Courses & training

8 guides on certification paths. We do not sell courses.

A divemaster checking air pressure on a scuba tank during a training session in Koh Tao.

Divemaster program: cost, time, what you actually learn

Planning a PADI or SSI divemaster course in 2026? Learn about the $1500 to $3500 costs, required dive counts, and the real job market reality.

A diver checks a dive computer displaying EAN32 oxygen percentage on a boat in Koh Tao.

courses · 10 min

Enriched Air Nitrox: practical guide

Learn how EAN32 and EAN36 affect your NDL by 20-50% and manage oxygen toxicity risks effectively.

A diver checking their pressure gauge at 18m depth near a coral reef in Koh Tao.

courses · 10 min

Open Water vs Advanced: order, cost, value

Deciding between PADI Open Water and Advanced courses? We compare costs, depths, and the reality of doing both back-to-back in places like Koh Tao.

A diver checks their dive computer near a coral reef in Koh Tao.

courses · 10 min

Diving certifications compared: PADI, SSI, CMAS, SDI

Compare PADI, SSI, CMAS, and SDI certifications. We analyze pricing from $350 to $500 and agency recognition across Southeast Asia.

A diver performing a controlled emergency ascent simulation in blue water during a PADI Rescue Diver course.

courses · 10 min

Rescue Diver: is it worth doing

Is the rescue diver course worth it? We analyze PADI and SSI training costs, real-world scenarios, and why 90% of divers feel more confident after completing it.

A vintage black and white photograph of Jacques Cousteau testing early scuba prototypes in the Mediterranean Sea.

courses · 10 min

History of scuba: Cousteau, demand valves, recreational explosion

Trace the evolution of scuba from the 1943 invention of the demand valve to the 28 million certified divers active today.

A split view showing a snorkeler on the surface and a scuba diver at 15m depth near a coral reef.

courses · 8 min

Scuba vs snorkeling vs freediving

Compare scuba vs snorkeling vs freediving costs, depths, and gear requirements for your next trip to Southeast Asia.

A diver in sidemount configuration swimming through a narrow wreck interior with twin tanks.

courses · 12 min

Tech diving: what it is, training path, costs

Transitioning from recreational to technical diving requires more than just gear. Learn about trimix, decompression, and the $3,000+ costs of advanced training.