Well hello again everybody! Im am now on a small island off the east coast of Thailand called Kao Tao. We decided to come here as we wanted to do a diving course and this is meant to be the best and cheapest place to do it! For four nights accomodation and the Open Water PADI dive course, and transfers from Bangkok, it cost around 11000 baht which is equivilant to about 160 pound! The course lasts for three days and we do five dives. Today was the first day and we learnt how to use the equipment, breathing techniques, getting to the surface safely etc. There is so much involved, you wouldnt believe it! We were in the water for an hour today practising techniques and learning how to swim under water with scuba gear! The equipment and gas chamber on your back is sooo heavy, me and Jen nearly fell over when we first put it on but once in the sea it feels weightless. We have to spend about 2 hours a day in a classroom doing the theory and we even get about 2 hours homework a night and a test the next day. i feel like im back at school again! Its all worth it though as we will be certified divers after the course and can dive any where in the world so we can dive at the Great Barrier Reef in Oz, cant wait! We are going deeper tomorrow, about 12 metres which doesnt sound deep but believe me when you are under water and look up and cant see the surface it is VERY dark and scary! On the last day we are going even deeper, down to 20 metres which is deep! There are sharks native to these waters too so should be quite an adrenaline rush (or a just bloody scary!). I got really sunburnt today when we were diving so i look like a lobster already! The sun is sooo strong, it was up to 33 degrees again today! I also tried a traditional Thai Green Curry last night which was an experience, they certainly know how to use their spices! Jenny has already tried a locust and is now trying to get me to sample some bugs but as you can imagine i think i will need a few beers before i have the delight of eating a bug, argh! Any way i better be off now as we are going for dinner (dont worry not bugs!) as we have to be up at 6.30am for our dive tomorrow! Wish me luck! Sara xxxxxxx