Apo Dhatu Divers

Located on Koh Lanta in the southern Andaman Sea, Apo Dhatu Divers is a long-established diving club with over 30 years of experience. The centre is situated just a short walk from the sands of Klong Dao beach, providing a convenient base for exploring the marine parks of southern Thailand.

The centre operates with a focus on small groups and high-quality instruction, catering to both recreational divers and those pursuing professional SSI or PADI certifications. Whether you are looking for a relaxed holiday dive or structured training, the atmosphere is designed to be professional yet family-oriented.

The team is composed of experienced instructors capable of conducting courses in French, English, Italian, and Thai. This multilingual approach ensures that communication remains clear, which is vital for both technical training and safety briefings.

Instructional quality is a priority, with a strict limit of two students per instructor during training courses to ensure personalised attention. For fun dives and excursions, the diver-to-guide ratio is kept to a maximum of four divers per instructor, ensuring close supervision under the water.

Apo Dhatu Divers offers a comprehensive range of PADI and SSI courses. Beginners can start with Try Scuba, Basic Diver, or Scuba Diver, progressing through to Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver.

For those looking to specialise, the curriculum includes Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Night Diver, Sidemount Diver, and Peak Performance Buoyancy. The centre also provides professional training for those aiming for the Divemaster level, as well as specialty courses in Coral Reef Conservation, Underwater Navigation, and Fish Identification.

The centre organises daily boat excursions and snorkeling trips to the region's premier sites. On full-day trips, breakfast is served on board, and a lunch including both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options is provided to keep you fuelled between dives.

Nitrox is available for use on these outings, making it easier to manage nitrogen loading during multi-dive days. The centre also provides a transfer service from hotels such as the Rawi Warin Resort to the pier.

The centre maintains a fleet of Scubapro equipment, which is regularly serviced and replaced to ensure reliability. For those travelling light, full kit hire is available, including wetsuits, fins, and masks.

If you prefer to bring your own equipment, the centre offers a discount on dive packages, though you will still need to provide your own dive computer. Nitrox is available on-site for divers requiring enriched air.

The reefs are characterised by a stunning array of hard corals and soft corals, including large barrel sponges and colourful sea fans. You will find a high density of anemones, providing homes for various species of Clownfish (Amphiprion) and anemonefish.

For macro enthusiasts, the sites offer plenty to explore, from Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani) and various species of shrimp to the Ornate ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) and Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda). You may also encounter Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), Frogfish (Antennarius), and various species of pipefish.

Pelagic species and larger residents are a highlight of the area. Divers frequently spot Blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus), Zebra sharks, and Leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata). The deep walls are known for sightings of Manta ray (Mobula alfredi), and if you are lucky, the occasional Whale shark (Rhincodon typus).

Diving in this region involves a range of conditions depending on the specific site. While many of the lagoon and reef top sites offer gentle currents, more exposed sites like Hin Daeng and Hin Muang can experience strong currents that require confident buoyancy and drift diving skills.

Some sites, such as Hin Klay and Anemone Reef, may require drift diving techniques due to moderate currents. It is always advisable to check the specific conditions with your guide before heading out on a boat.