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Published: August 6th 2007
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Koh Tao day 7 (End of Advanced course and alot of Diving.)
Asia » Thailand » Koh Tao By 00jase
June 7th 2007
Nemo in anemone
Nemo in anemone
Up at 6:15 today. For some reason I didnt sleep particularly well. Not sure if it was the planned deep dive and night dive playing on my mind.
After Breakfast at the budda restaurant (only place serving food at this time) we were off to Mae Haad and the Pier.
Once on our dive boat it wasnt long before we arrived at Champhon Pinicle. During the journey we went through a series of mental exercises, when Tim showed a number on his right hand we had to show the same number back but minus one and add one to the number he showed on his left hand. We were going to do the same exercises down at 30metres depth. This was simply to show that at this level with all the pressures our minds slow down. Sometimes at 30 metres and above divers can get narcosess which basically means you get a bit tippsy. We dove down slowly and entred a cool (cold) thermal cloud. It was quite dark
down here and as I mentioned before bloody cold. While on the sandy bed we did the exercises we practised on the boat. All fine there apart from later Tim
Sea Slug
Sea Slug
and Phil reconed I was a little too quick and enthusiastic which made them believe I may have been a little Narced. Afterwards Tim broke open some eggs to show us how with the pressure the yoke stays as a perfect ball. We threw these along to each other before destroying them (tim smashed one on my head!) Afterwards we Ascended to 18 metres and swam around the reef for a bit. Because we had been down so deep we had to do a 3min saftey stop at 5 metres. While there (now armed with a camera I saw a couple of bat fish. I took some photos and thought "they're nice" then turned and saw a school of 30 more! Wow where did they come from!!
As part of the Advanced course I had picked photography as one of the skills I wanted to learn. So on the way to Green Rock Phil and this Norwegian instructor (who id met before and specialises in
photography) gave us some tips. We dived down and wondered about taking photos of the most incredible reef. So colourful and otherworldly - AWESOME!! Took a fare few photos (annoyingly I only had a
Dont know which fish this is but apparently its laying eggs
Dont know which fish this is but apparently its laying eggs
3.3 megapixle camera to Fes 8) but we saw so much cool stuff. Giant sponges, worms, sea slugs loads of fish.
Later we were dropped off at Mae Haad . We had some time to kill before our night dive so Fes and I wondered around the shops for a bit (bought a few "DVDS") then had lunch at the Flying Turtle. It was incredibly hot and I was struggeling a bit.
Headed back to Sunshine where I spent some more internet time and did some research for getting to Ko Phangan.
Had an early dinner with Fes while trying to fill out our remaining Knowledge reviews. Padi dog was busy going ballistic trying to jump up and eat Fes's sandwich.
We headed off on our night dive. We got driven to Sai Ree Beach, which is Beautiful and Miami Vice style
we drivewn in a speed boat to our ship. On our way to the dive site (White rock) we watched the sunset and got talk from Tim. I have to say I was a little nervous about diving in pitch black with only a torch. But what an experience amazing!! We started off with some compass
A moray I think
A moray I think
skills (had to wonder off then make our way back - I passed) then went off to see what was about.
Totaly amazing. You see so much more at night (loads of beatiful sting rays giant one metre and a half baracuda, large squid). The great thing about night diving is that you just happen apon stuff. Fish are doing what fish do and you simply bump into there activities!
It has been probably the best days diving ever! Ended on a scary note though. As we were getting back into the boat myself and olly were the last ones to come out. Olly started drifting towards a rope securing another boat so I reached over and grabed him by the front of his jacket to stop him drifting anyfurthr and getting tangled. Suddenly the deck
hands (who normally help you in and out of the water) started going ballistic and they were all screaming there heads off! I was there grabbing Olly thinking "take it easy guys I've got him" and then I suddenly saw it. This hugh (rather beautifully black and blue striped) sea snack swim between Ollys right arm and waist and cut between us. We both
Bat fish
Bat fish
looked at each other I let go and we both started swimming like lunaticks to the boat! Never got out of the water so quikley!
What a buzz though had an amazing day now all there was to do was go out and celebrate our passing the Advance course.
We headed back got ready then went to Mae Haad to the Flying Turtle. Had great food and Phil brought out his shisha which had grape and mango flavoured tobacco in it. Tried a bit but wasnt very impressed, didnt taste much like Mango or grapes.
Later we went down to Sai Ree beach where all the action was. Got absolutely trashed, havent been that drunk in ages. I kept dropping all my beers on the floor - wastage!!. Phil kept
buying buckets of god knows what aswell. Got back at 5ish and got soaked by a thunder storm to boot.
Sea cucumber amongst the coral
Sea cucumber amongst the coral
Stange fish
Stange fish
Angle fish
Angle fish
Sponge covered in sea worms
Sponge covered in sea worms
Speed boat
Speed boat
Some place in Sai Ree
Some place in Sai Ree
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Devs
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Girls
Looks like some girls with loose Morals in that bar....