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Published: October 21st 2009
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Bull Nosed Shark
Not the one I swam with but a very good likeness :) Yes indeedilly, no word of a lie, a swimming with sharks I have been! Bull nosed sharks (for those techies amongst you) about 2.5-3m in length. Words simply cannot do justice to the feeling (well, not when I am the composer of said words alas), breathtaking about sums it up. No photo's to prove it so I've pinched one of a very similar shark for you all to marvel at. I could, almost, boast of having swum with a turtle as well (he was swimming round white rock same time I was) but, it being my naturalist dive, I was too focused on the corals and tiny beasties to see him.
As you have probably guessed, I did manage a spot of diving during my stay on Koh Tao. Had worried that I may not pass the swim test involved in PADI courses so once I'd passed that (with a bit of a nod and a wink and a turn of a blind eye) I thought I was home free. Boy was I brought to earth with a resounding bump!
First open water dive went great (so I'm told, I remember precious little other than thinking "OMG! I'm under
water here!") until I broke the surface. At this point my breakfast (a measly muesli bar) of that morning made it pretty clear it was intent upon making an ascent of it's own. Determined not to disgrace myself I fought the urge, made it back on the boat (no mean feat I can tell you), and indulged in a spot of horizon gazing. Unfortunately this did little to ease matters and breakfast was still odds on for a re-emergence. Behaving like a petulant child, as I always do when the urge to vomit is upon me, I was steadfast in my refusal to re-enter those mammoth waves (it was CHOPPY alright, a person bobbed with no view of the horizon for the darned waves! I was not keen.). Emily, bless her, my ever patient instructor coaxed and cajoled until I eventually relented and jumped in.
Once again I was not to be rewarded for my actions: I lost the battle, and lost the remains of my breakfast. Still, once the fish had been fed I thought I may as well go for that second dive, got 3m down the line and a dry heave sent me rushing to the
surface. Vomiting on the surface, undignified yes but bearable, vomiting underwater simply unthinkable. Sitting with a face like fizz, thinking my diving career was over before it had begun, I cursed the weather Gods and my own weak constitution thoroughly.
Fortunately, Emily took pity on me and suggested an impromptu dive that afternoon. It was Buddha Rock, a short longtail trip from the dive centre and a beach (rather than a boat) entry. Hurrah, I could have kissed her for giving me another chance. Foregoing lunch, for fairly obvious reasons, I made the dive albeit only just. Think I may have over exerted myself, but felt even worse after that dive and retired with tail between legs to think over my options.
Pride being pride I decided I couldn't go away a mere scuba diver, I wanted that Open Water Cert and praise be, the weather Gods must have heard my curses of late, as the water for dives 3 and 4 was as near flat calm as be damned! I love diving, I really, really do. Hate the boat and the waves and the nausea that goes with it, but underwater.... WOW! Suddenly it all becomes worth
Trigger Fish
Encountered a small Trigger attack on one dive, they can be very terratorial and inflict quite some damage if divers don't treat them with respect. it. Tucked a few fun dives under my belt and then two adventure dives to finish off. Wish I had the words to describe how it feels when diving (but I don't so, once again my friends you'll simply have to try it and see), the colours (turn out a red tomato looks like a kiwi fruit 30m down), the sensations (that darned wee fish that kept trying to nibble my ear), the way time runs on ahead without you....
So, only 3 more adventure dives and I make that coveted Advanced diver. Due to my constant dithering (what's new there?) I have run out of time though. Hopefully I'll have enough money to complete them on my return to Thailand, for now I'll just have to wait.
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Linda
non-member comment
sharks
Well done you, sounds amazing, me I'd be scared witless and lose my innards never mind breakfast at the mere thought, what a brave person you are x