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Published: March 1st 2012
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So we got a ferry from Koh Samui to the island of Koh Tao on 9
th February. As soon as we pulled up to the pier the crystal clear waters and wooden seaside shacks looked exactly like what I think I’ve been “expecting” or “looking for” from our second trip to Thailand. We had no accommodation booked but were in contact with someone from The Buddha View Dive Resort (on John’s friend, Kevin’s recommendation, as he is a few days ahead of us) about maybe doing a PADI dive course for 4 days but we had to get the boat before confirming anything, oops! So when we arrive there are a mass of locals with signs for all the different dive centres. Basically Koh Tao is the place for diving around here so it’s a bit mad! But we find a lady with the Buddha View sign and we are sorted!
We arrive at the resort after a short drive from the pier. The island looks rugged, basic and not set up for tourists at all, I LIKE IT! In no time at all we are booked into the PADI Open Water 4 day Course and with accommodation
at a hotel next to the dive centre called Tropicana, all thanks to a dive instructor called Bas. To be completely honest, I had some reservations about my ability to go through with the diving, I didn’t talk to John too much about it but once we were booked in I totally started to sh*t myself!!
The island and the vibe on the island are just great. It was quickly clear that there were a lot of Expats living here either on courses to be instructors or as instructors and this island is not only about living in the sun beside the sea but about a lifestyle. The lifestyle seems to include getting up, teaching some theory or going for a dive, having a couple of breaks, going for another dive or teaching theory and then having a few beers at one of the bars that are built on stilts out over the sea. All on an island with waters so clear you can see all the fish swim at your feet, that is cheap as chips and that is so removed from the modern day “recession”, I just can’t see the negatives. The people living there
have got it right!
The room we have at Tropicana is very basic but it’s free when you do the PADI so we didn’t mind at all. NO toilet flushing though, back to basics with putting toilet roll into the bin (this is true all over South East Asia) but also by using the oul bucket and flushing the toilet with basins of water. Starting to feel further away from home as the days go on!
Our four day PADI course was intense and there were some hairy moments let me tell you (for me anyway, supercool John didn’t have any problems of course!). Ill not go into too much detail but the days were broken down into theory (learning about the gear, how to set up gear, currents, decompression sickness etc.), controlled dive in a pool, theory and then controlled dive at sea followed by 4 dives in the sea where we had to either just have fun and enjoy it or do very scary skills tests….We also had to do an exam! The deepest we went to was 18metres and this is the limit for those with an open water certificate. Our
group had 8 people initially (1 dropped out on day 2) so we were left with 7 – Miri, Mari and Alex from Israel, Thomas from Argentina, Krijn from Holland and us two Paddies! The group was a funny set up as the two girls from Israel had no English basically, also Alex and I were initially a bit more freaked out by some of the skills tests but by day 3 we all got into the flow and it was a good group to be with. I will say though the three cool and collected lads were a credit as they were very patient with us (Thomas, Krijn and John). OK, just so you know what the skills were – taking off a mask at 10 metres deep and clearing it from water, taking out your oxygen source, throwing it away and finding it again, pretending that you had no oxygen and getting the spare one from your “buddy” then ascending to the surface to name but a few. It really highlighted the control freak in me, I think because relying on an oxygen tank while so deep down just might be slightly out of my comfort zone but
by the end I can honestly say that it’s been a life changing experience and I’ll be keeping the diving up!
We saw some class things in the deep that really make it all worthwhile, barracudas, triggerfish, angelfish and NEMOS! I cannot wait til we go diving again now!
We met some great people while in Koh Tao and finally met some Irish people (to be honest they are scarce out here). In particular 4 girls who we had a lovely night drinking with and have met over the few days we were there. They are on a similar trip to us but a few days behind so I’m sure we will run into each other now and again! There are a few lads living there instructing too – smart as hell!!!
Our last day in Koh Tao was Valentines and we had a lovely day just chilling by the beach and spending time together. We splashed out on a lovely dinner in this fancy place further over the beach and had some fun with some Thai bar men at the Bar Next Door – T Rex
and Bond. They had a great way with the customers and it was fun (except for this Thai Sambuca they gave us that they said would be a great aid to our Valentines night lol).
Off to Bangkok tomorrow, then Cambodia the day after so two long days of travel ahead!
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