Five students in wetsuits standing in the Buddha View training pool, arms raised with their fins and snorkels, the dive centre sign behind them

Koh Tao · Mae Haad

Sleep here. Try scuba for free.

A clean, calm, eco hostel 300 m from Mae Haad pier. Stay with us and your first scuba session, in our private pool, is completely free.

free pool try-scuba included

25+ years on Koh Tao100,000+ divers certifiedSolar & rainwater300 m from the pier
Buddha View training pool, Koh Tao
Free

Try scuba for free

You do not need a license, experience, or even a plan. Stay at the hostel and we will get you in the water.

  1. 1

    Book your bed

    Pick a dorm or a private room, that is all it takes to qualify.

  2. 2

    Jump in the pool, on us

    A Buddha View instructor runs your first scuba session. Free, guided, zero pressure.

  3. 3

    Loved it? Take it to the ocean

    If you catch the bug, continue with an ocean try-dive or a full Open Water course (paid).

The pool session is genuinely free for hostel guests. Ocean dives and courses are run by the Buddha View Dive Centre and are paid, but everything is coordinated from the hostel.

Three divers gliding over the coral through a dense school of yellow-striped fish, Koh Tao
Cocktails, nachos and a burger at the BVB pool bar

At the pool

The Buddha View Bar

Tropical cocktails, smash burgers and cold beers. Good drinks, good food, good people, and good music.

Discover the bar
Guests sitting in a circle on the bean bags in the shared lounge The shared lounge
A guest working on her laptop at the long wooden coworking counter Quiet spots to work
A Buddha View mug next to the Coffee Bar chalkboard at reception Free coffee at reception

Life at the hostel

More than a bed

Calm, spotless, and built to meet people without the noise of a party hostel. Free coffee, a shared lounge, quiet spots to work, and the house dogs.

Eco

The whole building runs on solar power and filtered rainwater. Modern comfort that does not cost the island a thing.

More about us →

The people you'll meet

A dive hostel is the people in it. Here is a normal week at Buddha View.

9.2/10 on Hostelworld (125 reviews) · 4.6/5 on Google (57)

Loved by our guests

★★★★★
The rooms are modern, clean, and air conditioned. A chill non-party atmosphere but still social. I did the try dive and Ricardo was great. Everything was explained clearly and I had a really good time.
Chloe V. Solo · via Google
★★★★★
An amazing week-long stay, and I also did my Advanced Open Water course with the dive centre. The hostel was clean, spacious and really chill. The bed was so comfortable I slept well every night, and the staff were so lovely (with some very cute dogs).
Kathryn S. Solo · via Google
★★★★★
The hostel is spotless and the beds are very comfortable. It is close to restaurants, 7-Eleven and the pedestrian street. I also did my Open Water with them. Their dive centre is in Tanote, a beautiful beach, and you do not have to worry about transport, the taxi is included.
Maca R. Friends · via Google
Aerial view of the hostel, pool and sea, Koh Tao 300 m from Mae Haad pier

Getting here

Easy to find, hard to leave

A flat 300 m walk from Mae Haad pier, steps from restaurants, a 7-Eleven and the walking street. Heading to the dive centre? The free transfer to Tanote Bay leaves from our door.

Practical info →
Sunset over the sea, Koh Tao

Your bed (and your first dive) are waiting

Book in seconds. We take care of the rest when you arrive.