Curso Open Water Diver

The Open Water at France Plongée is a 3-day programme that certifies you to dive to 18 metres with a buddy anywhere in the world. On Koh Samui, the natural dive sessions happen at the same sites the guided groups use — Koh Tao and Sail Rock — so the course doesn't lock you into a training lagoon while everyone else heads out on the boat. Minimum age is 15 (10–14 follows the Junior Open Water track).

Theory covers the essentials: underwater physics and physiology, gear setup, dive planning, introduction to tables and dive computers, and emergency procedures. The team runs it flexibly — the beach is the suggested classroom. The final written exam is multiple choice and the instructors review the material with you throughout the three days, not just at the end.

In the water you'll work through a set of practical skills: towing a diver in distress over 100 metres, compass navigation, controlled emergency swimming ascent, buoyancy control, and breathing regulation. These are the foundations that let you manage a real dive situation rather than just follow someone else around.

Four open-water dives complete the programme, all in the Gulf of Thailand. The certification comes from PADI or SSI depending on which stream you choose — the team treats them as equivalent and will advise you based on your situation. All equipment is provided, and the course price follows the same structure as guided dives: Aqualung gear, French-speaking instruction, and the same boat and sites the whole centre uses daily.