Koh Tao- Diving

We took a ferry from Kophagan with the hopes of getting our diving licenses. Yes, the flatlanders who reached the great heights of Everest were now about to go below sea level in one trip! We got to the island jumped in the back of a pick up truck (Thailand taxi) and headed for the busy part of the island.

Roberta and Spencer waited with the luggage while Sasha and I hunted down a bargain.. scuba lessons/accomodation in our price range. Sasha and I visited many a rooms, talked with many a scuba instructors ( hello- I'll share air with you the old fashioned way any day!). Our search ended at the Phoenix Ac Resort- nice air con large rooms for 4 nights, breakfasts, lessons, test, inpool instruction, and 2 days in the sea for $250.00.


The beaches on Koh Tao aren't large as it is mainly a diving island. That said the water was picturesque teal blue and so warm. It was a great beach day! Late afternoon we watched our first section of our diving video. We were then given texts and homework summaries. UGH!

Day three, more classroom- where we met our instructor, Sam. Super nice guy who was straight forward, clear, and put us all at ease. That afternoon we were introduced to all the equipment/safety procedures with another guy Clause. Clause was great; a older long haired, tattooed, Swedish island man who was a little loopy but under the water made perfect sense.

By no means was my pool experience a graceful affair. I was a like a blubbering stoned walrus. My legs, arms, and occasionally big booty were flailing everywhere. By the end, we all got the 'hang' of it but I can't say I was confident. I have decided I am a land goer. After the pool we finished the video/ classroom portion.
Then had dinner and watched a movie (many places show movies on big screens right on he beach... a drive in only 100 times better.)

Day 3

We wrote our tests- Bert and I got 100% whoop whoop. Spencer and Sasha very close... and so we were almost licensed! We then took a boat out, set up our equipment and jumped in.

Sam led us to an area where we could stand and one more time we demonstrated the skills (clearing the masks, retrieving breathing etc.) Tiny fish swam at our feet. I freaked myself out when I couldn't clear my mask and had to surface. Ugh! I could do it perfectly in the pool! I got back under control, descended and luckily had no more trouble.

We followed Sam past different corals, schools of silver fish, a couple great rainbow fish, and a few other pretty ones I have no idea what to call. Roberta truly was the winner of the day as she is afraid of fish! In Korea if there was a fish tank outside a restaurant she had to walk/ look away and here she was swimming along side them! ASSSSAHH!

We surfaced, got back on the boat, switched our tanks and got ready for dive #2. This time we ascended alongside a slimy rope. With our buoyancy more intact it did feel at times like we were flying in a group. Yeah Canadian Geese! We swam around the Japanese Rock Gardens which is a different reef. Again, there wasn't too many fish but the ones we saw were incredible. I think I was too busy thinking about staying buoyant enough not to bulldoze around and wreck the reef to really be observant of the many different types of fish. We finished this day with a buddy ascent (in case we are ever in a situation where someone is as Sam says "a moron' and runs out of air.) The ride back I think was one of pride that we did it with no screw ups.

That night we had an amazing BBQ of skewers of seafood/beef/chicken and bake potatoes cooked where?? but the beach of course and headed to bed early as we had to be ready to dive at 6:30 am.


Day 4- Dive Day

We woke up early and groggily walked to the beach. There we met Heather, the videographer, who excitedly jumped around with a large camera in our face. Ohhh boy me + no coffee + morning + idea of bathing suit/wet suit + camera = not a happy camper. She was a great motivator though and we did appreciate her energy. We loaded the little longboat with equipment and then sailed to the larger boat, we would drive to our spots.

Set up went better, we did our buddy checks, and then plunged in. Breathing Darth Vader style was underway and we descended using another slimy rope. Spencer had a bit more trouble equalizing his ears so we were on the rope for quite some time. I have been feeling nauseous all of Thailand (malaria pills) and coupled with sea sickness and a bouncy rope I wasn't the greatest myself. I kept telling myself it was ok to be sick in my mask it would come out--- but then I couldn't help but think what kind of fish food scene that would create! I ended up not making a huge scene and we were off.

The reef was a lot bigger and deeper and we got to see a cool blue spotted sting ray and many different fish including the territorial "Trigger fish" that is known to bit and butt you if you get too close to his territory. (I didn't like him and he was big brown and ugly) We swam around in a group and I was thankful that my buddy/brother did many "a ok" hand signals to me to make sure I was alright. It was funny when I would loose sight of him for a moment and then find him right above my head. Weightlessness is a interesting feeling. Also the concept of time/depth was really hard to comprehend.. we did have guages but without them I could easily see how someone could get lost/loose track of time.

We surfaced and then did one final dive in another location. This dive we did some more skills took our masks off underwater (I did it without panicking... good thing too as i was too deep to surface and freak out) and some hovering/somersault silly skills.

We finished and made it home by noon where we grabbed some lunch/breakfast and went swimming. That evening we watched our video and surprisingly saw that we truly did look like divers. That night we celebrated on the beach with some people from our resort. Roberta and I had a blast dancing in the waves and then headed to bed.

The Last couple days here in Thailand we have moved yet again but to a quieter cove on the island where we lazily lay in the sun and swim. Tomorrow we are off to Bangkok to shop for a bit and then back to Korea for a little.. and home!!! Ahhhh
so I guess see you soonish.

XO