The 13 Beginner Scuba Dives in Thailand Worth the Boat Ride

1.Full-Day Beginner Scuba Course with Private Tuition, Racha Yai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 368 reviews · from $162Our pick

Start early at Chalong Pier, meet a certified instructor such as Pomme, Tiger, Ootdy, or Nim, and board a shared boat for Koh Racha Yai. After breakfast and instruction, you’ll complete two 45 to 50-minute open-water scuba sessions with close guidance. Lunch, equipment, snacks, insurance, and select Phuket transfers are included.

“Very good experience, had a very informative instructor and all the boat crew were friendly and welcoming”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Try Scuba Diving in Racha Yai/noi: 3 Dives for Non-Certified

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 116 reviews · 10 hours · from $189

Spend about 10 hours traveling from Phuket to Racha Yai and Racha Noi for three beginner scuba sessions down to 12 meters. You need no certificate or swimming skills. Instructors such as Saeed, Dima, Gob, and Julien are known for calm, patient teaching, while breakfast, lunch, snacks, equipment, transfers, and insurance are included.

“Ben was an amazing guide. We saw plenty of fishes and diverse underwater landscapes. Very interesting and beautiful !”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Kata Beach Diving for Beginners Pool Training and 1 Beach Dive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · from $114

Spend about eight hours learning scuba skills in a pool before entering the sea near Kata Beach. Certified instructors such as Sky, Gan, and Tim teach first-timers patiently, with equipment, breakfast, lunch, snacks, insurance, and transfers included. Expect a 50-meter beach walk in full gear and confirm the exact sea schedule before booking.

“The Scuba Diving for Beginners experience was out of this world. Being on my bucket list, it definitely lived up to my expectations. Thank you to the patience and great teacher, sky. I need to breath more - did not realise I was holding my breath. The fish life we saw was unbelievable, time just goes by so quickly when you are having fun.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Discover Scuba diving, try diving for beginners (starts from Koh Chang)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 89 reviews · from $179

Spend about eight hours learning scuba basics, practicing in shallow water, and completing two guided underwater sessions off Koh Chang. Your instructor stays close, sometimes holding your hand, and the small group is limited to three people. Pickup is included from west-coast hotels, with lunch and equipment provided.

“Toller Ausflug, gute Erklärung, alles perfekt. Hatte ein bisschen Angst vor dem Tauchen, aber unser Guide Pavel hat mir die Angst genommen. Danke. Top.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.PADI Discover Scuba Diving for Beginners (Non Certified Divers)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · from $204

Join Aussie Divers Phuket for a beginner-friendly PADI Discover Scuba session near the Racha Islands. Instructor Franck guides you through safety skills before three underwater sessions, including practice at Racha Noi. The day includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks, equipment, and a group capped at four people.

“I too my son on a discover scuba diving - we found the instructor, Franck to be wonderful – very clear, knowledgeable, patient, and extremely entertaining with his stories! My son and I were very appreciative of his skill, professionalism, focusRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Koh Chang: Discover Scuba Diving for Beginners with 2 Dives

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 69 reviews · 7 hours · from $160

Spend seven hours learning scuba basics with a professional instructor, then make two guided ocean descents around Koh Chang or Koh Rang National Park. BB Divers keeps groups to three participants, supplies gear, lunch, drinks, and snorkel equipment, with instructors including Markus, Chang, Tam, Joey, and Chen.

“Really nice experience, Seb was very patience and experienced diving guide for a beginner. He explained everything very well, and managed to make a scary first time diving an fantastic experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.From Pattaya: Snorkeling or Beginner Scuba Diving Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 68 reviews · 8 hours · from $82Best value

Choose snorkeling, certified scuba, or a first-time scuba session from Pattaya. A certified instructor explains the gear and safety rules, then guides you near Koh Sak, Koh Krok, Koh Phai, or nearby sites. Lunch, equipment, hotel pickup, insurance, and time to relax on board are included. Dan the Man may be among the instructors.

“It was really great and went swiftly. Our instructor was very informative and kept us safe and comfortable the entire time. The lunch was spectacular. The views from the boats are worth the entire package. I highly recommend you attend this activity. They provide everything you need to make the trip an unforgettable experience. All you need to provide as a customer is a good attitude and listen to what the instructor recommends through out the dives. Bring sunscreen and a swimsuits/towel and select hotel for pick up. Easy and convenient as can be. They have different language interpreters as well. 10/10”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.From Phi Phi: Beginner Scuba Diving Day Trip with 2 Dives

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 40 reviews · 5 hours · from $125

Blue View Divers takes you from Phi Phi Don to two beginner scuba sessions around Bida Islands or Phi Phi Leh. PADI instructors such as José, Blue, and Michael guide you to a maximum of 12 meters, with equipment, eLearning, lunch, fruit, and water included. Groups are limited to two participants, with morning and afternoon departures.

“Das war ein wunderbarer Tag ! Gut organisiert, super nettes Team, meine ersten 2 Tauchgänge waren richtig entspannt und ich konnte mich voll auf meine 1:1 betreuende Tauchlehrerin verlassen . Mittagessen auf dem Boot, gekühltes Wasser, Obst, an alles war gedacht. Perfekt !👌”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Try Scuba Diving in Racha Yai and Noi for Non-Certified

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $174

Spend about nine hours traveling from Phuket to Racha Yai or Racha Noi for guided scuba sessions to depths of up to 12 meters. Beginners without certification are welcome. Instructors such as Sam, Kob, Tifany, Nat, Ohm, and Saeid provide close support, while the boat includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks, equipment, and insurance.

“The turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs, and attentive staffs made this a day to remember. I can’t recommend it enough.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Try Scuba Diving in Racha Yai/noi: 2 Dives for Non-Certified

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 11 reviews · from $157

Spend about 10 hours traveling from Phuket to Racha Yai and Noi for two 50-minute scuba sessions at up to 12 meters. Patient instructors guide beginners in groups of no more than three, and you need no certificate or swimming skills. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, equipment, insurance, and selected hotel transfers are included.

“Super diving instructor! All in all a great experience! The food was a bit scarce for the many people on the boat.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.1-Day Discover Scuba Diving for Beginners in Koh Tao

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 6 reviews · 6 hours · from $130

Spend six hours learning scuba basics with Nava Scuba Diving Koh Tao. Sonny, Verena, or Tao may guide your small group through a one-hour lesson, Thai lunch, and two underwater sessions from a private boat. No license or swimming skills are required, and you can continue toward the PADI Open Water course afterward.

“sonny and verena ware super good diving instructors. me and my husband are on our honeymoon and this was defenetly 1 of the best things we did in Thailand! highly recomend them, i felt safe with them when I was a bit scared and they also made me laugh during the whole day! we will defenetly be back!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Koh Kood: Discover Scuba Diving for Beginners with 2 Dives

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 7 hours · from $160

Spend seven hours learning scuba with BB Divers Koh Kood. After hotel pickup, you’ll practise in shallow water, then complete two guided reef sessions near Koh Kood or Koh Rang National Park. Instructors include Morgan and Lou, with groups limited to four. Lunch, equipment, drinks, and fruit are included.

“For my first dive Morgan was the perfect instructor. Thank you for the nice experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Pattaya: Snorkeling or Beginner Scuba Diving Tour with lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 8 hours · from $83

From Pattaya, you’ll head by boat toward one of several nearby sites, such as Koh Sak or Koh Phai. A certified instructor explains equipment and safety before your first underwater session. Choose snorkeling or beginner scuba, then enjoy lunch, sea views, and free time aboard. English and Chinese instruction is available, with hotel pickup in Pattaya.

“Fantastiskt och välorganiserad tur. Mycket trevliga killar som kunde sin sak. Fin fräsch båt och god mat 👍🫶😀”

Check availability →Read our full review