Koh Tao

We arrived in Koh Tao able to swim and use a snorkel, we left qualified PADI Openwater Divers (that is Peter and me at least because Ryan opted out and just chilled on the beaches). The last few days have purely been spent studying and diving. So whats it like? Pretty amazing, I can now breathe underwater.

The first day was orientation at Bans Diving Resort, which we had been told was rated as the third best dive training centre in the world. The resort is pretty massive and incorporates a restaurant. bar, 2 swimming pools and is being extended to have more bunglows. It clearly was a major operation. We met our dive instructors Belinda and Chloe and then watched a rather boring diving introduction video, which Peter and Shelley decided they could skip and left half way through. Good idea as the second half was just as boring and common sensical as the first (who needs to be told how not to get your hair caught in your goggles).

Second day we began the proper training, although the morning involved lectures on the first 3 sections of our dive course manual - fun. In the afternoon, the three of us (me, Shelley and Peter) got sized up for our gear and headed to the pool for our first underwater scuba experience. Our group consisted of 8 students (from a total of about 20 on our course), our instructor Belinda and a trainee Dive Master Mervin. We practised all the skills that we would need to fulfil out in the sea to pass our Openwater PADI.

There were early starts to the next two days as we went out on the Bans boat to complete two dives on each day. Its impossible to describe the sensational feeling of scuba diving, so I'll just say that we all stuggled through the issues we had with the different skills and pressures on our bodies whilst scuba diving down to a maximum depth of 18m. My worst problem seemed to be the fact that a cold I'd picked up in Koh Samui meant that I had to endure "reverse blocks" on the ascent to the surface, causing rather nasty nose bleeds but nothing major. No doubt everyone will want to see the DVD of our last day diving. I'll let you watch it for yourself rather than describe all the laughs and awe inspiring marine wildlife.

Having completed our theory lessons and passed a rather easy 50 question multiple choice exam it was time to celebrate with the rest of the posse who had passed the PADI Openwater in the same three days as us. The night really began after dinner when 6 of us decided to play Ring of Fire and it ended with me having to skull a full pint of vodka, coke and Chang beer. Nice. All in all a good night, although it becomes hazy towards the end.

We're now back in Bangkok for our last night in Thailand after travelling all day today on catamaran and bus from Koh Tao. Tommorrow we leave for Singapore and the next leg of our trip. I'm sad to be leaving Thailand and the people we have met along the way, although we're all going to meet back up at some point, but at the same time I think we're all excited for what lies ahead.

Tom