Big Blue Diving Resort

Welcome to Big Blue Diving, Koh Tao's most recommended PADI Dive Center, SSI Platinum Instructor Training Facility, BSAC Center of Excellence and a TDI/SDI 5 Star Instructor development Facility, with accommodation for all budgets ranging from 'Days of Old', Bungalows on the beach to poolside Air conditioned rooms with sunset views as well as 2 beachfront Restaurants & Bars.

In the Beginning... 1991 to be exact, we opened a small little dive shop at the end of the pier. At that time it was only the second shop on Koh Tao. We sat around most of the day waiting for customers to arrive on the island once a day! But it wasn't long before scuba divers started hearing of this unexplored diving paradise around a little known island about 90 kilometers north of Koh Samui, Thailand.

By 1999, as Koh Tao was beginning to get a mention in the Rough Guides & Lonely Planets, we expanded a little & opened Big Blue Diving Resort on Sairee Beach. Big Blue Diving Resort comprised of 5 Beachside fan bungalows as well as over 20 fan rooms all with en suite bathrooms & another 10 Air Conditioned rooms. Our own Big Blue Restaurant & Beach Bar quickly became a favourite with guests & locals alike with its ambient al fresco style dining quite literally on the waters edge & an amazing seat when it came to enjoying some of the worlds best sunsets at one of the islands most popular beachside bars.

By 2000 we branched out & opened up a small Dive Center in Koh Samui with luxury speed boat trips to Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan, Sail Rock, the best Divesite in the Gulf of Thailand & the then famous Angthong National Marine Park. (The setting for Alex Garlands Best selling book- The Beach). We were now a leading 5 Star PADI Gold Palm Center in Thailand, with a busting resort, Beachside Dive center, bar & restaurant in Koh Tao with 2 purpose built Dive Vessels as well as one of Koh Samui's biggest upmarket Dive Operators making Big Blue Diving the leading Dive center in the Gulf of Thailand.

Then in 2003 we opened Big Blue Diving Khao Lak, on the West Coast of Thailand in the sleepy seaside resort town about an hour north of Phuket. Here we originally offered Full Day trips to the Similans and within the year we were also offering Liveaboard cruises onboard our own private Liveaboard MV Hallelujah, as well as faster daily speedboat services to the Similan & Surin Islands including the legendary Koh Bon (Manta Rays) Koh Tachai (Leopard Sharks) & Thailands Number 1 Dive Site - Richelieu Rock (Whalesharks).

In 2004 Big Blue Diving Koh Tao became a dual certifying Dive Center when we became Thailands first SSI Training Facility. We offered all courses from beginner to professional with both SSI & PADI & soon became Koh Tao's first SSI Instructor Training Center with South East Asia's most experienced Instructor Trainer and of course a Big Blue Instructor for over 6 years, Simon Garrity.

In 2007 we opened Big Blue Tech- our Technical Diving division of Big Blue Diving specialising in Wrecks, Tech, Depth, Nitrox, Trimix, Rebreathers, Caves, & Side mount diving. With excursions around Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia & the Phillipines, Big Blue Tech fast became one of Thailands leading Tech, Wreck & Cave Diving Operators.

By 2008 we opened up Big Blue Bed & Breakfast also known as Preewa Guesthouse. A brand new clean, spacious & quiet little building set back about 100 meters from the beach & just a 2 minute walk from our main resort. It was perfect for light sleepers & also for Dive club Groups who were looking for something a little bit nicer & where everyone could stay at the same place.

2009 saw Big Blue Diving become a BSAC Center of Excellence, and with our present in house BSAC Instructor Trainer, James Foleher we have become the leading BSAC Instructor Training facility in Thailand & Asia. This was the year we also officially opened Big Blue an Eco Conservation arm of our organisation with in house Marine Biologist Jennifer Matthews. She organised the Charity Event Swim for Sharks which raises money & awareness of the inhumane practise of Shark Finning. We've won awards every year since we formed Big Blue Conservation from the Project Aware Foundation for outstanding contribution to Eco Awareness & since 2010 have been awarded SSI's prestigious award for Most Environmentally Active Dive Center in Thailand.





In 2010 we also won other awards from SSI. Outstanding Contribution to Tech Diving, Best Dive Center in Thailand, Best SSI Instructor, Dive Center with the most SSI Certifications & the most SSI Instructor Certifications in Thailand. The same year we were also recognised for the highest amount of Tech Diving & Rebreather certifications in Thailand

In 2011 Big Blue Diving became the first Dive Center in the world to partner with the Coral Cay Conservation Society in the education of Marine conservation & Coastal resources.

Last year -2012 - we were (& still are) very proud to be opening our second Beach front resort also on Sairee Beach, Big Blue II. A little more upmarket than our original resort Big Blue II offers Air Conditioned Bungalows on the beach, Private AC & Fan rooms & 4 bed air con & fan dormitories with ocean views, a purpose built divers pool, & another excellent Beach side Restaurant & Bar. From here we also offer the accommodation at Koh Tao's legendary backpacker beachside bungalows Pranee Bungalows & Mama O'Chais.

This year- 2013- we have relaunched Big Blue Free Diving- our breathold center with National Champions from Spain & Brazil Pepe Arcos & Flavia Eberhard who are both internationally recognised Free Diving record holders & the only AIDA trained judges on Koh Tao meaning that we have every intention of launching some internationally recognised Free Diving competitions with the worlds leading Breath-hold Divers.