Hello from the Thai island Koh Tao, where we've been for a few days now.

We left Chiang Mai on Friday to endure a 24 hour journey to get here that consisted of: a tuk-tuk to the airport, aeroplane to Bangkok, taxi for one hour to the train station, sleeper train for 9 hours, minibus to the port, ferry for 3 hours to Koh Tao and finally another tuk-tuk. Planes, trains and automobiles for sure! The sleeper train was a bit of an odd one as it stopped in random places (not a train station) and locals just jumped off onto the tracks.

We arrived on Saturday and found our way to our dive resort, Big Bubble. Time to start our PADI course! We began the course on Sunday which eased us in with only some classroom work - watching videos on diving - and homework - three chapters of reading and answering questions. Starting the next day at 8.30, again we had more classroom work in the morning and by lunchtime were eager to get into the water.

We were to begin with a confined dive which we thought would be in the resort pool, but oh no! We were put on the back of a pick up truck and soon found ourselves aboard a boat heading out to sea. First things first, we had to show that we could swim by doing two laps around the boat and floating for a minute. No problem! So next we kitted up, putting together our diving equipment and getting our wetsuits and weights on, and did our 'buddy' checks. The tanks are incredibly heavy!

To get into the sea we had to take a large step from the boat whilst holding our masks and weight belt. We inflated our BCD so we could float and swam towards the shallow. There we had to do our confined water skills. The initial feeling of breathing underwater is amazing. As we looked around, tropical fish were swimming right by our faces. Our instructor showed us one skill at a time underwater which we then repeated in turn. The most helpful lessons we learnt were to clear our masks underwater when they fill with water and when they get foggy, to breathe bubbles when your regulator falls out your mouth and how to use your buddy's alternate air source when you're out of air.

After we'd passed all the skills, we followed our instructor back underwater from the shallows to the depths where our boat awaited. Max found it quite tricky learning to remain neutrally buoyant by exhaling slowly and not keep floating to the top.

A biscuit or two later and we were ready for our first open water dive. We kitted up again, stepped into the sea and had to descend following a rope as there was a strong current. At this point, Max mastered his breathing and descended 9 meters to begin the dive. This time Steph had trouble with sinking. By the time Steph fully descended, Max had been looking around for her and sliced his knee and finger on some coral. He showed the deep cut to our instructor and we had to ascend. Unfortunately, Max had to discontinue the dive.

With Max back on the boat, Steph attempted the dive again. She ascended no problem and followed the guide to a depth of 10 meters around the coral for 25 minutes. As you descend, you have to equalise your ears by holding your nose and blowing into it. After the dive, Steph realised she had not equalised her ears enough and found that one was blocked and muffled.

Unsure whether it was trapped water or something more serious, we went to the doctor last night. They examined Steph's ears and sure enough she had done some damage, but nothing serious. She was prescribed antibiotics, two anti-inflammatories and a decongestant and told not to dive for a few days.

So annoyingly we've had to delay the practical stuff by a few days. But this morning we completed the classroom work and took our final exam, passing with flying colours.

This afternoon we walked up to the Viewpoint and enjoyed the late afternoon sun. Hopefully with the doctor's all clear tomorrow, we'll be able to complete our PADI on Thursday and Friday.

Steph and Max x