PADI Discover Scuba Diving
Try scuba diving for the first time — no certification required. Two open water dives with a professional instructor for ages 10 and up.
Duration
1 day
Max Depth
12m
Min Age
10+
Certification
Discover Scuba (not a certification)
The PADI Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) experience is the best way to try scuba diving in Koh Samui for the very first time. No certification, no prior experience, no swimming test beyond basic comfort in the water — just you, an expert PADI instructor, and the incredible underwater world of the Gulf of Thailand.
In one day you’ll complete 2 open water boat dives at some of Thailand’s most beautiful dive sites — Koh Tao or Sail Rock — with a dedicated instructor at your side the entire time.
What is PADI Discover Scuba Diving?
The PADI Discover Scuba Diving program is an officially registered PADI experience. While it isn’t a full certification course, it gives you a genuine taste of scuba diving in real open water conditions. Your first DSD dive can also be credited toward the PADI Open Water Diver certification if you decide to continue.
Perfect for:
- First-time divers on a Koh Samui holiday
- Families with children aged 10 and up
- Anyone curious about scuba who isn’t ready to commit to a full course
- People who want to dive at Sail Rock or Koh Tao without a certification
What to Expect on the Day
Hotel pickup between 7:45–8:15am, then transfer to the dive centre for your briefing. Boat departs around 9am.
- Briefing — Basic scuba principles, equipment overview, hand signals, and what to do underwater. No technical knowledge required.
- Shallow water skills — Practice breathing, clearing your mask, and equalising your ears in a controlled, shallow environment before descending.
- Dive 1 — Descend to up to 12m with your instructor right beside you. Explore coral reefs, spot tropical fish, and experience the silence of the underwater world.
- Dive 2 — A second dive at a different part of the site. More comfortable, more time to look around.
Dive destinations by day: Koh Tao (Mon, Thu, Sat) · Sail Rock (Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun)
What Comes After Discover Scuba?
If you fall in love with diving — and most people do — you can continue straight into the PADI Open Water Diver course. Your DSD dive counts as credit toward the 4 required certification dives, meaning you only need 2 more training days to earn your worldwide PADI certification.
What's Included
- Hotel transfers to/from your resort
- Professional dive instructor (1:1 supervision)
- 2 open water dives
- Dive insurance
- All scuba equipment
- Lunch and drinks
Not Included
- Towels
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
FAQ
You need to be comfortable in the water, but no formal swimming ability is tested. You should be able to float and swim basic distances.
10 years old. Children dive with a parent or certified adult in the water alongside their instructor.
Maximum depth is 12 metres, which is plenty to see vibrant coral reefs and marine life. Your instructor will be with you the whole time.
Basic swimming ability is required for safety. That said, you don’t need to be an advanced swimmer. The pre-dive briefing is thorough, your instructor stays with you at all times, and everything is conducted at your pace and comfort level. Many of our most enthusiastic divers started out feeling a little nervous.
Whale shark sightings are always possible on our trips to Sail Rock and Koh Tao — they are regular visitors to both sites. While we can never guarantee encounters, it's one of the most exciting possibilities of diving in this region.
Guests
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your trip
You might also like
Explore more adventures with Silent Divers.
Diving Tour Ang Thong Marine Park
Explore 42 pristine islands in Ang Thong National Marine Park — dramatic limestone cliffs, vibrant coral reefs, and rich marine life in a protected paradise.
Diving Tour Chumphon Pinnacle
Experience one of Thailand's most sought-after advanced dive sites — a granite pinnacle adorned with pink anemones, schooling fish, and the chance to see whale sharks.
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
Take your diving further — explore up to 30m depth, develop navigation skills, and complete 5 specialty adventure dives over 2–3 days.
PADI Deep Diver
Safely plan and execute dives to 30m — unlock deeper wrecks, walls, and reefs in just 2 days. The most popular PADI specialty course.
