This year the fantastic “Save Koh Tao” Festival shall be on the 18th & 19th of June and the theme is “Turtle & Spirits”! So if your around please join in for 2 awesome days & night filled with Activities, Island & Eco Awareness, Performances, Shows, Life music, great food & talented people. 
Assistant Instructor Course – Congrats to Robert..
The PADI Assistant Instructor Course at Sunshine Divers can be conducted in 4 to 6 days. Depending on your time frame we are able to create a schedule to suit your needs.
Robert Thorgeirson, completed his Divemaster Program with Sunshine Divers and continued to the Assistand Instructor Course, and EFR Instructor Program. On completion of the Assistant Instructor Course, Robert was able to help instructors with academic presentations, and team teach in the confined pool environment and take on more supervision in the Open water under the direct supervision of a certified PADI Open water scuba instructor.
Congrats and big thanks to Robert’s participation in the recent PADI Instructor Development Course where he helped out as the problematic student for Instructor Candidates.
Look forward to your return to complete the PADI Instructor Development Program next year!!!
EFR Instructor Course at Sunshine Divers…
Taking part in the EFR certification for CPR, First Aid, Secondary Care, AED, and Care For Children is a great way to keep fresh with First Aid Skills and help others in need in the case of an emergency.
The EFR Instructor Course was recently completed by Michael Fernandez, Benoit Mao and Robert Thoreigerson.
Robert after completing the course, conducted his first EFR for CPR and First Aid with potential Divemaster in Training Erica (from Spain)
The EFR participant course cost is : 3,500 baht however to progress to the instructor level the cost is 6,000 baht.
Please feel free to contact us for further details and the next course schedule.
New PADI OWSI Instructors
Congrats to Michael Fernandez and Benoit Mao (aka Bnooz) on their recent achievement as PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors.
The 15 day program incorporated several presentations for confined, open water and academics to pass the IDC, along with the PADI EFR Instructor Program.
If interested in the PADI Instructor Development Course, click here for more details.
Well Done Guys!!!
Nadine Schnieder’s DMT Exchange Experience!!!
First time a DMT exchange took place between Sunshine Diver Koh Tao and Sail Rock Divers Koh Phangan. Nadine & Olly were the lucky ones who were sent from Sunshine’s to explore the diver’s world of Koh Phangan for 3 days. Excited for what’s coming up the next days and looking forward to diving Sail Rock we took the morning ferry to the next island. Rachel picked us up from the peer and took us to Sail Rock Divers. Once we arrived, we did a little round through the Resort, got a “hello” here and there, got a short briefing about daily things to do and some keys for one of their luxurious bungalows. Later on we jumped in the pool to assist on a Scuba-Review-Course, got a little chat with Neill and some feedback after that and prepared for the trip to Sail Rock on the next day. Day 2: Diving Sail Rock We started the day with a coffee and a little chat, got the paperwork and equipment ready for every diver. And then we were on the road to the boat to hit Sail Rock!!! While the guests got breakfast and a short boat briefing, the crew prepared the equipment for everyone. And after a relaxed tour it was time for buddycheck and finally for jumping in! Sail Rock was just awesome! Lots of fish and corals and colorful marine life in all shapes and shades! And of course – “the Chimney”, a huge crack in the rock which you can enter at a depth of 5m, dive through and exit at 18m. WOW! 30m visibility, no waves and only little current made those two dives a great experience for everyone! Back at the base another pool session awaited us. Later on we had a nice BBQ with lots of fun, smiling faces and some drinks on this exchange.. Oh what a day ☺ The following day was already the last one of this program.. Sail Rock again and again two wonderful dives and us two Sunshines right in the middle as boatmaster and diveleader. After a chilled out tour back to the base and the usual stuff to do we got onto the ferry back to Koh Tao again.. It was a great experience! Thanx to Sunshine Divers for choosing us to go for it! Many thanx to Sail Rock Divers!!! Guys, you really rock!!! We had a splendid time and are looking forward to welcome your DMs in exchange very soon! A big Cheers to you!
German Version:
Zum ersten mal gab es einen DMT-Austausch zwischen Sunshine Divers Koh Tao und Sail Rock Divers Koh Phangan. Wir, Nadine und Olly waren die glücklichen Auserwählten, die Sunshine’s auf die Nachbarinsel schickte um die dortige Tauchwelt 3 Tage lang zu erkunden. Gespannt auf die nächsten Tage und mit der Vorfreude am beliebten Sail Rock tauchen zu gehen, ging es morgens mit der Fähre los Richtung Koh Phangan. Rachel sammelte uns am Pier ein und brachte uns zur Basis der Sail Rock Divers. Dort angekommen gab es einen Rundgang durch das Resort, die Schlüssel für eines der luxuriösen Bungalows, hier und da ein kurzes „Hallo“ und eine schnelle Einweisung in den täglichen Ablauf. Anschließend ging es für eine Scuba-Review-Session in den hauseigenen Pool. Danach gab es ein kurzes Feedback und ein paar Vorbereitungen für den nächsten Tag, an dem es nach Sail Rock gehen sollte. Tag 2: Diving Sail Rock Früh morgens gab es zum Kaffee eine kurze Besprechung mit Neill und langsam fanden sich auch Schüler und Fundiver ein. Der nötige Papierkram wurde schnell erledigt und für jeden Taucher passendes Equipment zusammengestellt. Und dann ging es auch schon los, mit dem Pick Up zum Boot und auf nach Sail Rock. Auf dem Sonnendeck gab es Frühstück und ein kurzes Boatbriefing, während die Crew das Equipment für alle vorbereitete. Nach einer entspannten Fahrt und einem Divebriefing hieß es dann endlich: Buddycheck und ab ins Wasser! Sail Rock zeigte sich von seiner besten Seite. Unglaublich bunte Fischvielfalt in allen Dimensionen, Korallen und MarineLife in allen Farben und Formen, und natürlich nicht zu vergessen „The Chimney“, ein Riß im Felsen in den man auf 5m hinein und auf 18m wieder hinaus tauchen kann!!! WOW!! Und mit einer Sichtweite von 30m, keinen Wellen und nur geringer Strömung wurden die Tauchgänge für alle zu einem großartigen, unvergeßlichen Erlebnis. Wieder zurück gab es nochmal eine Poolsession und abends ein BBQ, viele lachende Gesichter und ein paar Drinks auf den Austausch.. Was für ein Abend! ☺ Weiter ging es mit dem dritten und leider schon letzten Tag des Programms.. Noch einmal Sail Rock und zurück.. Noch einmal zwei grandiose Tauchgänge, beide Sunshines mittendrin als Boatmaster und Diveguide.. Nach einer sonnigen Rückfahrt und der üblichen Aufräumarbeit in der Basis ging es für uns dann auch schon wieder zurück zur Fähre nach Koh Tao..
EARTH DAY CLEAN-UP – Aow Leuk Koh Tao 22nd April 2013
A Wonderful Morning on the 22nd for the Underwater Clean up dive that was held at Aow Leuk Bay on Koh Tao. All the divers meet at Sunshine Divers at 7am to head off for the dive.
Several items especially plastic bags, and fishing lines were collected. A total of approx. 27 kg of rubbish collected. The most unusual item collected was a very big HAT!
Divemasters in Training took part in the clean-up to contribute toward their ECO Volunteer program, and then in the afternoon took part in the land clean up on Chalok Baan Kao beach.
Thanks to co-ordinators Becs & Mark Walsten and Robert Thorgeirson, the 30 participants were well organized and supervised both above and below the water.
Finally the day ended with the Underwater Film Festival where over 27,000 baht was raised toward the Save Koh Tao Marine Conservation. Thanks to Eleni and Emma DMT’s for thier creation of the SKT Prison where money was raised along with the See how many lollipops are in the Biscuit Tin.
Mark Walsten also came 3rd for his contribution of his film on the Sattakut Wreck and Trident Wreck. Well Done!!!
Olly Steels Divemaster Exchange Experience – April 2013
April 2013 see’s the introduction of the first PADI Divemaster Trainee Exchange Program between Sunshine Divers on Koh Tao and Sail Rock Divers on Koh Phangan in Thailand. Two divemaster trainee’s from both dive centre’s have the opportunity to spend 3 days experiencing life at a different dive operation.
For the first instalment, Nadine and Olly from Sunshine divers travelled to Sail Rock Divers on Koh Phangan. On arrival at the pier, the guys were picked up and taken Sail Rock Diver Centre for orientation, no sooner did they arrive and it was straight into the pool to assist instructor Neil with a Scuba Tune-up, before the following morning’s dive trip to the Sail Rock site. As anticipated, the 2 dives at Sail Rock were truly incredible! Enormous schools of Barracuda and Trevally, Batfish, Triggerfish accompanied by countless Giant Grouper and to top it all off, 30 meter visibility across the whole site!
Sail Rock trips are almost a full day affair, so after 2 dives and a spot of lunch on board the boat, it’s back to the dive centre and of course, back in the pool for another scuba tune-up and the start of a discover scuba diving program with instructor Blue. No sooner out of the pool and the BBQ was on the go for a staff and DMT evening.
A similar day on Day 3 see’s another Sail rock trip, with a little more responsibility given to the visiting divemaster trainee’s, tasked with delivering boat briefings, completing role calls, tank checks before leaving the pier and Nadine leading a group of fundivers around the site. Another two stunning dives and it’s back to the pier to wash kit, pack bags and head back to Koh Tao.
The next instalment will see Sail Rock’s DMT Emma, and one other lucky candidate visit Koh Tao for a few days to get a different look at things. Massive thanks to all the team at Sail Rock for their hospitality and we look forward to welcome some students to Sunshine!!!
Next PADI IDC – Starts 8th April 2013
If anyone is interested in becoming a PADI Instructor the next IDC will be held on the 8th April 2013, at Sunshine Divers – Koh Tao.
Please contact Course Director Natalie Hunt for further details: info@sunshine-diveresort.com.
Canadian Globetrotters – PADI Divemasters!!!
Congratulations to Lenore and Matt Robon – First on their recent engagement and on completing their PADI Divemaster program with us at Sunshine Divers.
As the Canadian’s feedback on trip advisor this March 2013 say : “Sunshine Divers is the Best Place to Learn…”
My fiance and I just completed our PADI Divemaster certifications with Sunshine Divers. We cannot say enough great things about Sunshine and Natalie Hunt. If you are looking for a great place to learn to dive or progress to the next level, look no further!
The entire team at Sunshine is committed to creating a fun, relaxed atmosphere to learn and are super patient. They want everyone to succeed and work hard to ensure you do! Their small class sizes mean that you get direct and focused attention with the instructors. You are not just a number!
Natalie Hunt, Sunshine’s Course Director, is a superwoman! She is dedicated and passionate about diving and goes above and beyond to help every one, whether it’s diving related, finding accommodations, recommending the best places to eat, or renting a motorbike. She is the reason we decided to do our DM certifications with Sunshine.
Sunshine Divers has a wonderful family environment and we were thrilled to be apart of it. We will definitely be back diving with Sunshine again soon!
Look forward to seeing you back sometime this year to take on the PADI Instructor Course.
Go PRO at Sunshine Divers
As a PADI Professional, you’ll be part of the largest, most widely recognized scuba training organization in the world. Become a Professional (Divemaster, IDC or Instructor internship) at Sunshine Divers and you’ll get a lot of attention to detail, small group courses and a genuine enthusiasm throughout the training of PADI Gold Course director Nathalie Hunt. For more information about any professional course, contact www.divingprokohtao.com
