Ban's Diving Resort

Beau was a great instructor for my wife and me as we earned our Padi Open Water certification. She was kind, fun, and easy to connect with. My wife panicked after our first dive, but Beau encouraged her to try again and stayed by her the entire time while also keeping an eye on the rest of our group. My wife felt completely comfortable, and Beau was honest and very good at her job. We had an AC standard double room. It cost B1000 during training and B1400 on other days, which felt expensive for the room’s condition. I’m not sure the sheets or covers were changed while we were out and the room was tidied. The bathroom walls were always wet with droplets, even on days we hadn’t used it. Apart from those issues, the staff were helpful and nice.

We picked this place because we wanted to do the Open Water course, and it was convenient, with the jetty parked right outside the resort. The rooms are decent for the price and there are several options. Restaurants are an easy walk away. The instructors are professionals who look after students whatever their experience level. Anthony Griffith taught us and was a gem, very experienced, with stories beyond imagination. For a first dive course, it was a 10/10 experience. Koh Tao’s water doesn’t have the best visibility, but the dive sites are very safe for beginners. Shout out to Dean Griffith, who photographed our dives.

Anthony Griffith made my Open Water course at Ban’s a really enjoyable and inspiring experience. His enthusiasm for scuba comes through whenever he talks about it. I was a complete beginner, and he taught each skill step by step with patience and care. He helped me feel comfortable and confident the whole way through. I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor, and I highly recommend learning with him.

Patti was amazing throughout my Rescue Diver and Nitrox courses. The divemasters, Nat and Denis, were also great, helping me with the rescue scenarios and supporting me throughout. While my partner was doing his Open Water Course, I got to do two fun dives with Anthony, which was a great opportunity. The dive team are a wonderful group, and I’d highly recommend this school if you’re looking to dive in Koh Tao.