Sairee Cottage Diving
Sairee Cottage Diving
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About
A PADI 5 Star IDC centre, focussed on quality PADI diving courses and fun diving trips. Located in the middle of the beautiful Sairee Beach with fantastic facilities, top-class diving professionals, and a pool bar with the best selection of drinks. All with a sunset view.
Koh Tao, Thailand
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Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
952 reviews
Excellent
886
Very good
42
Average
17
Poor
6
Terrible
2
Margaret M
5 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
My husband and I signed up to do our Open Water course here after some online research. There were so many dive centres on Koh Tao it was really difficult to narrow it down but I’m so glad we picked Sairee Dive Cottage!
The centre itself and the facilities are great. The classrooms are well set up and there’s a nice pool where you try out all the skills. The groups are also small - we had four in our group with two (on the last day even three) teachers/master divers - so everyone was well supported.
What really makes this place so great though are the staff. Lional was our instructor and you honestly couldn’t hope for a better teacher. Really professional, explained and demonstrated things clearly and made sure we were all ready for our exam. And then on the dives he made everything fun and easy whilst making sure everyone was safe at all times. Also Courtney, our Master diver/ deputy instructor, was brilliant. She was so enthusiastic and funny and also super professional and reassuring. Obviously I thought these guys were the best but the instructors with other groups also seemed really nice. The boat is also amazing and you get tasty cookies between dives! I’d definitely recommend this place to anyone wanting to learn or develop their skills.
The centre itself and the facilities are great. The classrooms are well set up and there’s a nice pool where you try out all the skills. The groups are also small - we had four in our group with two (on the last day even three) teachers/master divers - so everyone was well supported.
What really makes this place so great though are the staff. Lional was our instructor and you honestly couldn’t hope for a better teacher. Really professional, explained and demonstrated things clearly and made sure we were all ready for our exam. And then on the dives he made everything fun and easy whilst making sure everyone was safe at all times. Also Courtney, our Master diver/ deputy instructor, was brilliant. She was so enthusiastic and funny and also super professional and reassuring. Obviously I thought these guys were the best but the instructors with other groups also seemed really nice. The boat is also amazing and you get tasty cookies between dives! I’d definitely recommend this place to anyone wanting to learn or develop their skills.
Written January 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ljyeom
1 contribution
Feb 2020
Sairee Cottage Diving is an excellent place to learn if you are searching for a diving school in Koh Tao! Our instructor Aom was professional, informative and fun! She walked through everything and made sure we were comfortable doing each skill. The conditions at the diving site weren't the greatest, but she continued to encourage us and made sure everyone was safe. At the end of the program, my husband and I were looking to purchase our own masks and snorkels. Aom took the time to help us find one that fit well and she even went to pick it up for us at the equipment shop which was out of the way. In addition to great instructors, the school itself has great facilities that make it comfortable to learn. If you are looking for a diving school that isn't overcrowded and personal, I would highly recommend Sairee Cottage Diving!
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ErinD727
Kingston upon Thames, UK17 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
I cannot recommend Sairee Cottage Diving highly enough. I did my PADI open water diving course with Aires and Emmy and enjoyed it so much I continued straight on to my Advanced diving course with the same instructors. The instructors were extremely professional, very knowledgeable, patient but also great fun. The PADI open water course is a very intense course with lots to learn but Aires and Emmy conducted the 3 day course in an efficient and safe manner but also made it an enjoyable fun experience. Being a relatively nervous person Aires and Emmy put me at ease and were extremely encouraging when I found elements more challenging. I came away for these courses feeling very confident about my diving skills and would definitely return in the future.
We had the added bonus of having Paddy the Sairee Cottage photographer out on a few of our dives - he took some incredible photos that we could purchase after the dive for a small fee which were a great souvenir.
The whole whole Sairee Cottage (dive shop, pool bar, restaurant and resort) had a great atmosphere and I spent alot of time here even when I was not diving.
Would recommend booking the diving in advanced as the courses can fill up very quickly!
We had the added bonus of having Paddy the Sairee Cottage photographer out on a few of our dives - he took some incredible photos that we could purchase after the dive for a small fee which were a great souvenir.
The whole whole Sairee Cottage (dive shop, pool bar, restaurant and resort) had a great atmosphere and I spent alot of time here even when I was not diving.
Would recommend booking the diving in advanced as the courses can fill up very quickly!
Written April 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FrankieToHK
Hong Kong, China1,246 contributions
May 2022
I’ve just finished my PADI IDC & MSDT courses and passed my Instructor Exam (IE) with Platinum Course Director Marcel van den Berg in Sairee Cottage Diving. This was one of the best experiences of my life.
Sairee Cottage Diving is not only a dive centre but a big family. Diving enthusiasts from different parts of the world come here to learn from the gurus. Divers from different levels dive together every day and help each other achieve their goals.
It was my highest honour to have this opportunity to learn from the YouTube sensational dive guru Marcel van den Berg. Before coming to Koh Tao, Marcel was someone who helped me a lot on my divemaster course by watching his YouTube videos. After knowing him, he is not just a good teacher but an inspirator and good friend. Marcel does not only teach us how to pass our IE but how we can become good instructors. He always emphasises the importance of a good and exemplary attitude and how to become good role models to change people’s lives. Marcel is so energetic and humorous. It’s never boring, even for a full-day classroom class. He never hesitates to share his experience in the industry. He is so observative and patient. He has the power to spot issues and provides appropriate solutions that are easy to understand and achieve. Marcel is such a caring person and full of positive energy. While pointing out our issues, he continually reinforces our strengths and cheers us up. We all can see each other’s significant improvement within these 3.5 weeks of training, and we all passed the IE and became dive instructors. Thank you so much, Marcel.
I highly recommend anyone who wants to be a dive professional to come to do your divemaster or IDC training here in Sariee Cottage Diving. I guarantee you it will be a once in a life experience.
Sairee Cottage Diving is not only a dive centre but a big family. Diving enthusiasts from different parts of the world come here to learn from the gurus. Divers from different levels dive together every day and help each other achieve their goals.
It was my highest honour to have this opportunity to learn from the YouTube sensational dive guru Marcel van den Berg. Before coming to Koh Tao, Marcel was someone who helped me a lot on my divemaster course by watching his YouTube videos. After knowing him, he is not just a good teacher but an inspirator and good friend. Marcel does not only teach us how to pass our IE but how we can become good instructors. He always emphasises the importance of a good and exemplary attitude and how to become good role models to change people’s lives. Marcel is so energetic and humorous. It’s never boring, even for a full-day classroom class. He never hesitates to share his experience in the industry. He is so observative and patient. He has the power to spot issues and provides appropriate solutions that are easy to understand and achieve. Marcel is such a caring person and full of positive energy. While pointing out our issues, he continually reinforces our strengths and cheers us up. We all can see each other’s significant improvement within these 3.5 weeks of training, and we all passed the IE and became dive instructors. Thank you so much, Marcel.
I highly recommend anyone who wants to be a dive professional to come to do your divemaster or IDC training here in Sariee Cottage Diving. I guarantee you it will be a once in a life experience.
Written May 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JBH
3 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
I am so happy I chose Sariee Cottage to do my diving training with, all the staff are fun, approachable and the facilities are class.
I completed my Open Water Course started my Advanced with Aom who by all accounts is the most proficient, professional and fun person I have met in some time. At all times I felt confident in what I was doing while diving because I knew she taught me to the highest standards. What an excellent instructor.
I then finished my Advanced with Andie and Nicolai, who continued the extremely high standard of teaching practice but all the while I was having fun, laughs and an amazing experience.
Well done everyone, it won't be the last time I come here ;)
I completed my Open Water Course started my Advanced with Aom who by all accounts is the most proficient, professional and fun person I have met in some time. At all times I felt confident in what I was doing while diving because I knew she taught me to the highest standards. What an excellent instructor.
I then finished my Advanced with Andie and Nicolai, who continued the extremely high standard of teaching practice but all the while I was having fun, laughs and an amazing experience.
Well done everyone, it won't be the last time I come here ;)
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harcoharr
Pong, Thailand20 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
We can highly recommend this diving company - extremely professional, excellent equipment and personalised service. If you are looking for a dive company with a very friendly and personal approach then this is the place for you. We were so impressed on all accounts. Thank you so much to Gal and Khun Aey, in particular, who made it such a memorable experience for us! We will definitely be back soon and have recommended you to all of our expat friends.
Written July 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben S
1 contribution
Jul 2022
I waited two years because of COVID and lockdowns to come here to complete my IDC. I can definitely say that it was worth the wait. The facilities offered at Sairee Cottage diving were great. The pool offers great space to practice your diving skills with the professional staff. The classroom is air conditioned and has plenty of seats and is great for learning you dive theory and studying your course materials. The staff at the resort and the dive center are always happy with lots of smiles and they were very supportive.
The dive center also has three great cleaning stations for washing your gear after the pools, which is very good if you bring you own gear. There are two boats used by the center, one small which holds around 20 people and one big which holds more than 50 people.
The Course Director Marcel and his staff are awesome people and will guide you through the divemaster and IDC courses. They really over prepare you and give you plenty of advice and they try to make the IDC course as stress free as possible, which I really appreciated.
The diving staff also tries to organize activities during their off hours for the diving students and guests to join, which really shows that they want you to enjoy your time in Koh Tao.
I can not recommend coming here enough. The price for the courses here are very reasonable and the experience and support you will get here more than worth the modest prices that they charge for their courses.
If you are looking to do your open water course to IDC course, then I highly recommend doing it here. The facility, staff, and price make it worth the trip to Koh Tao
The dive center also has three great cleaning stations for washing your gear after the pools, which is very good if you bring you own gear. There are two boats used by the center, one small which holds around 20 people and one big which holds more than 50 people.
The Course Director Marcel and his staff are awesome people and will guide you through the divemaster and IDC courses. They really over prepare you and give you plenty of advice and they try to make the IDC course as stress free as possible, which I really appreciated.
The diving staff also tries to organize activities during their off hours for the diving students and guests to join, which really shows that they want you to enjoy your time in Koh Tao.
I can not recommend coming here enough. The price for the courses here are very reasonable and the experience and support you will get here more than worth the modest prices that they charge for their courses.
If you are looking to do your open water course to IDC course, then I highly recommend doing it here. The facility, staff, and price make it worth the trip to Koh Tao
Written August 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Airies H
5 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
What an amazing experience! Choosing Sairee Cottage to do my IDC was by far one of the best choices I’ve made. Marcel has mastered the art of teaching people to be the absolute best instructors they can be. The entire time you have so much support from Marcel, the staff instructors and other Candidates. You feel like part of a family throughout the course, and I think that is something truly special!!
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dylan L
19 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
We had an amazing time doing our PADI Open Water certification with Sairee Cottage. Our instructor Les was the best! We were pretty nervous going into the classes and Les made us feel comfortable right away. The small group atmosphere gave us individual attention which allowed us to feel very comfortable going out into the open water. Les was not only very knowledgeable about all aspects of diving he was also very patient with us as we gained confidence over the 3 day course. With that said he was also super fun and very approachable! We highly recommend Sairee Cottage to get your PADI Open Water certification and would give Les 10 stars out of 5 as an instructor if we could.
Written January 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben
Melbourne, Australia13 contributions
Feb 2020
I visited Koh Tao in late February, and spent a couple of days diving with this crew.
The staff were friendly and the equipment was good, but fun divers are clearly their side business, with their Divemaster program clearly their priority.
Fun dives only go out in the morning, to do two dives - No afternoon dives, and no night dives. The two dives were fairly rushed, limited to 35-45 minutes. I came up from all my dives with around half a tank / 100 BAR of air remaining. I found this a bit disappointing, having travelled so far and spent so much money, I would have preferred to spend as much time diving as possible. (Past dives have generally been 1 hour to 1:15 depending on depth, and longer on Nitrox.)
Also, despite the large number of dive sites in the area, we dived the same site twice, once each day. It was fine the first day, but a bit boring to go back again the second day instead of somewhere new.
I can't say a bad thing about the staff, they were friendly and competent, but if I come back to Koh Tao I'll dive with another shop, simply so I can do more dives and get more time underwater, which is what we're all diving for after all.
The staff were friendly and the equipment was good, but fun divers are clearly their side business, with their Divemaster program clearly their priority.
Fun dives only go out in the morning, to do two dives - No afternoon dives, and no night dives. The two dives were fairly rushed, limited to 35-45 minutes. I came up from all my dives with around half a tank / 100 BAR of air remaining. I found this a bit disappointing, having travelled so far and spent so much money, I would have preferred to spend as much time diving as possible. (Past dives have generally been 1 hour to 1:15 depending on depth, and longer on Nitrox.)
Also, despite the large number of dive sites in the area, we dived the same site twice, once each day. It was fine the first day, but a bit boring to go back again the second day instead of somewhere new.
I can't say a bad thing about the staff, they were friendly and competent, but if I come back to Koh Tao I'll dive with another shop, simply so I can do more dives and get more time underwater, which is what we're all diving for after all.
Written April 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What does the swim test entail? Do you have to swim the whole 200m and tread water for 10 minutes?
Written February 18, 2019
Yes you do but it’s not as difficult as it sounds. I’m not fit and not a swimmer but did both no problems.
Written March 7, 2019
Can a non diver join a diver on a boat trip. And stay on board or snorkel?
Thank you
Written March 15, 2018
Just to clarify, for safety reasons we do not permit non divers on the boat. Thank you.
Written May 17, 2019
Hi There, Are the rooms clean? It's hard to tell from past reviews. I don't care how basic the rooms are, but I care about the rooms being very thoroughly clean. Can someone who's stayed there weigh in on that? Also, is the atmosphere of the place a party atmosphere? I am two years sober and still feel a little weird around constant partying. Thanks everyone!
Written July 28, 2017
The bungalows that are included in the price of the scuba course are not that clean. There were ants everywhere, in the bathroom and all through our backpacks. It was also super hot! I would recommend upgrading to a aircon room!
There's not a lot of partying going on because you can't really be drinking lots of you are going diving the next day. There are happy hours around but there's definitely no pressure to drink!
Written August 3, 2017
noahhasler
Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland
What are the name's of the diving teachers? I don't know them by name 🙏🏼
Written March 3, 2017
Hey Dean,
As a reviewer with hundreds of reviews I'm always reluctant to take notice of people with one review to their name. Nonetheless I'm heading to Koh Tao to undertake my divemaster training and I am looking for a place that is recommended by other TripAdvisors like myself. Could you tell me the total costs you paid and the duration and what you spent on any extras such as living costs so I can budget for this trip.
Any help is muchly appriciated.
Regards
Mike
Written November 9, 2015
Where are the locations of the dives for the open water diving course?
Written October 26, 2015
Thank you for your question however we do not use TA for enquiries. Please send us an email and we'll get straight back to you. :)
Written October 27, 2015
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