Hello all, thought I'd update you on our progress on our PADI Scuba diving course, seeing as that's the main reason we're in Koh Tao at the mo. Weather has picked up, thankfully, was beginning to think the rain would never end! We had our induction to the course yesterday, and met our instructor, Jonas. There's four of us in our group, me, Beck and an Indian couple, Max and TJ. Been told not to get drunk, as we can get really dehydrated after a dive, so its water all the way here! Only for four days though! Today we had theory lessons in the morning, then we had confined dives in the swimming pool to teach us techniques and how to deal with problems etc in the afternoon. All was going ok till we actually got in the water. Started off doing some surface swimming to get us used to breathing through the regulator, whcih was fine, bubbles are very loud though! Wasn't til we had to go completely underwater that I started to panic though. Jonas and Becky were trying to help me control my breathing, but hyperventilation would probably be the right word to describe how I was breathing!! Couldn't stay underwater for more than a minute before I started to freak out again, so, loser that I am, I've given up! Not worth wasting my time, and everyone elses if I panic in the shallow end of the pool! Any childhood stories I've blocked out Mum?? Think you may have dunked me too many times Dad!!! Anyhoo, Becky has carried on, she's going out on proper dives tomorrow while I concentrate on getting a tan! Becky will update you all on the rest of the PADI course, cos she's a diving superstar!! Lots of Love, Nat xxxx Officially graduated top of the class, am star pupil! (Fact that there was only me on my own by the time the course ended has nothing to do with it!) The other girl on the course TJ was having a bit of trouble in the deep end of the pool and lost her nerve, I was left with just max. We went out diving on the third day on two sites just off the coast of Koh Tao. The most difficult part was actually trying to get onto the little boat that takes you to the diving boat! Bloody nightmare with stumpy legs and a skirt on, was anything but ladylike! On the final day of the course max didn't turn up (either I really smell or TJ put her foot down, think it was the latter cos he was well nervious about getting back on time etc!) so that just left me. Finnished the exam etc in the morning the went diving in the afternoon! Was lovely just sitting on the boat reading and eating watermelon between dives. The weather was fab where I was and the sites on the last day were beyond belief, it was like something from a holiday promo video, a big coral reef with about 65 million tropical fish! Was a bit intimidating at first cos you feel like a bit of an intruder (and one scally fish swam up to me, looked me up and down and gave me the filthiest look and swam off!) but you just can't help but gawp. Had to do 'skills' under the water like taking off and putting on mask, breathing with someone elses equipment which was a bit scary at first but got easier! Overall would definately recomend this experience to anyone! Like a true friend, nat kept threatening to take photos of me in the wet suit, but she never managed it! (HA!) So as far as I'm concerned I look very delicate and even athletic in rubber skin tight suit and noone can deny me as they have no proof! (HA HA!!!) On the last night we went out for dinner and found a place that did english sausages with mash and onion gravy, oh joy! Perfect end to perfect 4 days in Koh Tao! 65 hugs, becks xxx