Learn why Koh Tao Divers is the top choice for scuba divers in Koh Tao
Dive into adventure with Koh Tao Divers, Thailand’s award-winning dive center, recognized for offering the widest range of SSI dive courses. From beginner programs to advanced specialties, technical diving, CCR diving, and overhead diving, we’ve got something for every diver.
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Koh Tao Divers, also known as KTD, is the oldest Koh Tao dive center. We’ve been leading fun dives and teaching scuba diving courses on Koh Tao since 1987. When we first opened our doors, we were located in Mae Haad. But for the last 20 years we’ve enjoyed a prime location on south Sairee beach.
It was in 1999 with the arrival of our head man, Mikko Paasi, that KTD experienced major growth and cemented its place as the leading Koh Tao dive center. Soon after his arrival, Mikko began managing KTD, while also leading fun divers, teaching courses, and organizing island exploration trips to the isolated beaches and bays of Ang Thong National park. Travel was often by simple longtail boat, with our customers sleeping under the stars on pristine beaches and exploring previously undiscovered waters.
Most of the Koh Tao dive sites we know today were first discovered by the pioneer scuba divers from Koh Tao Divers. In fact, one of our local sites, Hin Pee Wee, is named after one of the very first KTD instructors, “Pee Vee”.
The island and our dive trips have come a long way since then, but the passion and ethos of KTD has never wavered. We pride ourselves on our high standards, laidback vibe, and the exceptional diving experiences we offer.
Koh Tao Divers stands out for its commitment to high-quality training, safety, and the spirit of exploration. We go beyond standard dive instruction by actively discovering and introducing new dive sites, enriching every diver's experience with unique underwater adventures. Our focus is on providing exceptional education and ensuring divers are well-prepared to explore the underwater world safely and confidently.
Koh tao divers in 2004
Koh tao divers in 2024
for diver of all levels
The difference with KTD is that we don’t just teach diving or focus on our own little bubble and teach entry level courses. We take our skills and experiences and put them to use in a range of projects that enhance the scientific and historical understanding of scuba diving worldwide.
Mikko is a seasoned technical diver and instructor, deeply involved in exploring and documenting the underwater world since starting his career in 1998 at Ojamo mine. He now runs Koh Tao Divers in Thailand and founded its technical diving branch. Mikko teaches SSI, PADI, and TDI courses, specializing in various diving configurations and rebreathers. His contributions include significant roles in documentaries and films, authoring a book on a notable rescue operation, and participating in expeditions to uncharted wrecks and caves worldwide.
Mikko's expeditions have led him to previously unexplored sites like the Burma Maru and Trusty Star, HMS Gentien, and into cave systems in Mexico, Sardinia, Norway, and more. As a member of the Suratthani Rescue, he gained fame for his role in the 2018 Thai cave rescue, saving a football team of 13 boys. He has shared this experience internationally, with unique footage from the rescue. Mikko is a member of The Explorers Club NY and leads Bottomline Projects, focusing on scientific exploration. He has received a 1st class knight grand cross from Thailand's King and a life-saving medal from Finland's President.
You can read more about him here
Koh Tao Divers is ideally located on Sairee Beach, offering divers direct and hassle-free access to our boats, bypassing the crowded pier. This beachfront advantage allows for a smooth and quick start to your diving adventures, ensuring a stress-free experience from the moment you arrive.
Koh Tao Divers' boat is specially outfitted to accommodate up to 25 divers, ensuring ample space for gear preparation and personal comfort. It features a spacious sundeck, perfect for relaxing and soaking up the sun during surface intervals. Additionally, the boat is equipped with an onboard compressor, streamlining tank refills and allowing us to stay out at sea longer, enhancing your diving adventure.
We pride our highly experienced instructors, who are specialised in teaching advance level courses such as XR sidemount, XR cavern, XR wreck. If our instructors are not teaching students, they are building on their own knowledge by taking their training to the level.
At Koh Tao Divers, we take pride in our state-of-the-art diving equipment, ensuring both your safety and an unparalleled diving experience. Our cutting-edge gear is tailored for both recreational and technical diving, catering to divers of all levels. We specialize in sidemount configurations, offering the latest dive computers and high-performance rebreathers for technical dives. Our commitment to keeping our equipment up-to-date emphasizes reliability, efficiency, and providing you with the best tools for exploring the underwater world.
Koh Tao Divers is a celebrated SSI Award-winning dive center, recognized for our exceptional standards in dive training and education. This prestigious accolade highlights our commitment to excellence, safety, and environmental stewardship in the diving community. Our dedicated team of professionals and our comprehensive range of courses, from beginner to advanced technical diving, set us apart as leaders in the dive industry. At Koh Tao Divers, we're not just about diving; we're about creating responsible, skilled divers who share our passion for the underwater world. Join us and dive with an award-winning team that's committed to providing the best diving experiences on Koh Tao.
At Koh Tao Divers, we pride ourselves on being the premier CCR-friendly dive center on Koh Tao, offering an extensive range of services and equipment tailored for rebreather divers. Our center is fully stocked with essential supplies including Sofnolime, and we provide top-notch gas management solutions with our on-site oxygen and helium boosters and advanced gas analyzers for precise mixture checks.
To accommodate all aspects of your rebreather diving needs, we offer a comprehensive selection of equipment including on-board and off-board tanks, bailout tanks for added safety, and even rental CCR units for those who prefer not to travel with their gear. Our goal is to ensure that every rebreather diver, regardless of experience level, has a seamless and enriching experience exploring the stunning underwater landscapes of Koh Tao.
Our multilingual team can teach in English, Spanish and in Finnish
We pride our highly experienced instructors, who in addition to teach entry-level courses, are specialised in teaching advance level courses such as XR side mount, XR cavern, XR wreck. If our instructors are not teaching students, they are building on their own knowledge by taking their training to the next level.
Owner of Koh Tao Divers, CCR Instructor Trainer and Explorer
Mikko Paasi, the owner of Koh Tao Divers since 2002, is a passionate technical diver, explorer, and instructor with over two decades of experience. Starting his professional diving career in Finland in 1998, Mikko moved to Thailand, where he turned his love for diving into a lifelong mission to teach and explore.
As an instructor trainer for KISS Sidewinder and SF2 eCCR rebreathers, Mikko trains divers to hypoxic trimix depths of 100 meters. His expertise also extends to underwater filmmaking, with contributions to documentaries such as The Rescueand The Cave, and explorations of wrecks and caves worldwide.
Renowned for his role in the 2018 Thai Cave Rescue, Mikko has earned international honors, including a 1st class knight grand cross from the King of Thailand. A member of The Explorers Club NY and team leader of Bottomline Projects, Mikko continues to inspire divers through teaching, filmmaking, and scientific expeditions.
Manager and SSI XR Instructor Trainer and CCR Instructor
Jordi Bardolet, originally from Barcelona, discovered his passion for diving at 13 during his first underwater adventure in the Mediterranean Sea with his father. Growing up by the sea, Jordi developed a deep connection to marine life, inspiring his career in diving.
In 2018, Jordi became a certified diving instructor in Koh Tao, quickly mastering the island’s dive sites and teaching divers of all levels. To expand his skills, he worked on a Red Sea liveaboard, where his love for wreck diving and their historical significance grew.
Jordi’s journey into technical diving has been driven by his desire to push boundaries. He is an SSI XR Trainer, an Extended Range Trimix Instructor, and a CCR diver. Currently, Jordi is on a mission to become a KISS Sidewinder instructor, furthering his expertise in technical rebreather diving.
Since joining Koh Tao Divers in 2022 as a tech instructor, Jordi’s dedication and leadership skills have led him to the role of Manager. Jordi continues to inspire divers while helping them achieve their goals, whether recreational or technical.
Jordi teaches courses in both Spanish and English, making him a vital part of the Koh Tao Divers team. Whether you’re starting your diving journey or advancing into technical diving, Jordi’s expertise and enthusiasm ensure a memorable and rewarding experience.
SSI XR Dive Instructor and Mine Instructor
Mika’s diving journey began in 2011 with a Try Scuba experience while visiting Thailand. From that moment, he knew diving was his calling. Determined to pursue his passion, Mika sold everything he owned in Finland and moved to Koh Tao to complete his Divemaster course. After careful consideration, he chose Koh Tao Divers, a decision that would shape his future.
Mika worked as a Divemaster for several years, gaining valuable experience before achieving his goal of becoming an SSI instructor in 2017. Today, he teaches a wide range of recreational courses, from beginner to professional levels, in both English and Finnish. His expertise extends to XR specialties such as XR Sidemount and XR Cavern, where he shares his passion for exploration.
Mika is especially drawn to mine and cave diving, captivated by the excitement and challenges these environments offer. However, his most cherished dives have been with his son, Oliver, sharing unforgettable underwater moments and nurturing a future generation of divers.
In 2021, Mika made Koh Tao his permanent home, moving with his Thai wife and two children. Alongside his work at Koh Tao Divers, Mika and his family run Joy’s Kitchen, a beloved restaurant serving authentic northern Thai cuisine.
For Mika, Koh Tao Divers is more than just a workplace—it’s a community that feels like family. Surrounded by supportive colleagues and an inspiring environment fostered by Mikko Paasi, Mika continues to grow and share his passion with divers from around the world.
SSI XR Dive Instructor
Pasi’s diving journey began in 2015 in the chilly, dark waters of Finland, but it didn’t take long for him to seek out warmer and clearer seas. In 2017, he arrived in Thailand with no solid plans but a clear desire to dive more. Drawn to the Finnish-run Koh Tao Divers, Pasi quickly found a home where the welcoming atmosphere inspired him to stay and pursue a professional diving career.
By early 2018, Pasi had become an instructor and started building his career, teaching a wide range of courses from beginner levels to extended range specialties like sidemount, wreck, and cavern diving. Over time, his dedication and expertise earned him the position of Head Instructor at Koh Tao Divers, a role he’s incredibly proud of.
Pasi’s passion for diving extends beyond teaching. He’s a certified cave and mine diver with a strong interest in exploration and has been part of various exploration teams. His technical diving skills include certifications for two CCR units—KISS Sidewinder and SF2—and he’s now expanding his knowledge further with his own KISS Sidewinder unit.
Despite his accomplishments, Pasi still finds joy in teaching beginner divers, helping them take their first steps into the underwater world. With a career built on a love for diving and exploration, Pasi continues to push boundaries and share his enthusiasm with others.
Originally from Finland, Pasi teaches SSI courses in both Finnish and English, making him an integral part of the Koh Tao Divers team and its vibrant community of divers.
SSI XR Dive Instructor
Alfonso Peña Quiñones is a vital member of the Koh Tao Divers team, bringing his passion for the underwater world and years of experience to every dive. Originally from Madrid, Spain, Alfonso’s love for the ocean was inspired by the iconic documentaries of Jacques Cousteau. His connection to the sea grew as he relocated to Málaga at age 7, where he took up spearfishing, freediving, windsurfing, and sailing.
Alfonso’s journey into scuba diving began a decade ago in Ibiza, Spain, and has since evolved into a professional career spanning multiple countries, including Thailand, the Dominican Republic, and Spain. With over 7,000 dives and almost 1,000 certifications issued, Alfonso is an experienced instructor specializing in Divemaster training, XR Sidemount, and XR Trimix diving.
Beyond teaching, Alfonso is deeply committed to ocean conservation. He has volunteered for the Posidonia Conservation Project in Mallorca, taught coral propagation courses with Sea Shepherd in Koh Tao, and collaborated with Green Fins to promote sustainable diving practices. His certifications also extend beyond diving, including STCW training and a Spanish Yacht/Sailboat Skipper license.
Alfonso’s dedication, expertise, and enthusiasm make him an invaluable part of the Koh Tao Divers team. Whether guiding divers or leading conservation efforts, his passion for the underwater world inspires everyone he meets. Have you dived yet with the Aqua Man of Koh Tao Divers?
SSI XR Dive Instructor
With over a decade of experience in recreational diving, Israel began his journey driven by a deep love for the ocean that started in childhood. In 2018, he became a certified instructor and has since dedicated his professional life to teaching and sharing his passion with divers from around the world.
His commitment to safety, continued learning, and underwater exploration led him to further his training and become a technical diving instructor. Today, he combines knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm in every course, helping his students grow with confidence beneath the surface.
For Israel, diving is not just a profession — it's a way of life that brings him closer every day to nature, calm, and respect for the sea.
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