Out on the boat today so really early start, pickup at 7.30. Why is it in Patong there is a coffee shop on every corner, but none of them open until at least 8am. Arrived and got on board, nice breakfast and then had to kit up and have our briefing for the first dive. Actually really nervous and really thankful that Becca is here again as doing it all on your own would not have been fun. Dealt with cramp, loose mask and bleeding. Dragging two largeguys back ...

Another early start. Another girl with me on the course today which is good and she seems really nice. A lot of theory work in the morning but passed with 96% so very pleased with myself. Diving in the pool in the afternoon, loads of skills and dragging Manuel our DM round the pool, poor thing, although I am sure that he loved being rescued by two girls really. Exhausting day, used internet and early one.

Early start, alarm failed me for the first time in 4 months, had to move rooms etc, not a good start. EFR good fun and glad I had a look at the manual before I arrived as it all went a lot quicker that way. Just me and the instructor and he is gorgeous, almost makes CPR and Defribulation fun. Makes all the hard work worth it. I think the best part of my day was being allowed to put him in the recovery position. Spent all afternoon doing the chapters for tom...

Went for a wander in the morning and found the beach, so busy and full of leathery men in their 50s+ strutting about in speedos thinking they are the hottest things, funny at first annoying after a while. You can't even sit on the sand as well as the beach is lined with deckchairs and if you try and sit on the sand in one guys area they will yell at you and get you to move or pay for a bed. Went looking for dive shops and found a brilliant one where all of the ...

Off to Phuket. Didn't have to leave until the afternoon as ferry not until two and in traditional Thai style it didn't leave until three! Arrived and got shunted onto a shuttle and taken to Patong, even managed to get dropped off at the hotel which was good. Room OK but really cheap so that was good. Had a wander and greabbed some dinner and had an early one.