14th Jan: Arrived in Koh Tao also known as turtle Island ready to do some diving. I booked a four day scuba diving course with a company called Asia Diving and arrived at the centre, which was pretty impressive. So I checked, in filled in some forms and had to watch a video. Then I was given homework to do for that night! So I stayed in and did most of it. Star Wars was on that night, so I didn't get it all done though!

15th Jan: In the morning I met the other chap on the course who was Korean and we had a swimming test, then had to tread water. After that it was all about learning about the equipment, how to put it together, the names and all that sort of stuff. Then we got to do some stuff in the pool, various skills we would need underwater and some diving! That was all in the morning and after a late lunch break, it was into the class room to review the homework and learn more stuff, before being given more homework for the night. It's been a while since I've done any academic stuff and felt rather odd being at a classroom desk again.

16th Jan: 8.30 am and it was back in the classroom to review things and going over the homework. Then we had the test! This was so we would be able to go out to sea and do some real underwater diving. So we had the test - luckly it was multiple choice so I went for the
old cab theory, C-A-B throwing in the the odd D along the way and....I passed!! So early afternoon it was on the boat and out to sea for two 40 min dives. On with the equipment and underwater - my ears did hurt quite a bit to start with, but once down there, it was amazing - just like being in one of those exotic fish tanks you get in Chinese restaurants!! That night I took the Korean fella out for a few drinks, which he struggled with, but he's going to take vodka red bull back home which he'd never heard of! We ended up at a Thai boxing match, which was pretty entertaining - strong stuff though!

17th Jan: 7am start and on the boat again, which was useful, as I'd left my flip flops behind on the last trip and was down to my uncomfortable ones! We did 2 dives again at 2 different sites, which were at 18 metres - again amazing stuff - real David Attenborough stuff. I saw a trigger fish, which reminded me of my great mate who is on another crazy Island somewhere, doing similar things I'm sure! Then it was back to the resort and I had all the final tests done and I was fully qualified ocean water diver! I celebrated that night!

18th Jan: Another early start - this was for my free fun dive. With all the other dives, I had to skills and tests underwater - this was just a free flowing dive underwater, finning around the corals and fish! I had to check out and as I'm staying for another few days, I went off to find cheaper accomodation, which I did in the main strip.