Scuba Diving and Thai Fisherman pants

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2nd March, Koh Tao, Thailand
If this isn't heaven, then it has to be close. I sit here cross legged on a Thai cushion on the floor (at last a seating method conducive to my sitting methods!) while Steve is out doing his first open water dive at Mango Bay.


Our journey here started on the overnight ferry from Surat Thani on the east coast of Thailand. We thought that we would have to sleep on plastic chairs but the ferry was in fact made up of mattresses and pillows! What a wonderful way to do a sea crossing! The boat was full of backpackers and divers, and there was also a French family with 3 kids in tow - proof to all that backpacking can be done with kids! It was great to be lulled to sleep by the rocking waves and to wake up at sunrise at the ferry pier in Koh Tao. On the recommendation of a fellow traveller, we got a taxi (a ute that you and you backpacks sit in the back off to get around the island), to Chalok beach where we stayed for the night. Chalok is incredibly serene and relaxing, and although that's what we're after, we also like to wander round villages and check things out, so we moved the next day to Sairee Beach where most of the Dive Centres are. We have a little bungalow by the beach for A$15 a night - and it has flushing toilet!!


If there is anyone reading this who is planning to come to Koh Tao to do diving, we thoroughly recommend SCUBA JUNCTION; not only were they a great price, but were very honest about the differences between SSI and PADI, and they only do groups of 4 or less for their Open Water diving courses. Steve started his course that afternoon, and as he was the only one signed up for it, he is getting one-to-one tutoring throughout his 3 1/2 day course - bargain! Nat, his instructor, is great and very thorough. As I wanted to do a refresher course, I was able to join Steve on his second day so we have already done a shallow buddy dive together. I join him on the boat on Friday for his last open water dive to complete the course - it couldn't have worked out more perfect.

Meanwhile, I have been wandering round Sairee Village in my newly acquired Thai fisherman pants (well, it has to be done!) checking out yoga classes and Thai cooking courses. So life is sweet at the moment.


The photo is of the sunset we saw last night soon after I had the best massage of my life! My back has been a wee bit sore with not being used to lugging about a backpack, so Nat recommended ORCHID SPA. Nor dug into every muscle in my back, neck and head, and I felt a million dollars when she finished (I wonder how I can get her an Australian visa?).


It's been a busy day so I'm off to chill on the beach and wait for Steve's boat to come back. I'll let him tell you all about his new found hobby (beats computer games any day!).

The photo of sundown on the beach was taken from a bar on Sairee Beach - I love this photo. Steve has chosen the second photo of me with an incredible sunset from the "OK View Bar" - great name, eh? I had chosen a photo of Steve looking very happy after his first open water dive, but as I don't know how to load the photos (yet), I wasn't allowed to put it up!

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Photos

Stef with Sunset
This was the view from an amazing little bar set high up on a hill. The most beautiful sunset I have seen in a long time.

Sunset from the beach
The view from the beach, just outside our front window

Beautiful sunset 1
Just another day in paradise

Beautiful sunset 2
Yet another day in paradise (anyone jealous ;-)

Comments

[Jayne Crocker]

Diving
Stef, I also work for the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation (www.PembrokeshireMarineSAC.org.uk) and their website is great. You and Steve can watch an underwater video from what you see under the water in Pembrokeshire. It's great. In addition, my colleague Vicky Swales is a qualified diving instructor (in fact she's diving this weekend but too cold for me right now - I'm PADI). She handles our Marine Code and Outdoor Charter Group projects - www.pembrokeshiremarine.org.uk and pembrokeshireoutdoors.org.uk which I think you and Steve will enjoy. Sounds to me as if Pembrokeshire should be your next port of call!