Unanswered3 years ago
What are the requirements for obtaining an education visa for scuba diving courses in Thailand?
hello
i’m living in cambodia now and when my year is up i renew my visa or move to thailand and study scuba diving. i asked online but no response about how many lessons are required for a year education visa? i contacted a school with that and other questions but they only answered that their 4 day open water course is $533.
i’m living in cambodia now and when my year is up i renew my visa or move to thailand and study scuba diving. i asked online but no response about how many lessons are required for a year education visa? i contacted a school with that and other questions but they only answered that their 4 day open water course is $533.
Summary so far
The user is seeking information about the number of scuba diving lessons required to obtain an education visa (Non-Imm-ED) in Thailand. Various comments suggest that scuba diving courses do not qualify for an education visa, as these visas are typically granted for formal study at recognized institutions or licensed language schools. Some users suggest exploring language studies instead while others mention their plans for a long-term visa in Cambodia as a viable option.
35 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Kace *******
OPi solved my problem by refining my search. i had never heard cambodian scuba diving was an option but here it is
Nongnuch ********
you don't get a one-year Non-Imm-ED visa for scuba diving courses. There is NOTHING such. Non-imm-ED visa are handed out for study at universities or in licenced language schools, and nothing else. Even Non-ED visa by Muay Thai schools are under investigation now and on the brink of being discontinued
Kace *******
OPi try to stay out of politics. i don’t mention all the different nationalities involved in shady dealings in these 2 ,although i don’t like it. but i will save enough money in a year or so for the thai retirement visa $20k deposit. i’m at that point in life i can basically do as i plan well for.
Nongnuch ********
@Kace ******
the retirement-visa and 1-year extension of stay is a perfect route for people who are over 50 years old, and got the funds. Myself I stay in Thailand with a "1-year extension of stay permit based on retirement" since I turned fifty 17 years ago. I do the financial proof for the application for the extension with the minimum deposit of 800,000.- THB on my Thai bank account. It takes 25 minutes on the Immigration Sisaket to renew the 1-year extension, and 1900.- THB.Kace *******
OP@Nongnuch *******
that’s their prerogative but i have plenty of money to spend and don’t want to study thai cooking or massage or anything else. i want to scuba dive at the shipwrecks. if Thailand makes that difficult i think it is a mistake. but i can travel back and forth from cambodia where the visa process is simple and cheap. i’m thinking my long term visa in Cambodia is the golden ticket.Nongnuch ********
@Kace ******
you can't enter Thailand by visa-exempt repeated times any more, at some point your entry will be refused. You can join scuba diving courses, but they do not earn you an ED visa. They are just commercial enterprises you pay for joining their courses, and Scuba Diving courses are not acknowledged by Immigration offices to warrant a Non-Imm-ED visa. Maybe Scuba diving in Cambodia is better for you, if the many Chinese tourists and chinese owned businesses in Cambodia are not offending you. China practically owns CambodiaNongnuch ********
@Kace ******
the promises made on this website are FAKE! For massage or scuba diving you cannot get a Non-Imm-ED visa. This is absolute BS! It is not possible any more. I can only WARN you of sending ANY amount of money to one of these schools - you will be ripped offKace *******
OP@Nongnuch *******
so is it only scuba that is a scam or all education visas?Nongnuch ********
@Kace ******
licenced language schools and universities are the only legal institutions that can grant you the right to a Non-Imm-Ed educational visa. All others are fakes, some of them only succeed because they pay "tea money" to a corrupt immigration chiefBrian *********
PADI dive certification is likely not qualified for a visa.
Also a hint, too many dive shops use ‘DM interns’ essentially as nearly slave labor, it’s a fairly well known abuse. Buyer beware! 👌
Also a hint, too many dive shops use ‘DM interns’ essentially as nearly slave labor, it’s a fairly well known abuse. Buyer beware! 👌
Bob **********
Never heard of an ED visa for Scuba
Kace *******
OP@Bob *********
i haveBob **********
@Kace ******
what is it 1 -3 months
Frank **********
Studying scuba diving? You got to be kidding. No way you would get a year out of that. Try studying Thai.
Kace *******
OP@Frank *********
why would choosing thai language qualify but scuba does not??
Christian **********
@Kace ******
Try becoming a "Thai language master" and you'll find out.Stéfan ********
@Frank *********
well, people can get one for Muay Thai or self defense... If they provide it for those, I wouldn't be surprised if they provide one to become a dive master.
Graeme **********
@Frank *********
technically you could spend a year on SCUBA courses and work your way up to Dive Master, perhaps even instructor.
Chris *******
Scuba does not qualify for any visa.
Robert *******
Is has to be a accredited college or facility . Not sure Suba counts. But yes look it up on line
Stéfan ********
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Brian *********
@Stéfan *******
this would require Recreational diver -> advanced diver -> rescue diver -> then START dive master. Doubt there would be an ED visa for this.
DM’s in Thailand barely make beer money. 👌
Stéfan ********
@Brian ********
it's not about getting a job, it's about getting an ED visa. Most Muay Thai fighters make peanuts too and knowing Thai isn't a career option, but one can get ED visas for those.Brian *********
@Kace ******
the pay was a side note. The point is a PADI certification is not a degree program or regulated by a certification body. Muay Thai as a somewhat relevant lateral the country of Thailand has a significant interest and is therefore an anomaly. Most of the time something like dive training is a hobby and is ‘recreational’ in construct, not profession. DM is the intro professional level but takes 3 other certifications to even start the approximately one year for DM certification. 👍Kace *******
OP@Brian ********
but you went on to say you doubt there is an ed visa for diving and seem to say they don’t make enough money to make education visas for scuba worthy. but none of the other ed visa opportunities are high paying either. probably less than scuba since none of them are potentially life or death situations.Brian *********
@Stéfan *******
I’m aware of that. I mentioned the pay because to some degree DM hours are compensated and was not really the point. The point was it’s not uncommon for a beginning diver to take a year of diving/certs before getting to the point of even starting a DM program. Understand?
Billy *******
Where in Cambodia? You like it? What are you doing there?
Kace *******
OP@Billy ******
phnom penh. i mainly just go to the gym at the mall and shop there as well. convenient and cheap. getting into fitness and almost ready to take the kun kmer classes at the gym as well. easy to get long term visa cheap and unlimited travel to other countries.
Lynnette *******
Ask on Thailand Visa Advice - And Everything Else there may be more people know about ed visas
Kace *******
OP@Lynnette ******
this site is the site you recommend i ask the question you readLynnette *******
@Kace ******
they may have more people can give ed visa advice.Kace *******
OP@Lynnette ******
geez. did u ever hear of someone replying to someone who keeps asking a question you just answered again that was super obvious but was being polite anyway? relaxLynnette *******
@Kace ******
I thought you were on the other Thai page. Ever heard of someone reading quickly when using both pages and making a mistake? Jeez. Relax it's not a big deal.Kace *******
OP@Lynnette ******
lynnette , this is the site and i posted in the site and you are one of the people. are you pranking me?Activity
12 joined12
people
Related
25What are the requirements for the DTV extension in Chiang Mai?
1.2k10112mo
What are the requirements for a Non-O visa in Thailand regarding background checks and fingerprints?
3k24373mo
What are the requirements for the Thailand Tourist E-Visa regarding return flights?
18.2k1183045mo
What are the requirements and conditions for obtaining a Non-B visa based on condominium ownership in Thailand?
3.1k29246mo
What are the options for obtaining a long-term visa in Thailand if I lack sufficient funds?
1.7k1769mo
How can my sister correct her entry stamp from tourist to non-immigrant ED in Thailand?
7813101y
Are there any age requirements for my wife when applying for an OA retirement visa in Thailand?
1.7k11151y
What are the requirements and challenges of applying for a Tourist Visa (TR) while transitioning from a marriage visa in Thailand?
4.8k42382y
What are the requirements for obtaining a DTV visa from Jakarta?
1.6k1252y
What are the requirements and process for obtaining a DTV visa as a business owner in Thailand?
16.2k1012072y
What are the requirements for applying for a Non-B Visa in Thailand as a Filipino expat with an employer?
775322y
What are the requirements and travel plans needed for obtaining a METV from the Thai consulate in The Hague?
41813y
What are some recommendations for Thai language schools offering online courses, especially in the North?
1.7k11183y
What are the requirements for obtaining a Non-O visa for my child born in Thailand and can he use a visa on arrival?
1k494y
What are the visa options and requirements for a couple planning to live in Thailand for a year, especially regarding the OA and O visas?
4.6k32575y
What are the visa requirements for those who have completed their COVID vaccination in Thailand?
10.2k891036y
What is the best visa option for moving to Thailand to join my Thai wife, and can I avoid the financial requirements for a marriage visa?
1.6k1287y
What are the challenges and requirements for obtaining an education visa in Thailand from HCMC?
4k22597y
What documents are required when applying for an education visa in Savannakhet, Laos?
1.2k867y
What are the requirements for obtaining a tourist visa for Thailand?
654188y
What are the recent experiences and requirements for obtaining a Non-B visa for Kuala Lumpur?
47438y
What are the required documents for obtaining a 2-month tourist visa in Vientiane?
45748y
What are the steps and tips for obtaining an education visa in Vientiane?
2.7k21129y
What are the current requirements for obtaining an ED Visa in Thailand?
1.1k489y
What are the requirements and eligibility criteria for the Smart Visa in Thailand?
1.5k9149y
Resources
Need help with your Thai visa?
#1 visa agent · 4,000+ reviews · 100,000+ expats served