Exploration Beyond the Ordinary

From historic shipwrecks to unexplored underwater mines and cave systems, exploration has always been part of who we are.

Our Exploration Roots Run Deep

Exploration has been part of the Koh Tao Divers story for decades.

More than 20 years ago, Mikko Paasi, headman of Koh Tao Divers an founder of Bottomline Projects was already exploring the Gulf of Thailand alongside the legendary Trident team, searching for World War II shipwrecks and historic pottery wrecks hidden beneath the surface.

What began with wreck exploration developed into increasingly demanding technical diving projects, taking our team from the Gulf of Thailand into caves, flooded mines, deep wrecks, and other challenging underwater environments around the world.

In 2018, Mikko was part of the international dive team involved in the Tham Luang cave rescue in northern Thailand, helping bring the 12 boys and their football coach safely through the flooded cave system.

But the exploration did not stop there.

Discovering a New World Beneath Thailand

Together with Bottomline Projects, our team has been involved in discovering, exploring, surveying, and documenting previously unknown underwater environments across Thailand.

In Kanchanaburi, the team began exploring abandoned flooded mines, revealing extensive networks of submerged tunnels and opening an entirely new chapter for mine diving in Southeast Asia.

The project continues today with exploration, guideline installation, surveying, documentation, and 3D photogrammetry of these remarkable underground environments.

In Southern Thailand, exploration has also led the team deep underground.

In Satun Province, the team discovered and began surveying what has been identified as Thailand's longest known underwater cave system, working together with local authorities to explore and document this extraordinary environment.

The limestone regions of Southern Thailand also provide exceptional environments for technical cave diving. Today, Koh Tao Divers organizes cave diving training in Krabi, giving qualified divers the opportunity to develop the skills needed for safe and responsible overhead exploration.

From Exploration to Training

Real exploration and technical diving education are closely connected at Koh Tao Divers.

The same disciplines used during exploration, including precise dive planning, guideline procedures, gas management, equipment configuration, teamwork, navigation, rebreather diving, and emergency procedures, form the foundation of our advanced technical diving programs.

We offer training and expeditions in a range of configurations, including open circuit twinset, sidemount, and closed circuit rebreathers.

Our advanced programs include mine diving, cave diving, CCR, Extended Range, DPV, and other technical diving courses from entry-level technical training through to some of the most advanced SSI qualifications.

Mine Diving in Kanchanaburi

Koh Tao Divers organizes specialized trips from Koh Tao to the flooded mines of Kanchanaburi.

Depending on your certification and experience, trips can combine training, mine diving, advanced technical diving, and selected exploration or documentation activities.

Mine diving courses include:

• SSI Extended Range Mine Diving

• SSI Mine Diving

• SSI Full Mine Diving

Programs are available for suitable open circuit, sidemount, and CCR configurations.

Cave Diving in Krabi

We also organize technical cave diving training in the spectacular limestone cave systems of Krabi in Southern Thailand.

These trips allow divers to move beyond everyday recreational diving and develop the specialized skills required for overhead environments under the supervision of experienced technical instructors.

Training options depend on your existing certification, experience, and equipment configuration.

Bottomline Projects Foundation

Our exploration activities are closely connected with Bottomline Projects Foundation, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to underwater exploration, scientific research, surveying, and documentation.

Its projects range from flooded mine and cave exploration to historic shipwreck surveys, underwater archaeology, scientific collaboration, and advanced 3D photogrammetry.

Through shared team members, projects, and decades of field experience, exploration remains an important part of the technical diving culture at Koh Tao Divers.

Go Beyond the Ordinary

Whether your next step is your first overhead diving course, advanced mine or cave training, CCR diving, or joining one of our specialized technical diving trips, the journey starts with the right training and experience.