Reference

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Primary source

Thailand PADI Certification Volume: Asia Pacific Number One

95,000-140,000 certifications per year (vs Indonesia 38K-45K, Philippines 55K-65K)

As ofFY2024-FY2025 PADI volume·Sources4·Primary

Thailand anchors Asia's number-one PADI certification market at 95,000 to 140,000 certifications per year, ahead of Indonesia (38,000 to 45,000) and the Philippines (55,000 to 65,000). Koh Tao remains the world's number-two cert centre after Cairns Great Barrier Reef. Volume distribution: Koh Tao cluster 62 to 72 percent of national cert volume (Big Blue 7,500 to 10,000 per year, Crystal Dive 8,000 to 11,000, Master Divers 4,500 to 6,500, Davy Jones Locker 5,500 to 7,500, plus 30+ smaller shops); Phuket and Khao Lak 18 to 24 percent; Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta 8 to 12 percent; Pattaya, Koh Chang and other 4 to 6 percent. Entry-level Open Water comprises 55 to 65 percent of volume; Advanced and Rescue 22 to 32 percent; Divemaster and Instructor 6 to 10 percent.

Figure in context

Thailand anchors Asia's number-one PADI certification market at 95,000 to 140,000 certifications per year, ahead of Indonesia (38,000 to 45,000) and the Philippines (55,000 to 65,000). Koh Tao remains the world's number-two cert centre after Cairns Great Barrier Reef. Volume distribution: Koh Tao cluster 62 to 72 percent of national cert volume (Big Blue 7,500 to 10,000 per year, Crystal Dive 8,000 to 11,000, Master Divers 4,500 to 6,500, Davy Jones Locker 5,500 to 7,500, plus 30+ smaller shops); Phuket and Khao Lak 18 to 24 percent; Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta 8 to 12 percent; Pattaya, Koh Chang and other 4 to 6 percent. Entry-level Open Water comprises 55 to 65 percent of volume; Advanced and Rescue 22 to 32 percent; Divemaster and Instructor 6 to 10 percent.

Thailand anchors Asia's number-one PADI certification market at 95,000 to 140,000 certifications per year, ahead of Indonesia (38,000 to 45,000) and the Philippines (55,000 to 65,000). Koh Tao remains the world's number-two cert centre after Cairns Great Barrier Reef. Volume distribution: Koh Tao cluster 62 to 72 percent of national cert volume (Big Blue 7,500 to 10,000 per year, Crystal Dive 8,000 to 11,000, Master Divers 4,500 to 6,500, Davy Jones Locker 5,500 to 7,500, plus 30+ smaller shops); Phuket and Khao Lak 18 to 24 percent; Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta 8 to 12 percent; Pattaya, Koh Chang and other 4 to 6 percent. Entry-level Open Water comprises 55 to 65 percent of volume; Advanced and Rescue 22 to 32 percent; Divemaster and Instructor 6 to 10 percent.

Time scope

FY2024-FY2025 PADI volume

Source basis

Primary source

Interpretation notes

What this tells you

Thailand anchors Asia's number-one PADI certification market at 95,000 to 140,000 certifications per year, ahead of Indonesia (38,000 to 45,000) and the Philippines (55,000 to 65,000). Koh Tao remains the world's number-two cert centre after Cairns Great Barrier Reef. Volume distribution: Koh Tao cluster 62 to 72 percent of national cert volume (Big Blue 7,500 to 10,000 per year, Crystal Dive 8,000 to 11,000, Master Divers 4,500 to 6,500, Davy Jones Locker 5,500 to 7,500, plus 30+ smaller shops); Phuket and Khao Lak 18 to 24 percent; Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta 8 to 12 percent; Pattaya, Koh Chang and other 4 to 6 percent. Entry-level Open Water comprises 55 to 65 percent of volume; Advanced and Rescue 22 to 32 percent; Divemaster and Instructor 6 to 10 percent.

What not to do with it

Use the linked report for interpretation and keep basis differences explicit.

Related figures

Adjacent numbers that add context without drowning the value.

2027 forecast
USD 0.8-1.4B by 2027 (vs USD 280-460M 2024)

Thailand Premium Diving, Scuba and Liveaboard Expedition Market Size

Insight derivation from PADI cert data, operator catalogue disclosures, AOT Phuket throughput, IMARC Asia Pacific outlook 2024

FY2025-FY2026 published tariff
THB 9,500-12,800 per diver (Master Divers top, volume shops bottom)

Koh Tao PADI Open Water Certification Average Selling Price

Big Blue Koh Tao Dec 2025, Crystal Dive Koh Tao Oct 2025, Master Divers Koh Tao Nov 2025, Davy Jones Locker Dec 2025

FY2026-FY2027 published schedule
USD 1,650-6,200 per diver per trip; full charter USD 18,000-65,000 per week

Thailand Similan Liveaboard Cabin and Full-Charter Average Selling Price

Master Liveaboards Thailand Nov 2025, Aggressor Adventures Thailand Dec 2025, Worldwide Dive and Sail Nov 2025, Soneva Kiri Nov 2025

Effective Q3 2025
THB 800-1,500 per diver per day; visitor cap 4,800 per day (vs prior 8,500+)

DNP Marine Premium Tier Programme: Visitor Cap and Fee Schedule

DNP Marine Premium Tier programme Aug 2025

Effective Q1 2026
35-50 credentialed vessels by 2027 (vs 80-110 grey-tier 2023)

Marine Department Liveaboard Licensing Reform: Fleet Consolidation

Marine Department liveaboard licensing framework Jan 2026, DAN Thailand 2024 safety report

FY2026-FY2027 project IRR
18-58% unlevered IRR; ultra-luxury private dive top, premium liveaboard base

Thailand Dive Industry IRR by Format

Operator disclosures, Six Senses programme tariffs, Pro Tec course schedule, Marine Department capex norms, Insight derivation

Report context

Atlas actors in this figure's reports

Profiles covered in the report that cite this number.

Thailand PADI Certification Volume: Asia Pacific Number One · Insight