How to Choose a Dive School in Koh Samui: What to Look For (and Avoid)

Koh Samui has over 50 dive schools, and while many are solid, choosing the right one depends on your experience level, budget, and what you actually want to do underwater. A beginner should prioritize schools with high guest reviews (4.8+), certified PADI instruction, and English-speaking staff. Intermediate divers should look for schools running regular reef dives and advanced certifications like AOWD or Nitrox. The best schools in Koh Samui combine PADI credentials with real experience — instructors with 1,000+ logged dives — and smaller group sizes (4–6 students max). Price matters less than safety and instruction quality: expect $300–$450 for Open Water courses, $200–$300 for Discover Scuba, and $150–$250 per fun dive. This guide walks you through the exact questions to ask before booking so you end up at a shop you won't regret.

What Certification Bodies Actually Matter (and Which Ones Don't)

When you're researching shops, you'll see acronyms everywhere: PADI, SSI, BSAC, NAUI. Here's the truth — all of them are legitimate. PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the largest and most globally recognized, which matters if your certification needs to travel. SSI (Scuba Schools International) is equally rigorous and growing. BSAC is UK-focused. NAUI is excellent but smaller.

What actually matters is not the acronym on your card — it's the instructor in the water with you. A PADI instructor with 50 logged dives teaching Open Water is riskier than an SSI instructor with 2,000 dives. When you're emailing shops, ask for instructor credentials and logged dive counts. This is not rude; this is essential. In Koh Tao, which sits 40 km away, PADI certifies over 65,000 divers per year. The volume exists because the training is solid, but it also means variable quality — so instructor vetting is non-negotiable.

One more thing: your cert needs to be recognized wherever you dive next. PADI, SSI, and BSAC cards work globally. Smaller agencies are legitimate but less universally accepted. If you think you'll dive in multiple countries, stick with the Big Three.

Red Flags: Shops to Avoid

Before you get excited about a specific school, learn to spot the warning signs.

• Reviews that look fake — All 5-star, all recent, all generic praise. Real reviews have variation and specificity.
• Group Open Water courses with 8+ students — Not safe. Maximum ratio is 1 instructor to 4 students for confined water. Anything larger means shortcuts.