Spewingly delivered to Ko Tao on a bucking catamaran, I started my rescue diver course that same day. A tough three days mastering in water and boat rescues, managing whatever emergencies Lance and Paul dreamed up, babysitting them underwater as they dekitted, turned their masks upside down, over inflated their BCDs, swam with their fins on their hands and climbed on each other while turning off tanks.
Thoroughtly exhausted but keen to resume fun diving again, I landed in Khao Lak and boarded a three-day liveaboard the following evening headed for the Surins and famed Richelieu Rock. A chockers dive deck, an IDC course running concurrently and staff who out of the water were more interested in themselves and flirting with each other than their paying customers made for an average boat experience. My dive buddy - singular - the other customers and the stunning diving made up for the lackluster staff.
Along with two jaw-dropping tanks on Richelieu, night diving in biolumiscent plankton were highlights. Putting my torch against my wetsuit after ensuring I wouldn't crash into corals, urchins, divers, I flailed about underwater like a panicked diver as the sea sparkled and cometed around me.
A rest, ketchup day in Khao Lak with some beach buds before a downpour escorted us the 30 minute walk home. Onto Phuket tomorrow to catch a plane to Chiang Mai.
A rest, ketchup day in Khao Lak with some beach buds before a downpour escorted us the 30 minute walk home. Onto Phuket tomorrow to catch a plane to Chiang Mai.
A wee reward for a 7 am boat
Throwing assist
Rescue breathing on Lance
Carrying Paul up the ladder - and it's a tall boat
Ko Tao from the sea
En route to a dive site in the Surins
I'm on a boat!
Gemma and I during a surface interval
Setting sun in the Surins
Gemma, Roger and I back on solid ground
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