Assava Dive Resort

Assava Dive Resort is situated on the southern coast of Koh Tao within Chalok Baan Kao bay. The centre has been established since 2006 and operates as a PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre, making it a significant hub for both recreational divers and those looking to enter the professional industry.

The resort is positioned just a short drive or cycle from the Mae Haad pier, offering a more secluded atmosphere than the busier parts of the island. It combines a relaxed resort environment with a serious commitment to marine conservation, holding both PADI Eco and Green Fins certifications.

As a dedicated Career Development Centre (CDC), the team is structured to support divers from their first breath underwater through to professional instructor levels. The staff is highly qualified, providing a structured environment for those undertaking the Instructor Development Course (IDC) or various internship programmes.

The centre maintains a strict focus on safety and small group sizes, with a guide-to-diver ratio of one instructor for every four divers. This ensures that whether you are a beginner or a professional trainee, you receive attentive supervision during your dives.

The training catalogue is extensive, covering the entire PADI progression. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the Open Water Diver course, while more experienced divers can pursue specialties such as PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Peak Performance Buoyancy.

For those looking to specialise in technical or niche skills, the centre offers Recreational Sidemount Diver, Search and Recovery, and Self Reliant Diver courses. There is also a strong emphasis on environmental and specialised skills, including PADI AWARE courses, Fish Identification, and Underwater Navigator.

Professional divers can find a complete career path here, from Divemaster through to the Instructor Development Course (IDC) and Staff Instructor training. The centre also supports MSDT Prep and MSDT Internships for those aiming for Master Scuba Diver Trainer status.

The centre operates a dedicated dive boat for its excursions. The schedule typically consists of two-tank morning dives and two-tank afternoon dives, allowing for efficient use of time on the water.

The resort provides full equipment hire for divers who do not wish to carry their own kit. On-site facilities include comfortable classrooms for theory work and a swimming pool area.

Nitrox is available for divers looking to extend their bottom time, and the centre is equipped with oxygen for safety purposes. The resort also offers various accommodation options including deluxe bungalows and dormitories, with many rooms featuring air conditioning or fans and access to a swimming pool.

The reefs around Koh Tao are vibrant, characterised by extensive coral gardens featuring hard corals (Scleractinia), soft corals (Alcyonacea), and various gorgonians. You will find a diverse array of reef fish including Butterflyfish (Chaetodon), Angelfish (Pomacanthidae), and various species of Wrasse (Labridae) and Snapper (Lutjanus) patrolling the structures.

Large schools of fish are a common sight, with bigeye trevallies (Caranx), fusiliers, and various barracuda species such as the Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and chevron barracudas moving through the water column. You may also encounter larger pelagics like Blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus), trevallies, and various types of rays, including blue-spotted stingrays.

For those interested in macro life, the area hosts a wealth of smaller creatures. Keep an eye out for Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani), various crustaceans, shrimp, and octopus (Octopus vulgaris). The reef also holds many interesting inhabitants like Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda), pipefish, and various scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae).

Sea turtles are frequently seen in these waters, including the Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). These encounters are often complemented by the presence of diverse reef inhabitants like clownfish, porcupinefish, and various species of moray eels.