About Lex · Koh Tao

Still teaching.

The classroom got a serious upgrade.

Hi, I’m Lex. I spent around ten years teaching maths in the Netherlands. Now I’m a PADI Staff Instructor on Koh Tao, introducing people to a whole new world underwater.

I get to spend my days doing something I genuinely love, and I’m pretty sure it shows. The best part? I get to share that passion for the underwater world with you.

Curious about diving on Koh Tao? I’d love to hear from you.

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Lex smiling while preparing scuba equipment on a dive boat

A little about my diving experience

PADI Staff InstructorCurrent professional level

Open Water to RescueCourses I teach, alongside a range of specialties

Divemaster + IDCTraining I support

Dutch + EnglishInstruction can be planned in both languages, depending on availability

And for those taking diving further? As a PADI Staff Instructor, I also support Divemaster training and Instructor Development Courses, helping divers take their next steps towards becoming dive professionals. I’m also a Master Scuba Diver Trainer and Specialty Instructor, with specialties including Deep, Wreck, Enriched Air, underwater photography and DPV.

How I ended up here

I came to Koh Tao for four days.

I loved being a teacher, but after all those years in the classroom, I was ready to take a year off and see a bit more of the world. I planned to return to teaching afterwards.

The funny thing is, I’d barely travelled before. A few trips around the Netherlands and neighbouring countries, sure, but this was my first big adventure outside Europe.

My younger brother had been to Thailand for martial arts and recommended it as a place to start. So I sold my house, booked my trip and headed to Thailand for a week of Muay Thai training.

I arrived with very little travel experience and quickly fell in love with Thailand.

That one week turned into a month.

I met some Australian friends and told them I wanted to learn to dive when I got to Australia. They suggested Koh Tao instead. So I came over for a four-day Open Water course.

I loved it, stayed for Advanced and let my flight to Singapore leave without me. And, well, I’m still here.

Same Lex. Two sides of diving.

A little silliness. A lot of love for diving.

Lex laughing while holding a handmade name label

Above water

There’s always room for a laugh. A bit of banter and probably a few terrible jokes from me. I love the fun and excitement that comes with a day out diving.

Lex diving over a rocky reef wearing yellow fins

Underwater

The jokes can wait a little. I’m focused on the dive, keeping an eye on the people around me and taking in everything there is to see. Because that’s the best part, isn’t it? We’re here to enjoy it, and dive safely.

Why I love teaching

The bit I never get tired of.

Lex laughing with a student while explaining a scuba pressure gauge

On your first dive, you might be thinking about everything. Your breathing. Your fins. Where on earth to put your hands.

Then, bit by bit, things start to fall into place. You’re getting comfortable, figuring out your buoyancy and suddenly you’ve got time to look around and enjoy what’s down there. I love seeing that happen.

But I’m not just looking at whether you can do a skill. I want to see you feel comfortable doing it, too. Getting it right once is great. Feeling confident enough to do it without rushing? That’s what we’re working towards.

Back in the Netherlands, I also helped develop digital maths lessons and worked with schools on more personalised learning. I’ve always enjoyed finding an approach that works for each person.

And if a diving skill doesn’t make sense straight away? That’s where I get curious. Maybe we try a different explanation, break it into smaller steps or give it another go. There’s usually another way to make it work, and finding it together is half the fun.

What matters to me

The certification is great. What you take home matters more.

Of course, getting your certification is exciting. We’ll celebrate that!

But what matters most to me is knowing you can dive safely and responsibly. That you understand what you’re doing, recognise your limits and can make good decisions underwater.

A certification is a milestone. The real reward is being ready for all the diving still ahead of you, wherever in the world it takes you. And that’s when the fun really begins.

What divers say

I always like hearing how the experience felt from the other side.

I put a lot of energy into teaching, so feedback afterwards means a lot to me. I’d rather let the reviews speak for themselves than tell you what to think.

And if we get to dive together, I’d love to hear what you think, too.

Reviews are available on Google. Checking the live display.

Read Google reviews

Planning your dives

Who will I be diving with?

I work on Koh Tao alongside other qualified PADI professionals. Courses can be planned in Dutch or English, depending on availability.

Sometimes I’ll teach the course myself; sometimes another qualified PADI professional may teach part or all of it, depending on the course and dates. I’m your main contact either way, and the instructor setup is confirmed before you book.

Let’s talk diving

Got a question? Ask away!

Coming to Koh Tao and thinking about diving? Tell me when you’re visiting, whether you’ve dived before and what you’d love to do.

No idea where to start? That’s absolutely fine too. Send me a message. I’m your main contact, and I’ll help you work out the sensible next step.

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