Koh Tao (9 nights)

Day 1 (Dont worry, I wont write an essay for every day!)

My train arrived at the port town of Chumphon around 5.30am. I already had a transfer booked, so I found my open-backed taxi and squashed in with around 15 others and their bags. We reached the ferry in time to see the sun rising over the ocean and began the 3 hour journey to the island. The seas were calm and I slept for the majority of the way.

Upon arrival I jumped in a share taxi with a few others and headed for the main village at Sairee Beach. I found a cheap room in a wooden house above a massage parlour. The room was large with wardrobe, mirror, and even a towel rack, and the shared bathroom was clean. The bed, however, was unbelievably bad. It was best described as a bag of springs!

Koh Tao is a divers paradise and that afternoon I wandered around the town talking to a few of the island's 47 dive schools. I wasnt sure I would even do the dive course, but after consideration decided I would give it a go. Ok, so it was a big expense against a traveler budget, but Koh Tao is one of the cheapest and best places to learn, so I went for it. I followed the recommendation of a friend (thanks Natasha) and another person I met on the island chose a mid-sized school called New Way. I decided to start that evening, so that I would finish the morning of Christmas Eve.

So, 17.00, I met Henri and Kalle, two Finish lads who I would do the course with. We met our instructor, an Englishman called Dave, who sat us down to watch a couple of videos. We had a bit of homework to do and would meet again the next morning.