The Dearly Dive Koh Tao – PADI 5 Star Dive Resort & Scuba School

I wish I could give it 6 stars! Our room was amazing (large, great AC, balcony to hang wet swimsuits) and the hostel itself was perfect for us! It’s not in the busy area of town, so it feels a lot quieter and calmer. They have free activities every day that are amazing (sunsets, beaches, etc.) and staff was so kind and helpful. But what REALLY deserved 6+ stars was the diving. I did my AOW with Jane and I honestly can’t say enough good things about it. First off, the dive boat doesn’t go from the main pier, so you aren’t sharing a boat (and thus, dive sites) with 500 other people. Instead of the chaos that I felt at the main pier, every dive morning started so calm. Our dive sites weren’t busy, and the boat rides too and from were comfortable! But the real star— my instructor/dive guide! If you can request anyone, request him! Jane was an amazing instructor. He was so full of energy and positivity, and you could tell how much he loved diving. He explained everything and made sure I felt safe first, but then his second priority was always to have fun. When I made mistakes, he gently corrected without making me doubt myself or feel dumb. He kept my confidence high throughout the dives and he was kind enough to use my camera for me (I was busy learning!) and get some really beautiful shots to show my family. My friend (a non diver) and I are already talking about coming back, and we both agreed that this is the place to stay!

Mar 2026

I was a bit nervous to do my PADI Open Water course. I read this on reviews before and it’s absolutely true - if you are even slightly considering it - definitely do it!! We stayed at the hostel and so it was super convenient to also get our PADI certification here. They have classrooms, a pool, and shuttles to the beach where you get picked up by a boat to dive so the whole process is totally seamless. We had Thor as our instructor and I had Jane for 2 fun dives after. Both were incredible and made me feel 100% comfortable all the time despite my nerves before each dive. I can’t wait to dive more and already thinking about returning to this hostel so that I can dive again with these amazing instructors!

Jan 2026

Had a great time at the Dearly . Awesome staff and place. I did my Padi open water there, Thank particular to Julian and Lavoy for being my instructors. I Hope you are all good, see you next Time !

Jan 2026