The RAID Explorer 30 is designed for Open Water divers who are ready to improve their buoyancy, expand their awareness, and explore deeper.
Over just two days, you'll complete five exciting dives: three core dives (Buoyancy, Navigation, and Deep to 30m) plus two electives of your choice — our favourites are Shipwreck and Night.
It's a course that balances learning with fun, and you'll get certified to dive to 30 meters worldwide, opening up a whole new world of dive sites.
The course starts at 9am with a theory session where you'll review key skills and dive planning with your instructor.
In the afternoon, you'll complete your Buoyancy and Navigation dives to sharpen your control and awareness. After a short break, it's time for a Night dive and you'll get the chance to watch the Koh Tao sunset from the boat before descending into the reef after dark.
On your second morning, you'll complete your final two dives: first a Deep dive down to 30 meters, followed by a Wreck dive to explore one of Koh Tao's stunning sunken ships. By noon, you'll be back at the shop as a certified RAID Explorer 30 diver.
- Prerequisite: Open Water certification
- Minimum age: 15 years old
- Small groups — maximum 4 students per instructor
- Certification: RAID Explorer 30 — dive to 30 meters worldwide
- Price includes: dives, gear, all training materials, and insurance for the course
- Flying soon? Wait at least 24h after diving
- Days
- 1 1/2
- Dives
- 5
- Max Depth
- 30 Meters
- Do I need to be a certified diver already?Yes, you'll need to have your RAID Open Water 20 (or equivalent) before starting the Explorer 30 course.
- How long does the Explorer 30 course take?The course is normally completed in 1.5 days, with theory and two training dives on the first day, followed by a Night dive in the evening and two more dives the next morning. We always plan the Night dive for day one, but if conditions don't allow it, we may move it to day two. In that case, the course runs over 2 full days — rare, but possible, since safety always comes first.
- Is the RAID Explorer 30 the same as the PADI or SSI Advanced course?Yes, the RAID Explorer 30 is the equivalent of the PADI Advanced Open Water or SSI Advanced Adventurer. It's the next step after Open Water and certifies you to dive to 30 meters. RAID also offers an Advanced 35 course, but for most divers looking to do their "advanced," Explorer 30 is the course you're after.
- How deep can I dive after completing the Explorer 30 course?You'll be certified to dive to 30 meters worldwide, giving you access to deeper reefs and wrecks.
- What do I need to bring for my Explorer 30 course?We provide all the dive gear you'll need. Bring swimwear and your phone to access your digital learning materials.
- What types of elective dives can I choose?The Explorer 30 course includes three core dives: Buoyancy, Navigation, and Deep. On top of these, you'll choose two electives from options like Night, Shipwreck, Photography, Search & Recovery, or Underwater Naturalist. Our favourites are Shipwreck and Night dives, so we usually try to schedule those for our students.
- Can I take the Explorer 30 course if I haven't dived in a while?If it's been over a year since your last dive, we recommend doing a scuba refresher first so you feel comfortable before starting.