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Published: March 18th 2013
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Ferry across the Mersey
Well actually the Gulf of Thailand Koh Tao was about a 2 hour high speed ferry crossing from Koh Samui , it was good to get off that Island, I love Islands I was even born and grew up on one the Isle of WIght , I seem to be drawn to islands , in the army I went to the Falkland Islands, Ascention Island,Sardinia , La Madalena and holidayed on the Canary Islands but there is only a certain amount you can see on such a small Island like Koh Samui.
With directions written on the back of scrap piece of paper I left the little busy port of Koh Tao and walked through the bustling little markets along the dirt tracks in search of the dive centre, I felt a bit silly dragging my Cambodian wheely suitcase behind me , all the other tourists had backpacks , I wish I had kept mine , oh well too late now !
First impressions were great , lots of lovely clear blue water and a mass of boats chucking there diesel fumes out into the air along side the traditional Thai fishing boats , a weird mixture of modern and old , although the "
Diesel power
Fumes galore , great for the ozone modern " boats were long overdue to be retired to the scrap yard.
I found the dive centre easy but it was hard dragging this bloody suitcase in the sand , I did feel silly and was swearing aloud , the wheels looked like they were going to fall off and the handle was wobbley, a load of cheap crap but as long as it gets me to the accomodation .
The accomodation was included in the price which was meaga cheap , about 200$ for a 4 day course and accomodation and by golly it did reflect the price , the first chalet I refused , The Thai lady in charge of the rooms scowled but I refused to budge , it may be cheap but this was taking the piss ! I learnt to complain a lot after that and it really works , except when I was in Singapore the year before in that room there was no window , the aircon was stuck on high ( no on off switch )and after showering the room was steamed out and mixed with no window and aircon on full it was a nightmare , the Hotel
Team Kenji
Left to right
Kenji,Kris , Sam , Me , Kate , Dutch guy manager told me it was to be expected for that price ! hmmm nice touch so I complained and complained but to no avail resulting in me getting a lung infectiuon which lasted a few weeks ! Again he got a unpleasent foul mouthed email when I was thousands of miles away ! So I got my new chalet on Koh Tao and it was average with TV , a fan and luke warm water m when I met a couple if USA girls who were on my course they had got lumbered with the chalet I refused , I never had the heart to tell them that !
First day of the course was the chance to meet the other potential divers . 2 USA girls , a young lad from the UK and a Dutch weirdo The instructor was a Japanese guy Kenji , the USA girls K&K Kris and Kate and the UK lad was Sam , a young guy who had been travelling since he left college , he was having the time of his life !I was a bit concerned about Kenji as his English was not 100 % and I thought it was
Jaws
Black tipped shark , harmlos and dopey as well . a bit unnerving since I really wanted to understand the safty things about going 30m underwater ! But it turned out ok , well I am here so it must have done. We all got on fab and became mates except the Dutch guy, he really was weird ! Still have contact to K&K to this day , Sam dissapeared of the face of the earth but I ma sure he is having fun where ever he is .
Lots of pool training and IA drills and getting ready for the 2 nd day to go under water.
It was great underwater a real thrill to be amongst all them fish and the dives after that got more and more interesting as confidence grew , the best being a night dive .. really weird going underwater at nighttime , it is so bloody dark and we got told not to leave more than a 1 meter gap from the pair in front , my buddy was Sam and he was a bad influence on me , we used to mess about a lot down there and on this night dive he said it would be funny to lose
Koh Tao
From out looking in the team , so thats what we did ! It as funny though a right thrill to be lost undert here but we knew the jap guy would find us as he did . The Instructor never really liked us , he always got assy as we both ran quciker out of air then the rest , due to darting off into rooks and crannys away from the team , this burns oxygen and reduces the dive time as we all have to surface as a team when one is low on air . We have to report at intervals our oxygen levels and when I signalled low the instructor used to wave his arms and fists in anger , this just made me laugh which burnt more oxygen , I was borderline a couple of time because of this , but somehow enjoyed the thrill. I actually asked him how does one cry underwater in a diving mask , as his tempers used to sadden me .. but he never replied to that question!
We all completed the first course and we all ( except the Dutch weirdo ) decided to apply for the advanced diver course ,
Angel fish
Cute little fellows it cost about the same so we all did that I had to cancel a reunion with Rosie but it was cool as her mate from SA was there now .
It was a great time with great people , we used to go out and meet up despite the mega age difference ( me being the oldest by far ) they made me feel welcome and it was honest . Even on the gap days between the course Sam and his mates he was there with came and got me to go out snorkling and drinking , even saw sharks whilst snorkling which was great .
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