Scubadoo

Located in the Surat Thani province, Scubadoo is a professional SSI dive centre situated near Mae Haad. Its position, only a short walk from the main jetty, makes it an easy base for those looking to explore the diverse marine ecosystems of Koh Tao and the surrounding islands.

The centre operates with a focus on personalised attention, moving away from the large-scale tourist models to offer smaller groups and a more intimate diving experience. Whether you are starting your journey with a Basic Diver course or looking to refine your skills with specialty training, the approach is centred on professional, local expertise.

As an SSI affiliated centre, Scubadoo is run by local professionals who prioritise responsible diving practices through the SSI Mission Deep Blue initiative. The team is composed of experienced, certified instructors who guide divers through a wide range of training, from entry-level certifications to professional career paths.

The centre is a multilingual environment, with instruction available in both English and German. This makes it a reliable choice for international divers looking for clear communication during technical or specialty training sessions.

Scubadoo offers a comprehensive catalogue of SSI courses designed to take a diver from their very first breath underwater to a professional level. The curriculum includes the Basic Diver, Open Water Diver, and Advanced Open Water Diver courses, as well as Rescue Diver and the professional Divemaster programme.

For those looking to specialise, the centre provides training in Deep Diving, Wreck Diving, Navigation, and Night Diving & Limited Visibility. They also offer skill-specific courses such as Perfect Buoyancy, Coral Identification, and Marine Ecology, alongside the React Right course to improve emergency response skills.

The centre operates its own boat, which has a capacity for up to 45 divers. It is equipped to handle various trip types, including day trips for fun dives, night dives, and multi-site adventures.

On board, you will find amenities including water, coffee, and biscuits, along with toilet facilities. The boat is prepared for diverse diving needs, carrying over 100 cylinders and providing Nitrox for those looking to extend their bottom time.

The shore-based facilities include a compressor to ensure purified air for all cylinders. For those who prefer not to carry their own kit, the centre provides high-quality rental equipment from brands such as Mares, Aqualung, and PSI.

Safety is a priority on site, with oxygen security available for all divers. The centre is also set up to support various training needs, from basic buoyancy exercises to more advanced wreck and deep diving specialties.

The area is famous for its pelagic visitors, particularly whale sharks, which can be spotted during plankton blooms from March to May and again in September and October. You may also encounter manta rays between April and June.

On the reefs and pinnacles, you will find a variety of large species including great barracuda, goliath grouper, turtles, and various species of snapper and jack. Large schools of fusiliers and batfish are common, alongside blue-spotted stingrays and moray eels.

For those interested in macro life, the sites offer incredible variety. You can find nudibranchs, seahorses, and pipefish tucked away among the corals, as well as various species of scorpionfish and pufferfish.

The seabed and reef structures are covered in a rich array of life, including colourful hard and soft corals, as well as anemones. Look closely among the reef flats and crevices to find butterflyfish, parrotfish, and clownfish living within the coral formations.

The region generally enjoys calm seas throughout the year, though conditions can become slightly more windy during June and August. In November and December, the sea can become more agitated.

While currents are typically calm, you should expect stronger flows when diving deeper sites such as Sail Rock. Planning your dives around the seasonal plankton blooms can significantly increase your chances of seeing larger pelagic species.