PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course Two days one night included accommodation

Ready for more than the basics? This two-day PADI Advanced Open Water course takes you from Koh Samui to Koh Tao for five open-water sessions, with one night in a simple guesthouse or bungalow near Mae Haad Beach. I like the combination of formal PADI training and real time at sea, and I also like that hotel pickup, ferry transfers, equipment, course materials, and accommodation are included.

The course is run by Scuba Birds, a PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Centre, with instructors including Nelly and Max. Their friendly teaching received especially warm praise. The main drawback is the schedule: you leave Samui around 6:30 am, spend long days on boats and in training, and have little free time on Koh Tao.

Key points to know before booking

• Five required open-water sessions: Two are mandatory, Deep and Underwater Navigation, followed by three choices from options such as night work, wreck exploration, fish identification, and buoyancy control.
• Koh Tao is the practical classroom: Theory begins on Koh Samui, but the sea work takes place around Koh Tao, with one night near Mae Haad Beach.
• One session expands your depth limit: The Deep specialty works toward a maximum certified depth of 30 meters.
• The price covers a lot: At $439.63 per person, you receive accommodation, equipment, PADI materials, an e-certificate, transfers, and refreshments aboard the boat.
• Small groups help: The maximum group size is 15, which gives the instructor room to work with you, though the exact number on your departure may vary.
• Visibility matters: Scuba Birds was praised for advising one customer to wait when conditions were not good, rather than rushing ahead with the course.

What the Advanced Open Water course adds

The PADI Advanced Open Water course is designed for people who already hold a PADI Open Water Diver certificate or an equivalent qualification. It is not a beginner course, and you should arrive comfortable with basic equipment use, underwater communication, and normal open-water procedures.

The course includes five specialty sessions. Two are fixed. Deep helps extend your certified depth limit to 30 meters. Underwater Navigation focuses on compass use, visual reference points, route planning, and staying oriented below the surface.

You then choose three more subjects. The available options are:

• AWARE Fish Identification
• Enriched Air, also called Nitrox
• Multilevel and Computer
• Night
• Peak Performance Buoyancy
• Search and Recovery
• Underwater Naturalist
• Wreck

This choice is one of the best parts of the course. You can shape the training around what you want to learn next. If you want better air use and cleaner movement, Peak Performance Buoyancy makes sense. If you are curious about marine life, AWARE Fish Identification or Underwater Naturalist may suit you better. Wreck and Night offer a different kind of challenge.

You study a chapter from the PADI Adventures in Diving manual for each chosen subject. You then discuss it with your instructor and complete a knowledge review before the practical session. This structure keeps the course from becoming five simple boat trips. Each session has a clear purpose.

Day one: from Samui pier to two sea sessions

The first morning begins early. Hotel pickup is offered, with the listed start time at 6:30 am. You transfer to the ferry pier, then board the 8 am ferry to Koh Tao. The crossing takes you away from Samui’s resort setting and puts the day on a proper island timetable.

You arrive in Koh Tao at about 10 am. After meeting your instructor, you check in to the dive boat and prepare for two open-water sessions. The schedule is efficient, but it is not leisurely. You should have breakfast before pickup and bring anything you need for a full day away from your hotel.

The first two sessions introduce the course’s core work. Deep training gives you practice with the special planning and awareness needed at greater depth. The Underwater Navigation session asks you to pay attention to direction, distance, and visible points around you instead of simply following the person in front.

That navigation lesson has value beyond the certificate. Many new certified divers rely heavily on an instructor or guide. Learning to use a compass and plan a route gives you more independence and helps you understand how a safe underwater outing is organized.

The exact order of the five sessions can depend on conditions and the instructor’s plan. You should expect a briefing before each one, with time to ask questions and go over the main skill. The instructor’s role matters here. Nelly and Max were praised for teaching clearly and helping people learn rather than simply ticking off requirements.

After the first day’s work, you review theory in the evening. This is useful, but it also means the day does not end when the boat returns. Bring a little patience. You are combining transport, equipment preparation, sea time, and study in a tight schedule.

One night near Mae Haad Beach

The overnight stay is included in the course price. Accommodation is described as a guesthouse fan room or bungalow near Mae Haad Beach, close to the training centre.

This is practical lodging, not a resort upgrade. The advantage is location. You avoid another ferry crossing after the first day and remain close to the boat and instructor. The trade-off is comfort. A fan room or basic bungalow may feel modest if you are used to air conditioning and polished hotel facilities.

Koh Tao’s Mae Haad area also gives you a useful break from the course setting. You can walk around nearby, find food, and settle in without needing another transfer. Food is not included, so plan to pay for your own meals during the overnight stay and across the two-day program.

The information provided does not specify the room type you will receive, so ask the operator if accommodation details matter to you. The important point is that one night is included and located near Mae Haad Beach.

Day two: three sessions before the ferry back

The second day contains three open-water sessions. That makes it the busiest part of the course. You will be using the skills from the first day while completing the three specialties you selected.

A morning boat schedule lets you finish the required work before returning to Koh Tao at about 2 pm. The final ferry is scheduled for 2:45 pm, so timing is important. If sea conditions or operational changes affect the schedule, the day could feel rushed. Your instructor and boat crew manage the timing, but you should avoid arranging anything important for the evening.

The five-session format is demanding, yet it gives you a useful range of experience in a short period. You are not only learning one skill repeatedly. You are working on depth, navigation, and three chosen subjects, each with its own briefing and practical goal.

At about 2:45 pm, you board the speed ferry back to Samui. A transfer then takes you from the Samui pier to your hotel. Water, tea, coffee, snacks, and fruit are available onboard, but full meals are not included. A packed breakfast or meal may be sensible, depending on what your hotel and ferry schedule provide.

Choosing your three specialty subjects

Your three elective sessions can shape the course around your interests, so think about your choices before you arrive. You receive the manual two to three days in advance at your hotel, giving you time to read the relevant sections.

Peak Performance Buoyancy is a practical pick if you want smoother body position, better control, and less contact with the sea floor. It can help you feel calmer and more efficient in the water.

AWARE Fish Identification and Underwater Naturalist suit people who want to pay closer attention to marine life. Instead of simply looking at the underwater scenery, you learn how to notice and identify what you are seeing.

Enriched Air, or Nitrox, is available for those interested in gas planning and longer allowable times under the right conditions. The course information does not specify whether a separate Nitrox surcharge applies, so ask before confirming this choice.

Multilevel and Computer focuses on using a dive computer and planning a profile with changing depths. This can be useful if you want a stronger grasp of how modern equipment supports planning.

Night offers a very different atmosphere, but the supplied schedule does not promise that a night session will run. Ask Scuba Birds if this choice fits the two-day timetable and current conditions.

Search and Recovery introduces a more task-focused session, while Wreck is aimed at people who want to explore wreck sites. Availability may depend on local conditions and the instructor’s plan, so treat the list as a choice of subjects rather than a guarantee of a particular site.

What the $439.63 price really includes

At $439.63 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend two days around Koh Tao. But the price includes more than instruction alone.

You receive:

• One night of accommodation
• All necessary equipment
• PADI course materials
• A PADI electronic certificate
• Hotel pickup and return transfer
• Boat transfers
• Water, tea, coffee, snacks, and fruit onboard

The ferry journey, instruction, equipment, and lodging make the price easier to justify. Booking these pieces separately could create more work and uncertain costs. The included overnight stay is especially useful because the practical work takes place on Koh Tao rather than Samui.

Food is the main extra expense. You should budget for meals, and you may want to bring personal snacks for the long transport and boat days. The accommodation is basic, so the value here comes from convenience and training rather than luxury.

A maximum of 15 participants is listed. That qualifies as a small group for a boat-based course, though it is not private instruction. If you want the most personal attention, ask how many students are assigned to each instructor.

Conditions, safety, and the visibility question

Good underwater conditions can make a major difference to this course. Navigation practice, fish identification, and naturalist work are more rewarding when you can see clearly. Poor visibility can also make the setting less enjoyable, even when the teaching remains useful.

One customer chose Scuba Birds after being advised that visibility was not good at the original time and that it would be better to wait a few days. That is a point in the operator’s favor. A responsible centre should not push you into a certification schedule simply because the booking is already made.

Still, sea conditions can change. The supplied information does not promise a specific site, visibility level, or marine species. You should be ready for the course to be adjusted around conditions.

The course is not recommended for people with asthma. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the operator says most people can participate. If you have a medical concern, check before booking rather than waiting until the morning of departure.

Who will get the most from this course

This course suits you if you already have basic certification and want structured practice instead of casual sightseeing. It is especially useful if you want to improve orientation, work toward a 30-meter limit, or try subjects such as wreck exploration, buoyancy, or night work.

It also suits people who value an all-in-one arrangement. Hotel pickup, ferry transport, an overnight stay, equipment, materials, and the electronic certificate are bundled together. You do not need to arrange a separate Koh Tao hotel or find your own way to the pier.

It may not suit you if you want a relaxed island break. The early start, two ferry journeys, five sessions, and evening theory review create a full program. The basic accommodation may also disappoint if you expect a comfortable resort room.

The teaching style appears to be one of the strongest reasons to choose this centre. Specific praise for Nelly and Max focused on how much they taught and how helpful the office team was. That matters in an advanced course, where good explanations are more valuable than simply visiting attractive sites.

Should you book it?

Book this PADI Advanced Open Water course if you want a compact, well-organized step beyond beginner certification and like the idea of training around Koh Tao. The combination of five specialty sessions, included accommodation, transfers, equipment, and friendly instruction gives the $439.63 price solid value.

Before booking, confirm your three elective subjects, ask about the room arrangement, and check how the centre handles current visibility. You should also be comfortable with early mornings, basic lodging, and paying separately for food.

For a serious learner, this is a useful two-day program. For someone seeking a slow beach holiday with a little ocean activity, it may feel too tightly packed.

FAQ

What certification do I need before taking the course?

You need a PADI Open Water Diver certification or an equivalent qualification.

How long does the course take?

The course lasts approximately two days and includes one overnight stay on Koh Tao.

How many open-water sessions are included?

You complete five open-water sessions, with two on the first day and three on the second day.

Which two subjects are mandatory?

Deep and Underwater Navigation are mandatory parts of the certification.

What depth limit does the Deep session cover?

The Deep session expands your depth limit to 30 meters.

Where does the practical training take place?

The theory portion starts on Koh Samui, while the practical work takes place on Koh Tao.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. One night in a guesthouse fan room or bungalow near Mae Haad Beach is included.

Are meals included?

No. Food is not included. Water, tea, coffee, snacks, and fruit are provided onboard.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.