Blue Horizon Diving

Located in Mae Haad on the north of Koh Phangan, Blue Horizon Diving has been operating since 2013. The centre is positioned on the path to Koh Maa, providing easy access to some of the most diverse reef systems in the Gulf of Thailand.

As an SSI Instructor Training Centre, the facility caters to the entire spectrum of the diving community. Whether you are looking to complete your first Open Water Diver certification or are a professional candidate working towards your Instructor rating, the centre is equipped to handle high-level training and recreational exploration alike.

The team is primarily French-speaking and maintains a multilingual environment to support international divers. You can find instruction available in English, Spanish, Russian, Dutch, Italian, and German.

Safety and individual attention are central to their teaching philosophy. For beginner divers, the centre maintains a strict ratio of a maximum of two divers per guide. This ensures that those training in the water receive the necessary supervision and support as they build their skills.

The training catalogue is extensive, covering all SSI certifications from the initial Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver levels through to Advanced Adventurer and Rescue Diver. They also offer specialised training in areas such as Nitrox, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Peak Performance Buoyancy.

For those pursuing a professional career, the centre is a dedicated Instructor Training Centre (ITC). They provide pathways for Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, and full Instructor certifications, including professional specialty courses and SSI Pro packages. They also offer niche training such as Marine Ecology, Night Diver, and even Rebreather Diver programmes.

The centre utilises a variety of vessels to reach the different dive sites in the region, including dedicated dive boats, longtail boats, and speed boats. These trips allow you to reach the offshore pinnacles and the protected waters of the Anthong National Park.

For full-day excursions, such as those to Sail Rock, meals and drinks are provided on board. The centre also organises private tours to the Anthong National Park for a more personalised experience on the water.

The centre offers a full range of rental equipment for both scuba diving and snorkelling. This includes everything from regulators and BCDs to fins and masks, all of which are regularly maintained.

Nitrox is available for divers looking to extend their no-decompression limits. For those interested in capturing their underwater experiences, the centre provides professional underwater photography and video services as an option.

The reefs are teeming with life, including large schools of Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), fusiliers, trevallies, and batfish. You will frequently encounter various species of groupers (Epinephelus), snapper, and parrotfish (Calotomus) patrolling the coral structures. Large rays, including blue spotted stingrays, are common on the sandy patches.

The hard and soft coral architecture provides a home for many colourful reef fish, such as butterflyfish (Chaetodon), angelfish (Pomacanthidae), and sergeant majors. You may also spot sea turtles (Cheloniidae) and reef sharks (Carcharhinus) cruising the outer edges of the pinnacles.

Macro enthusiasts will find plenty to observe, from various nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani) to crabs (Brachyura) and shrimp (Caridea). Look closely at the anemones to find sea anemone fish and various species of gobies, while the crevices often hide white-eyed moray eels (Muraenidae) and octopuses.

The best time to dive in this region is generally from February to October. During this period, you can take advantage of the most stable conditions for exploring the various pinnacles and reefs.

It is worth noting that some sites, such as the Southwest Pinnacle near Koh Tao, can experience strong currents. Divers should be prepared for moving water when heading to these more exposed locations.