Discover Scuba Diving in Ao Nang — Two Try Dives (Sawasdee Divers Krabi)
The PADI try-dive programme with no certification needed, from age ten. ฿3,900 (about $108) for two dives at the Ao Nang local islands, ฿5,100 at Phi Phi; ฿2,100 buys the pool session alone. Maximum two people per instructor in the sea, and the maximum depth is twelve metres.
Krabi, Thailand · up to 2 guests · ฿3,900 per session · EN · FR
I was visiting Krabi for three days and decided to do a PADI Discover Scuba Diving course with Sawasdee Divers. Yann was extremely patient and took the time to explain everything clearly, answering all my questions.
What is this tour like?
Discover Scuba Diving is PADI’s try-dive programme: not a certification, but a supervised first look at breathing underwater. Sawasdee Divers runs it in three shapes, and prices each one separately.
The pool session on its own is ฿2,100 (about $58). Two sea dives without the pool are ฿3,900 at the Ao Nang local islands or ฿5,100 at Phi Phi. Pool plus two sea dives comes to ฿5,900 locally, ฿6,900 at Phi Phi. The ฿3,900 two-dive local option described here is the one most visitors take.
How the day works depends on which shape you pick. With the pool option you get a thirty-minute briefing at the edge of the centre’s own pool and practise a few skills in shallow water, then dive from the boat on a later day. With the sea-only option the thirty-minute briefing happens on the boat, you practise the same basic safety skills in shallow water, and then take your two dives. Maximum depth is twelve metres either way.
The programme is open from age ten, and the operator points out that it also suits people who have dived before without ever getting certified. Group size in the sea is capped at two people per instructor. Included: a qualified PADI instructor, insurance, full equipment, free hotel pickup in the Ao Nang area, lunch and drinking water. The national park entrance fee — ฿600 on the first day — is not included, and is only collected if the rangers come aboard.
What are the highlights?
- No certification needed — the PADI Discover Scuba Diving programme
- Two sea dives to a maximum of twelve metres
- A maximum of two people per instructor in the sea
- A private pool at the centre for the skills session
- Open from age ten, including for people who have dived before but never certified
How does the day go, hour by hour?
What's included in the price?
- A qualified PADI instructor
- Full equipment
- Insurance
- Free hotel pickup in the Ao Nang area
- Lunch and drinking water
What's not included?
- National park entrance fee — ฿600 (about $17) on the first day, paid only if the rangers board
- The pool session, if you want it as well — that is a separate ฿2,100 (about $58) line
What should you know before you go?
Who runs this tour?
Where do we meet?
Sawasdee Divers Krabi, 259 Moo 4, T. Ao Nang, Amphur Muang, Krabi 81180. The centre has its own pool, used for the briefing and skills session on the pool option. Free hotel pickup in the Ao Nang area is included.
Exact meeting point shared after booking.
FAQ
Do I need any experience?
Is the price per person?
How deep will I go?
What is the difference between the pool option and the sea-only option?
Can children do it?
Does it count towards a certification?
Can I do the try dive at Phi Phi instead?
Can I take photos underwater?
Quick questions
What do guests say?
“I was visiting Krabi for three days and decided to do a PADI Discover Scuba Diving course with Sawasdee Divers. Yann was extremely patient and took the time to explain everything clearly, answering all my questions.”
“Had an awesome dive with Juan and Alex as excellent instructors! I hadn’t dived for over a year but I really felt in the best hands. Saw amazing fish in all colours, would definitely recommend this!”
“Did the PADI Open Water course here and absolutely loved it. The team was professional, organized, and made everything feel safe and relaxed throughout the theory, pool sessions, and open water dives.”
How can you pay?
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Ao Nang Archipelago Snorkelling Day Trip from Krabi (Kon-Tiki)
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Ao Nang Local Islands — Two Dives for Certified Divers (Local Diving Krabi)
฿2,900 (about $80) for two dives at the islands you can see from Ao Nang beach, on a traditional long-tail boat rather than a speedboat. Equipment, divemaster, hotel transfers within Ao Nang, lunch and insurance are in the price; the ฿400 national park fee per diver is not. A third dive is arranged on request at ฿3,400.
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