Ah, Koh Tao, Koh Tao - how much I've fallen in love with this place. After a crazy Full Moon Party (I wasn't quite in the vibe, but had a lot of fun watching the girls VERY much there!), I got my boat, and with every second I moved away from Haad Rin and the madness, and over the sea to Koh Tao, tension drained from my body. Still UV painted and in my Full Moon clothes, I arrived at our dive resort (Crystal - not the best location, on Mae Haad by the pier, but free because of my course! And a FAB dive centre) and collapsed. But not so much I didn't check out Mae Haad a bit before tiredness got the better of me later on. I started my Rescue Diver course the next day, and managed to pack in a 4-day course into 3. I was the only student and had TWO instructors AND a DMT at my disposal - aren't I greedy?! Anyway - the best thing I've done. It was SO much fun, quite challenging, and utterly draining - I couldn't believe how exhausted I was by the end of the 3rd day. For the first time this was a course that was about doing something else WHILST diving - and I'm amazed at how much diving is second nature when you're thinking about resuscitating people and hauling HUGE Aussie guys (that's Gary, my DMT and "rescuee") up ladders onto boats! Since then, Caro and I have done some fantastic fun dives and had some fantastic nights out. Particular dives that stand out was Chumphon Pinnacle (DON'T ask about the whale sharks, I'm still not over not seeing them) and the Nong Yuan cave. Particular bars include Dry Bar with the red fairy-lit tree and candles in sand hollows, Dirty Nelly's (for ALL the wrong reasons hey Caro?!), Bans (for funky dancing and not paying for drinks) and - of course - Choppers. Crystal managed to take over the top floor and there was much dancing on tables. PLUS lots of people bought us lots of wine, which we'll never complain about! Oh, and our very own bar at Crystal - great vibe, great company, cheap drinks and nightly diving videos. So perfect for slightly tragic diving obsessives like myself. So it's our last night tonight - going for drinks and dinner with a few friends, including our fab Irish neighbours who are doing their Open Water. Should be a good night! I'm so sad to be leaving Koh Tao tomorrow morning - I've LOVED it here, I'm already considering coming back sometime in the early New Year to do my Divemaster training if I can fit it in and/or afford it! But it's time to move on - and to be honest I'm quite excited about getting back up to Bangkok, where we'll be after a 10-hour journey tomorrow. From there, it's up to Chiang Mai (once contact lenses are sorted - thanks Patrick!) and onwards, northwards, to other unexplored lands.