Dreaming of a whole new life underwater? Our Zero to Hero packages take you all the way — from your very first breaths on a beginner course to a fully qualified dive professional — in one structured, all-inclusive journey on Koh Tao. It’s the fastest, most rewarding way to change direction, guided by one expert team from start to finish.
Ever dreamed of leaving your desk job for the deep blue?
Our Zero to Hero programs take you from complete beginner to dive professional while you live on one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
Whether you want to guide dives as a Divemaster or teach others as a Dive Instructor, the Funky Turtle crew will help you get there—step by step, skill by skill, always with a smile.
Zero to Divemaster. Go Pro from the Very Beginning
This all-inclusive program is for anyone with no diving experience who dreams of becoming a professional diver.
In 12 unforgettable weeks, you’ll learn everything from basic diving skills to professional leadership. You’ll gain confidence, experience, and a new lifestyle along the way.
What’s Included
Open Water Diver Course: Your first step underwater. Learn the basics and earn your initial certification.
Advanced Adventurer Course: Develop deeper skills in buoyancy, navigation, deep diving, and night diving.
React Right (First Aid & CPR): Learn essential emergency response and rescue techniques.
Stress & Rescue Diver Course: Learn how to prevent and handle diving problems safely.
Divemaster Program: Become a professional diver. Learn to supervise dives, assist instructors, and guide certified divers.
This allows you enough time to develop your skills, log many dives, and gain experience in real-world diving conditions.
While some complete the training faster, we suggest taking the full three months to ensure you graduate confident, capable, and ready to lead dives anywhere in the world.
Your Journey
Weeks 1–2: Learn to dive, master buoyancy, and practice safety in your Open Water course.
Weeks 3–4: Expand your skills with the Advanced course and start exploring deeper and more challenging dive sites.
Week 5: Gain essential first aid and rescue knowledge through React Right and Rescue Diver.
Weeks 6–12: Begin your Divemaster journey—assist in real courses, lead dives, develop professional skills, and gain valuable hands-on experience.
Why Choose Funky Turtle Divers
Mentorship that matters. Our instructors guide you, not just certify you.
Small groups, big learning. More water time, more attention, more fun.
Real dive experience. Assist with courses, join staff workshops, and learn the daily life of a dive professional.
Island lifestyle. Live, learn, and laugh on Koh Tao, surrounded by fellow divers and adventurers.
Prerequisites: Minimum 18 years old and 40 logged dives before starting Divemaster training (you’ll reach this during your journey!).
Zero to Instructor. The Complete Dive Career Path
Take your journey all the way to the top with our Zero to Instructor program—the ultimate path from beginner diver to professional educator.
This six-month adventure covers every step of your dive development, emphasizing experience-building between Divemaster and Instructor training—so you’ll graduate as a confident, job-ready professional.
This includes:
– 12 weeks of core training (up to Divemaster level)
– A minimum 6-month certification period before starting Instructor Training (required industry standard)
– Experience phase—gain real-world experience assisting instructors, guiding dives, and building confidence as a professional Divemaster before progressing to Instructor level.
Your Journey
– Months 1–3: Learn, dive, and develop through Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, and Divemaster.
– Months 4–5: Build real-world experience—work alongside our team, assist with courses, and lead dives as a Divemaster.
– Month 6: Begin your Instructor Training Course (ITC), followed by the Instructor Examination (IE).
Make things easy and stay with us while you dive. Students completing a course with Funky Turtle Divers can stay at Funky Turtle Hostel for just 150 THB per night for the duration of their course.
Want to arrive a few days early, stay longer after your course, or spend some extra time diving and exploring Koh Tao? You can extend your stay for just 250 THB per night before or after your course.
Our hostel is social, relaxed and just a short walk from the dive centre – making it easy to meet other travellers, get to your training each day and enjoy everything Koh Tao has to offer.
Course Accommodation
150 THBper night
Additional Nights
250 THBper night
Accommodation is subject to availability. We recommend reserving your bed when booking your course, particularly during busy periods.
