in the water while still leaving your evenings free to enjoy the island.
Day 1
10:00
COMPASS BRIEFINGS
12:00
PERFECT BUOYANCY
NAVIGATION
Day 2
06:30
DEEP (30M)
COMPUTER
18:00
NIGHT DIVE*
* Heads up: The night dive can sometimes be scheduled on Day 1, depending on conditions and your preference. We’re flexible!
Your Advanced Course Investment
We believe in offering world-class training at a fair price. Your SSI Advanced course is an investment in your skills, your confidence, and in a lifetime of unforgettable underwater experiences.
2 Days - 5 Adventure Dives
🏷️ 9000 THB
All-Inclusive! ✨
Add the Nitrox Specialty
3500 THB 🏷️ 2000 THB
🔥 Exclusive Offer! Save 1500 THB 🔥
💰 Best Price Guarantee – Find a better like-for-like offer? Let us know!
TYour All-Inclusive Advanced Course🏷️
With your IHASIA Advanced course, everything is included. No hidden fees, no last-minute gear rentals, no surprises. We provide absolutely everything you need for your complete training to become an Advanced diver. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure!
- ✅ Expert SSI Instructor in a tiny group (Max 2 students, guaranteed)
- ✅ Full Advanced Scuba Gear Rental (including a dive computer and torch)
- ✅ All SSI Digital Learning Materials for your chosen specialties
- ✅ 5 Full Adventure Dives
- ✅ Snacks, Water, Coffee & Tea on the boat 🍍🍪☕
- ✅ Full Dive Insurance for the entire course
- ✅ Private & Easy Beach Boarding via our longtail boat
- ✅ Your SSI Advanced Open Water Diver digital certification card
- 📸 *Optional:* Professional photos & videos of your dives (please inquire)
Your Adventure Doesn't Have to End. Turn Your Passion into a Profession.
Your Koh Tao adventure is really just beginning once you’re an Advanced diver. If you feel the call of the ocean and dream of turning your passion into a profession, the SSI Divemaster course is your next great challenge.
Imagine guiding other divers, living and working in a paradise like Koh Tao (our program immerses you in the life of a dive pro for months, racking up valuable experience and dives), and earning a certification that opens up job opportunities all over the world.
At IHASIA, we’re with you every step of the way on your path to becoming a dive professional, including essential courses like SSI Stress & Rescue. The ocean is waiting to be your new office.
The real adventure is just getting started!
Your Advanced course Questions, Answered
❓ What's the main difference between the Open Water and Advanced courses?
Think of it this way: Open Water teaches you how to dive safely. The Advanced course teaches you how to be a great diver. We focus less on basic drills and more on expanding your skills and confidence through 5 awesome adventure dives. You’ll explore new areas like deep and night diving, and fine-tune your buoyancy and navigation. It’s all about practical fun!
🌐 I'm PADI Open Water certified. Can I do the SSI Advanced course with you?
Absolutely, 100%! We welcome certified divers from any recognized agency (like PADI, RAID, NAUI, CMAS, etc.). As long as you can show us your certification card or proof of your Open Water cert, you’re good to go. Welcome to the IHASIA family!
🌊 How deep can I dive with this certification?
Once you’re an SSI Advanced Open Water Diver, you’ll be certified to safely dive to a maximum depth of 30 meters (100 feet). This opens up a whole new world of incredible dive sites in Koh Tao and around the globe.
🎓 What certification do I get exactly, and is it recognized worldwide?
When you successfully complete the course, you’ll earn the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver certification. And yes, it’s recognized absolutely everywhere. This is your ticket to diving the world’s most challenging and rewarding sites down to 30 meters.
🤔 Do I need a lot of experience after my Open Water to do the Advanced?
Not at all! The Advanced course is designed to be the very next step after Open Water. As long as you feel comfortable with your basic skills, you’re ready. In fact, it’s an excellent way to quickly build more experience and rock-solid confidence under the guidance of an instructor.
📚 Is there a lot of theory or are there exams in the Advanced course?
Good news! The Advanced course is almost all about the diving. There’s a bit of theory for Navigation dive about how to use a compass, but it’s super practical. Everything else is learned in the water through briefings and the dives themselves. No formal written exams. This course is all about diving and learning by doing!
🐠 Can I choose my 5 adventure dives, or are they fixed?
Officially, the new SSI Advanced Open Water Diver course has a clear structure: it includes 2 mandatory dives and lets you choose another 3 from a list of 15 options.
Mandatory Dives:
- Deep Diving
- Navigation
Optional Dives (Choose 3):
- Perfect Buoyancy
- Night Diving
- Nitrox
- Boat Diving
- Wreck Diving
- Shearch & Recovery
- Photo and Video
- Wave, Tides And Currents
- Scooter/DPV
- DrySuit
- Altitud Diving
- Sidemount
- Ecology
- Cavern & Cenote Diving
However, based on our years of experience and what truly helps our students become awesome divers, we strongly recommend a core package of 3 key adventure dives: Perfect Buoyancy, Night Diving, and Computer. Add those to the two mandatory dives (Deep and Navigation), and you get a combo that we’re convinced gives you the most useful skills and the most rewarding experiences.
While other specialties like ‘Wreck Diving’ or ‘Underwater Photography’ might sound cool, they often don’t add a core diving skill that you can’t already practice as a regular fun dive.
But of course, this is YOUR adventure! If you have a special interest in another specialty from the list and it’s something we can do here in Koh Tao, we’re always open to talking about it with you!
🚢 I've heard about Wreck Diving in the Advanced course. Is it a good option?
That’s a great question. It’s important to know that the Wreck Diving adventure dive allows you to explore the outside of a wreck, but it does NOT certify you to go inside. Safely penetrating a shipwreck requires a full, much more extensive specialty certification.
Honestly, while seeing a wreck from the outside is cool, you can often do that on a regular Fun Dive without it being part of a course.
However, if exploring a wreck is your dream, we can make it happen. We often do the Deep or Nitrox adventure dives at sites with great wrecks, like the HTMS Sattakut. This way, you get that incredible experience while still focusing on the core skills. If it’s a top priority for you, we can absolutely build it into your course.
🎒 Do I need to buy any special equipment for the Advanced course?
Nope, you don’t need to buy a thing! All the standard scuba gear, plus the special equipment you’ll need like a dive computer, a compass, and a torch for the night dive, is included in the course price. If you have your own gear and prefer to use it, of course you can!
➡️ I'm already an Advanced diver. What's the next step?
Awesome that you want to keep learning! After the Advanced, the next recommended step is the SSI Stress & Rescue course. It’s a challenging but incredibly rewarding course that will make you a much more capable and confident buddy. And if you’re dreaming of going pro, the path continues to the SSI Divemaster. We can guide you through your entire diving career!
⏳ It's been a while since my last dive. Do I need a Refresher?
Great question, and thinking about safety first is key. We’ll always check your logbook and have a chat about your experience. Here’s our general guideline:
- If it’s been over a year since your last dive AND you have limited experience (e.g., fewer than 50 logged dives), we strongly recommend a Scuba Refresher (cost: 1500 THB). This will help you rebuild your confidence and get you comfortable with the key skills before starting the Advanced course.
- If you have more experience but it’s still been over a year, a simple Fun Dive the day before (cost: 800 THB) might be all you need to get comfortable in the water again.
The most important thing is that you have fun and learn as much as possible. We’ll figure out the best option together when you book.
📅 Should I book my Advanced course in advance?
Yes, we highly recommend it! Especially if you’re traveling during peak season or have specific dates you need to stick to. Booking your Advanced course in Koh Tao ahead of time allows us to better organize the groups, guarantee instructor availability, and secure your spot. Just Contact us to check availability.
ARE YOU UP FOR IT?
Don't Just Take Our Word For It...
Your Advanced Cert Left You Wanting More? Get Ready for a Liveaboard!
Once you’ve mastered your Advanced Diver skills, your passion doesn’t have to stop in Koh Tao. You’re now ready for the ultimate diving experience! With IHASIA’s liveaboard trips, we take you to explore some of the most sought-after underwater paradises on the planet, with access to remote sites, multiple dives per day, and all the perks of life at sea.
We especially want to highlight our incredible Red Sea Northern Route safari in Egypt —a true paradise for the world’s most famous wrecks —scheduled for 2026. Your Advanced certification is the perfect ticket for this unforgettable experience!
The adventure has only just begun!
Your Advanced Adventure Starts Here in Koh Tao.
With thousands of divers certified since 2009, IHASIA is more than just a beachside dive school; we’re your next step in a lifelong diving journey.
Remember, with this Advanced course, you’re not just getting a deeper experience. You’re earning your SSI Advanced Open Water Diver certification, pushing your limits, and continuing to meet passionate divers you’ll share incredible moments with.
Ready to Take Your Diving to the Next Level?
Book Your Advanced Course in Koh Tao
You’re just one step away from your next great underwater adventure! Simply fill out the form below to book your Advanced course in Koh Tao or to ask us any questions you might have. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible to confirm everything.