Overview
Overview
Living in Thailand for three months, diving every day, and progressing step by step to become an SSI Divemaster—this is how many divers begin their dream of an extended stay abroad or even a future career in the diving industry.
Our Zero to Hero Thailand program takes you from your very first breath underwater all the way to SSI Divemaster. Over the course of three months, you will complete all required SSI courses from Open Water Diver to Divemaster while gaining valuable hands-on experience at one of Thailand’s most established dive centers.
This program is about much more than certifications and dive logs. During your stay, you will become part of our international team and gain insight into the daily operations of a professional dive company that has been successfully operating in Phuket and Khao Lak since 1995.
Whether you’re taking a gap year, a sabbatical, a break after school, between university and your career, or simply want to spend several months living and diving in Thailand, this program offers far more than a traditional Divemaster course.
Living and Diving in Phuket
During the program, you will stay at the newly renovated Loft 67, located directly next to our dive center in Chalong.
Each participant has their own private room. The modern shared kitchen and lounge area provide the perfect place to cook together, share experiences, or relax after a day of diving.
The dive center is right next door, eliminating long commutes, additional transportation costs, and the often challenging search for accommodation in Phuket. From day one, you will be immersed in the action and become part of the Sea Bees team.
Our restaurant, The Bite, is also located directly next to the dive center and serves as a daily meeting point for staff, instructors, guests, and participants in our training programs.
Why Phuket Instead of Koh Tao?
Many aspiring Divemasters initially think of Koh Tao. The island is well known for its numerous training programs and large number of dive schools.
Sea Bees takes a different approach.
We are not simply a training facility. For more than 30 years, our focus has been on operating dive trips, liveaboards, resort partnerships, and professional diver education.
During your time with us, you will learn far more than just diving. You will experience the daily operations of an established dive business with international guests, dedicated day boats, multiple locations, and liveaboard trips to the Similan Islands.
This provides a much broader insight into the diving industry than many locations that focus solely on training programs.
Not a Certification Factory
We accept only a very limited number of participants each year. This allows us to provide personal guidance and actively integrate our candidates into the day-to-day operations of our company.
Spending three months with us is not about collecting as many certifications as possible. Our goal is for you to understand the diving industry, gain real-world experience, and become part of our team.
For this reason, available spaces are limited each year.
From Beginner to SSI Divemaster
The program is designed for both complete beginners and already certified divers.
If you have no previous diving experience, the program includes all required SSI courses:
- SSI Open Water Diver
- SSI Advanced Adventurer
- SSI Enriched Air Nitrox
- SSI React Right
- SSI Diver Stress & Rescue
- SSI Divemaster
Throughout your training, you will complete numerous additional dives and gradually develop from a beginner into a professional diver.
Already certified Open Water Divers can enter directly into the advanced training pathway.
More Than Just a Divemaster Course
At the end of the program, you will earn your SSI Divemaster certification.
However, the real value lies in the experience you gain throughout these three months.
You will participate in dive operations, learn how a dive center is managed, work alongside experienced instructors, and gain insights into aspects of the industry that most vacation divers never see.
You will experience how dive trips are prepared, how dive boats are organized, and how a professional dive operation with multiple locations functions.
For many participants, this behind-the-scenes experience becomes one of the most valuable parts of the entire program.
Sea Bees Dive Operations Academy
For many participants, successfully completing the Zero to Hero program is not the end of their journey—it is just the beginning.
After completing your Divemaster certification, you will already be familiar with our team, our operations, and our dive sites. The Sea Bees Dive Operations Academy allows you to apply your knowledge in real-world situations while gaining even more valuable experience.
During this second phase, you will gradually take on greater responsibility and become increasingly involved in the daily operations of our company. You will no longer participate as a student but as an active member of the team.
Depending on your experience and development, your responsibilities may include:
- Guiding certified divers independently
- Looking after guests on board
- Assisting with dive trip organization
- Preparing equipment and boats
- Supporting day trips and liveaboard operations
- Assisting new Divemaster candidates
- Expanding your knowledge of dive operations
Our goal is for you to gain not only more dives but also the confidence, responsibility, and practical skills required of a professional Divemaster.
Throughout the Academy, accommodation at Loft 67 remains included. Meals during dive trips and the use of rental equipment are also provided.
The Sea Bees Dive Operations Academy is limited to only a few participants each year, allowing us to provide individualized mentoring and prepare candidates for the next stage of their diving careers.
From Divemaster to Team Member
For some participants, the journey ends after three or six months. For others, it marks the beginning of an entirely new chapter.
As we are continuously looking for motivated and qualified team members, the program provides an opportunity for both participants and Sea Bees to get to know each other over an extended period of time. This allows both sides to determine whether a long-term collaboration is the right fit.
In fact, many of our current team members started their careers through this exact pathway. Former Divemaster candidates have gone on to become Divemasters, Instructors, Front Office staff, and long-term members of the Sea Bees team.
While employment opportunities may be available following successful completion of the program, a position cannot be guaranteed. In addition to diving skills, motivation, reliability, teamwork, and excellent guest service are key factors in any hiring decision.
Working in Thailand
Should a long-term collaboration develop after the program, we fully support our employees with the necessary formalities.
For full-time team members, we arrange the required work permit and assist with all legal requirements for living and working in Thailand.
This makes the Sea Bees pathway very different from many short-term seasonal jobs or informal positions often found within the tourism industry.
Our goal is to build long-term relationships with people who fit our company culture and want to grow together with us.
Many participants originally come to Thailand for just three months — and end up staying far longer than they ever planned.
Your Adventure Starts Here
Six months in Thailand. Countless dives. New friendships. Behind-the-scenes insight into the world of a professional dive center and a training experience that goes far beyond what many traditional Divemaster programs offer.
If you want to learn diving from the ground up, experience Thailand in depth, and discover whether the diving industry could become more than just a hobby, we look forward to welcoming you to Sea Bees Diving.
Program Fees
For participants without a diving certification:
149,000 THB
For certified Open Water Divers:
139,000 THB
What is included in this offer?
Items that are included in the price.
- All SSI courses from Open Water Diver to Divemaster
- Accommodation at Loft 67
- Rental equipment throughout the training
- Unlimited Boat trips during the time
- Meals during dive excursions
- Personal guidance from experienced SSI Professionals
What is excluded in this offer?
Items that are not included in the price.
- Accommodation
- Transfers
- Diving equipment
