
Ecotao Lodge
★★★★
★ 9.4/10 (902 reviews)
2.4 km away as the crow flies
Dive centre · Koh Tao · Thailand
4.9387 Google reviewsDive from the shores of Sairee Beach with an established SSI resort offering direct boat transfers and professional wreck and night diving.
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Seashell Divers has been operating on the tropical island of Koh Tao since 2002. Situated directly on Sairee Beach, the centre functions as an SSI Dive Resort, providing a seamless transition from the shore to the water via a dedicated transfer boat.
The resort setting offers a relaxed atmosphere with tropical gardens, swimming pools, and a beachfront restaurant. It is an ideal base for those looking to combine professional dive training with comfortable island living, with accommodation options available to suit various budgets.
The team consists of experienced, multilingual instructors and Divemasters who provide guidance in English, French, and German. This allows for clear communication and personalised instruction, whether you are completing your first certification or an advanced specialty.
Safety is central to their operations, with a commitment to small group sizes to ensure high-quality supervision. The centre also maintains high medical standards, with oxygen units available on-site and access to a hyperbaric chamber on Koh Tao via the SSS Chamber network.
As an SSI Dive Resort, Seashell Divers offers a comprehensive curriculum ranging from Try Scuba Diving and Open Water Diver to professional Divemaster training. They cater to all experience levels, including children through the Scuba Explorer programme.
For those looking to expand their skills, there is a wide array of specialties available. These include Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox), Deep Diver, Perfect Buoyancy, Navigation, Night Diver, and Boat Diver. More specialised training is also offered in Advanced Wreck Diving, Search and Recovery, and Night & Limited Visibility.
Many of these courses are designed with efficiency in mind, utilising e-learning to reduce time spent in the classroom. For example, the Deep Diver specialty involves two days of training including e-learning and four dives, while the Enriched Air Diver course can be completed in a single day with e-learning and two dives.
The main dive boat is a spacious 21-metre vessel designed for comfort and ease of use. It features a large sun deck for relaxing between dives, alongside several shaded areas to protect you from the sun.
On board, you will find practical facilities including a toilet, a dry area for your personal belongings, and refreshments such as water, tea, coffee, fruit, and biscuits. The boat is fully equipped for safety and technical needs, carrying life jackets, drift lines, a radio, a mobile phone, and oxygen units. Captain P. Pol, who possesses extensive local knowledge, manages the vessel to ensure you reach the best sites in the local area.
The centre provides full equipment hire, using high-quality brands including Aqualung, Oceanic, and Scubapro. All kit is maintained to European standards by qualified technicians to ensure reliability and diver safety.
For gas management, the facility is equipped with two compressors capable of filling 10-litre and 12-litre cylinders. Nitrox is available for divers, and the centre provides a dedicated station for enriched air.
After your dives, you can use the on-site facilities to rinse your gear and relax. The resort includes pools and a jacuzzi, making it easy to unwind after a day on the water.
Chumphon Pinnacle is a world-class site that descends to depths of over 30 metres. It is recommended for Advanced Open Water divers and above, offering a mix of large pelagics and fascinating smaller creatures.
Sail Rock is a massive pinnacle rising from the seabed to the surface. It is famous for its vertical swim-through, known as the chimney, and attracts large schools of jacks, barracuda, and visiting whale sharks.
The HTMS Sattakut is a premier wreck dive for Advanced Open Water divers and those training for technical specialties. The wreck sits vertically with the top at approximately 20 metres and the bottom at 32 metres.
Green Rock is a granite formation that offers fun swim-throughs and passages. While accessible to many, the moderate currents here make it better suited for Advanced divers.

down to 32 m

down to 31 m

down to 37 m

down to 28 m

down to 28 m
And some of the dive sites the centre runs.
The marine life around Koh Tao is diverse, with large pelagics frequently visiting the pinnacles. You can expect to see great barracuda, large groupers, and various species of rays, including blue spotted stingrays and whiprays.
Macro enthusiasts will find plenty to explore among the corals and sandy patches. The area is home to nudibranchs, seahorses, trumpetfish, various shrimp, and scorpionfish. You may also encounter interesting smaller residents like gobies, blennies, and various species of moray eels.
The reef architecture itself is vibrant, featuring healthy colonies of hard and soft corals, as well as anemones. Look closely in the crevices to find butterflyfish, angelfish, and various species of pufferfish.
During the months of April and May, triggerfish are particularly active in the area.
Diving in this region is generally characterised by calm conditions with little swell. Most sites experience low currents, though certain locations like Green Rock and Shark Island can encounter moderate currents that require more experienced handling.
Night diving is a regular part of the local dive programme, with sites like White Rock offering excellent opportunities to see barracuda hunting and various nocturnal species.
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Ratings and reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor.