FAQ's

The Phi Phi Islands are a marine national park, average water temperature is 29 degrees Celsius. Our tropical reefs are full of colourful corals and fish. Most dive sites are 20 to 40 minutes from Phi Phi Don where Island Divers is located. For more information about our dive sites please go to Dive Locations.

Phi Phi’s dry season is from October to April with flat waters and visibility ranging from 15m up to 40m plus!. Monsoon is from May to September, but even then, if the water is a bit choppy we can always find a protected side of the island to dive on and because the marine life is so lush and diverse there is always something to see.

Island Divers is a member of the SSS Hyperbaric Chamber which means you will be covered for this while diving with us. However, it is recommended that you have a travel insurance policy that also covers scuba diving.

Yes, we take snorkelers on the Marine Park daytrip. It is 700 thai baht for the day and includes mask, fins and snorkel, lunch fruit and water and the boat trip. They can snorkel while you dive and you can have lunch and snorkel together at lunchtime.

Payments at Island Divers can be made online or by Thai Baht, Australian Dollars, British Pounds Sterling, Euro, US Dollars or by VISA, Mastercard and American Express. (See Divemaster Internship for the internship payment)

There are other things to do on Phi Phi such as rock climbing, kayaking, snorkeling, jungle walks, beach volleyball, snooker, Thai cooking classes, Thai massage classes, Thai boxing, shopping or just relaxing on the beach.

There are internet cafes on Phi Phi where you can access the internet via their connections. Most internet cafes are open from about 9am to midnight, 7 days a week. The electric current is 220 volt throughout Thailand and sockets vary with either two flat pins or two round pins. Adaptors are available on Phi Phi.

Each group consists of 4 to 5 divers plus a Divemaster to guide you.

We try and make the dives last at least an hour. If some buddy pairs in the group run low on air we send them to the safety stop and continue with the dive. The diveboat will pick up surfacing divers so there is no need to navigate back to the boat.

As we do multiple dives in a day we recommend waiting 24 hours before flying.

Only trips to the marine park will make it back in time for the afternoon ferries. The earliest afternoon ferry we can make it back for is the 2.30pm Phuket ferry. Please remember, we recommend waiting 24 hours before you fly.

If you have or have had any medical conditions you will need a doctors letter to say you are fit to dive. Our closest doctor is in Phuket, two hours away by ferry so it's best to do this before you come over. PADI Medical Form

We have instructors from all over the world that speak many languages. We also have the teaching materials (books, DVDs and quizzes) in over ten languages!

We have a maximum of 4 students per instructor.

Island Divers teaches both SSI (Scuba Schools International) and PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors). Both are internationally recognised dive organisations and you can be certified by either, however, PADI standards require that you purchase the dive manual as part of your course. The cost of this is 900 Thai Baht.

SSI does not require you to purchase the dive manual and as Island Divers is an SSI dealership we have all the various teaching materials available to you while you do your course. You do not need to purchase them.

Yes, with your dive certification you will be able to dive worldwide.

Your dive certification does not expire, however, if you don’t dive for a period of time it is advisable to do a one day scuba review to refresh your dive knowledge and keep your diving safe. (The Resort Dive certificate is only accredited for 12 months)

We try to make the dives last one hour, however, it depends on your air consumption. We make safety stops on everyday and begin to ascend at 50 bar.

We ask that you only pay for the percentage of the course you have done and we will give you paperwork to credit any course work that you have done.

No, the resort dive has been designed as a way for the complete novice to be able to get their feet wet on the first day.

Yes, you will receive a certificate which is valid for 6 to 12 months depending on what region you will be using it. The certificate allows you to dive again, always with a dive professional, without repeating the theory and skills and counts towards your openwater course.

Allows you to dive to 12m under the direct supervision of a dive professional.

No, you may upgrade your certification at any PADI Dive Centre worldwide at any time.

The Scuba Diver course is just over the first half of the Openwater course. To upgrade you just need to complete the rest of the course. It only takes one to two days.

You will be certified to dive worldwide without supervision. You must also be certified openwater to be able to hire and buy diving equipment.

We take only 3 days to complete the course as our groups are small and it doesn’t take as long to get through all the theory and skills. However, if you need more time we are happy to take four days, as we want to make sure you are comfortable in the water.

You will have some classroom work and beach diving, where you will be learning to use the equipment and you will do 4 boat dives over two dives. As part of your course you will receive a logbook and your 4 dives will be logged by your instructor.

There is no waiting period, the courses compliment each other so you can even do the Advanced Openwater Course immediately after the openwater.

Adventure diver is only 3 Adventure Dives, whereas, Advanced Openwater is 5 Adventure dives of which two must be deep and navigation.

It takes a minimum of two days, however, it is a flexible course and you can spread the dives over a few days if you like.

We offer many types of adventure dives including deep, navigation, night, computer, wreck (on the King Cruiser wreck), peak performance buoyancy, naturalist, fish identification, search and recovery and photography.

You must be at least 12 years old, have a first aid certification completed within the last two years and be an SSI or PADI Advanced Openwater diver or equivalent.

The first two days are theory and beach work, learning all your rescue skills. On the third day you will go out on the dive boat to practice rescue scenarios. If you have completed your scenarios then you will be able to do some fun diving. However, our first priority is to make sure your rescue skills are of the highest standard.

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a PADI Rescue Diver or equivalent
• Have at least 20 logged divers
• Have medical clearance not more than 12 months old
• Have Emergency First Response or first aid/CPR training not less than 24 months old
• At time of certification show proof of 60 logged dives showing experience of deep, night and underwater navigation diving.

As listed in the PADI Instructor Manual a certified and new/renewed Divemaster is authorised to:

Independently guide Open Water Diver/Scuba Diver students on the tour portion of Open Water Diver course Training Dives 2 through 4, at a ratio of two student divers per certified divemaster.

Accompany Open Water Diver/Scuba Diver students under the indirect supervision of a PADI Instructor:

during surface swims to and from the entry/exit point.

during the navigational exercises during Dive 4.

with the group, either on the surface or underwater, while the instructor conducts a skill, such as an ascent, with an individual student diver or buddy team.

Conduct any subsequent dives for Discover Scuba Diving participants, at a ratio of 2:1, if insured, after the participants have satisfactorily completed the first dive under the supervision of a PADI Instructor.

Conduct the PADI Discover Local Diving experience, (provided the divemaster meets nsurance requirements).

Conduct the PADI Discover Snorkeling program, (provided the divemaster meets insurance requirements).

Conduct the PADI Scuba Review program for certified Open Water Divers, divers with higher certifications. Or for PADI Scuba Divers who want only to refresh their skills (provided the divemaster meets insurance requirements).

Accompany student divers during training dives for the PADI Adventures in Diving program, Specialty Diver courses, or the Rescue Diver course.

Generally supervise both training and nontraining-related activities by assisting divers and student divers in the planning, organizing and direction of dives.

Assist a Teaching status PADI Instructor in the open water training of divers. The allowable student diver-to-instructor ratio increases by four additional student divers for each certified, renewed PADI Divemaster for all PADI programs and courses, unless stated otherwise by that course/program’s standards. For the PADI Open Water Diver/Scuba Diver course, the allowable student diver-to-instructor ratio increases by two additional student divers for each certified, enewed PADI Divemaster, to a maximum of 12 student divers to one instructor.

Assist a Teaching status PADI Instructor in the confined water training of divers. Use of certified, renewed PADI Divemasters increases the allowable student diver-to-instructor ratio in confined water by four additional student divers per divemaster for all courses, unless stated otherwise by that course/program’s standards. Divemaster Course Instructor Guide.

Teach and certify PADI Skin Divers independently (provided the divemaster meets insurance requirements). This includes conducting the PADI Seal Team AquaMission: Skin Diver Specialist following Skin Diver course standards. 12. Conduct the skin diving skills segment of the Open Water Diver Course during either Confined Water Dive Two, Three, Four or Five (provided the divemaster meets insurance requirements). 13.Teach Emergency First Response courses after successfully completing an Emergency First Response Instructor course.

Independently conduct Discover Scuba Diving (2003 revised program) in a pool or in confined open water to a maximum depth of 6 metres/20 feet if qualified as a Discover Scuba Diving Leader. Qualification includes completing an internship that consists of conducting four separate Discover Scuba Diving pool or confined water experiences under the direct supervision and guidance of a PADI Instructor. (See Discover Scuba Diving Leader Internship Completion Form in Appendix.)

Divemaster candidates (trainees) are authorized under the direct supervision of the instructor to:

Guide individuals who have completed all the requirements for the Scuba Diver or higher certification.

Accompany Open Water Diver/Scuba Diver student divers on the tour portion of Dives 2 through 4.Benefits and Renewal Requirements of PADI Divemaster Certification.

PADI Divemasters are members of PADI. Membership provides benefits, including a subscription to The Undersea Journal, member pricing on selected PADI materials and services, and eligibility to purchase professional underwater liability insurance offered by PADI’s agents. (Other benefits vary based on local needs and requirements and the serving PADI Office).

It is recommended that divemasters involved in training or supervising activities carry liability insurance. Requirements may vary from one PADI Office to another.

Renewal requirements for PADI Divemasters include submitting a completed renewal application along with dues annually. A PADI Divemaster whose membership has lapsed may also need to meet additional requirements designated by the PADI Training and Quality Management Department to regain Active status. The requirements may vary depending on how long since the divemaster’s last renewed membership, changes to the PADI System and Standards during that interval, and other factors.

When an individual becomes a PADI Divemaster, PADI assigns the person a PADI Member number. When the PADI Divemaster becomes a PADI Assistant Instructor or Instructor, the number remains the same, though the prefix/suffix changes to reflect the new level.

Phi Phi is very peaceful, with no cars or taxis on the island. Your accommodation will be within walking distance to the dive shop, beach, shops, restaurants, bars etc. Your room will have a shower, toilet and a fan.

To live on Phi Phi is very cheap, you can get a Thai meal from 80 Thai Baht (less than one pound sterling). Internet cafes charge 2 Thai Baht a minute and are abundant. It’s really up to you how much you spend, depending on whether you go out at night etc.

You will find that pretty much you will be busy most days, either in studying or at the beach or on the boat assisting our instructors. Your studying is made even easier as you can sit beachside at our shop while you study with instructors on hand if you have any questions. And don’t forget you can jump on one of our diveboats heading out to the marine park if you are not doing a class.

You don’t need to be super fit to become a Divemaster, if you can perform moderate exercise then you will be able to complete the course. You must be minimum 18 years of age to become a Divemaster.

We are very flexible at Island Divers, as long as you notify us beforehand that you have family or friends visiting we will be happy to let you have some time off. However, please remember that you only have 8 weeks paid accommodation as part of the program and if you need to take longer due to holidays etc you will need to pay for the extra accommodation.

Although Divemasters do earn money, the main advantage of being a divemaster is the lifestyle. The freedom to travel and go diving and being able to work and earn money at the same time.

For diving insurance probably the most widely used is Divers Alert Network or DAN insurance. Visit Divers Alert Network to find your regional DAN office. PADI recommends Horsell international insurance, www.padiinsurance.com.au You can also use your travel insurance to cover you during the course but check what it covers as you may find one of the specialists insurers more comprehensive.

A 1000 Pounds Sterling non-refundable deposit is due within 10 days of your booking with balance due on your start date.

Once you paid your deposit we can send you the paperwork which allows you to obtain a twelve month student visa from your Thai consulate. Or you can obtain a two month tourist visa which can be extended by one month once you are in Thailand.

The easiest way to get to Phi Phi is to fly to Phuket. Island Divers will then arrange your transfer from Phuket airport to Phi Phi and accommodation in Phuket if an overnight stay is required.

You will need a medical certificate from your doctor stating you are fit to scuba dive to commence your divemaster course. You can either get one from your family doctor or we can recommend a clinic on Phuket where you can get one. PADI Medical Form. Your medical certificate must be less than 12 months old.

You will need to bring a medical certificate, signed by your doctor that is less than twelve months old, all your dive certifications and proof of logged dives and 2 passport photos for each dive course you will complete (you can get these on Phi Phi).

Phi Phi has a small medical clinic to deal with small medical problems, however, there are international hospitals on Phuket to deal with emergencies, it is only 45 minutes by speedboat. Island Divers is also a member of the SSS Recompression Chamber in the highly unlikely event it should be needed.

We have many multi-lingual instructors at Island Divers with the teaching materials also in different languages. Please let us know if language will be an issue for you.