Scuba diving opens up a new world, full of diverse and exciting wildlife, sights and immersive experiences. Yet there is a lot to learn, which can feel daunting at first. Choosing where to learn, and knowing what to expect when you get there, can shape your first experience of the sport.
In this article, we’ve picked five strong options of where to learn, based on our research, covering a mix of regions, budgets and wildlife. There are plenty of other good places, so think of this as a starting point rather than a ranking.
Here, we focus on the PADI Open Water certification, one of the most widely available and well-recognised worldwide. Other agencies, such as SSI, also exist and are likely to be available in these locations, but their prices may differ from those in this article.
All prices are as of the time of writing (October 2026) and converted at that day’s exchange rates. Prices change, so check each school’s current rates before you book.
1. Koh Tao, Thailand
- Best time to learn: March to September
- Wildlife: Turtles, barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, whale sharks (seasonal)
- Approx price: 11,000 to 13,000 THB (roughly $325 to $385)
Many travellers find Koh Tao one of the best and most affordable places to learn to scuba dive, with PADI Open Water courses typically costing 11,000 to 13,000 THB (about $325 to $385). Dives there commonly feature turtles, barracuda, groupers, blacktip reef sharks and, with luck, whale sharks! Paired with PADI’s quoted 20 to 30 m visibility, Koh Tao is a great place for you to learn and get your first unique encounters with marine life. Koh Tao suits first-timers because many of its beginner sites have calm, shallow water, which gives you room to learn the basics before moving on to deeper dives.
When you’re not exploring beneath the waves, Koh Tao is a beautiful, relaxed island, popular with fellow backpackers. If you’re after the island life, it complements the course well.
PADI Travel lists 24 dive centres on Koh Tao, many of them very highly reviewed. Before you book, check recent reviews and confirm each school’s PADI status. For visas, vaccinations and safety, see our Thailand destination guide.
2. Dahab, Egypt
- Best time to learn: March to June, September to December
- Wildlife: Garden eels, turtles, eagle rays, dolphins, Napoleon wrasse
- Approx price: 15,150 to 21,500 EGP, course fee only (roughly $280 to $392)
Photo by Abdel-Rahman Omran on Unsplash
Dahab, on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, offers a more relaxed beach town vibe, with a slower and more bohemian pace of life. It also gives you the chance to shore dive, walking into the water from the beach directly, with no boat needed, which means no long or early boat trips and far less risk of seasickness while you find your feet.
It suits first-timers because most courses here start in a sheltered bay with calm, shallow water, before you head out to the reef, where you can find turtles, garden eels, Napoleon wrasse and, with luck, eagle rays and dolphins.
There are many well reviewed dive centres in this region, but Octopus World Dahab stands out as one of the most reputable dive schools in the area, with consistently strong reviews over a long period of time.
Although the town is laid-back, check the travel advice for Egypt before you book. Some warn against travel to parts of Sinai, but not the coastal areas, where Dahab sits.
3. Coron, Philippines
- Best time to learn: October to May
- Wildlife: Lionfish, turtles, barracuda, schooling reef fish
- Approx price: 24,500 to 27,000 PHP (roughly $385 to $424)
Coron is best known for its Japanese WWII wrecks, sunk in 1944, offering the unique experience to learn close to them. Most of the big wrecks are deeper than the 18 m limit for Open Water divers, but schools can take you to the shallower wrecks like the Lusong Gunboat, which is covered in coral and bustling with marine life.
Starting your Philippines trip in Coron is a great first step, as the country has varied marine life, from thresher sharks and whale sharks to rays and vast sardine shoals. Learning here gives you the base to explore some of the other exciting locations across the Philippines.
Two well-known PADI-listed schools in town are Reggae Dive Center, known for its brightly coloured buses and boats, and Corto Dive Shop, but plenty more are available! For visas, vaccinations and safety, see our Philippines destination guide.
4. Utila, Honduras
- Best time to learn: January to April
- Wildlife: Turtles, eagle rays, whale sharks (seasonal)
- Approx price: 7,800 to 9,800 HNL (roughly $298 to $365)
Utila, one of Honduras’ Bay Islands, sits on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world, and offers a great place to start if you’re heading through Central America, with affordable prices and more comprehensive packages available. You can often find sea turtles, eagle rays and, from mid-February to April, the potential to see whale sharks if you’re lucky.
Many schools bundle accommodation into your course, so prices vary depending on if this is included and any extras, such as air conditioning in your room. Utila Dive Center stands out as one of the most reputable dive schools in the area with consistently strong reviews.
Before you book, read the latest travel advice for Honduras. Petty theft can be a problem in tourist areas including the Bay Islands, and emergency medical facilities there are extremely limited, though Utila has recompression facilities. This doesn’t mean Utila isn’t worth visiting, but it’s worth factoring into your plans. For visas, vaccinations and safety, see our Honduras destination guide.
5. Great Barrier Reef, Australia (Cairns)
- Best time to learn: June to September
- Wildlife: Turtles, reef sharks, manta rays, Maori wrasse, giant clams
- Approx price: AUD 1,000 to 1,350 (roughly $702 to $948)
Of course we couldn’t pull together a scuba diving list without mentioning the Great Barrier Reef. While this is the most expensive option on this list, it is a natural wonder of the world and an amazing location to scuba dive with many great schools around to teach you how to dive and a wide variety of unique wildlife such as turtles, reef sharks, manta rays, Maori wrasse and giant clams. Between June and late October, whales can also be sighted at the reef.
Cairns is a popular base for learners, as many Great Barrier Reef operators run their courses from there. Some schools, such as Pro Dive Cairns, also offer liveaboard options where you learn to scuba dive while living on a boat, with meals included.
We’d suggest learning between June and September, which falls outside marine stinger season (November to May), when stingers such as box jellyfish can make the water riskier. Learning to scuba dive is enough to focus on without that! For visas, vaccinations and safety, see our Australia destination guide.
Good to know
- Book early. Many schools ask you to complete the theory online (PADI eLearning) before you arrive, and that access usually comes once you’ve booked. Booking early gives you time to spread it over a few weeks instead of cramming, then bring your completion record with you. Check what your school requires.
- Do the medical questionnaire honestly. Before any PADI course you’ll fill in a short medical questionnaire. If any answer flags a condition, you’ll need a doctor’s approval before you can dive, so check it before you travel.
- Leave time before you fly home. Don’t fly within 24 hours of your last dive. DAN’s minimum is 12 hours after a single dive and 18 hours after several days of diving, but waiting longer is prudent.
- Check your insurance. Make sure it covers scuba diving, including training dives, not just general travel.
Summary
Wherever you learn to dive, with the right school it can be an incredible experience, one that opens the door to a new world. It can become a hobby that shapes the rest of your trips and gives you memories you’ll keep.
Safe travels and happy diving!
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References
Sources behind the facts in this article. Links open in a new tab.