As we boarded the ferry to Koh Tao we were warned the crossing was pretty rough today. This was a complete under exaggeration. We sat up on the open top dexk which proved to be a very exciting and wet mistake. Many poeple had to stad as te boat was overly full. As it hit every wave the boat would rise completely out of the water before free falling several feet down to the sea below. Every time it hit the sea a wave of water ( and i literally mean a wave) flew over the side hitting you square on. As wel as this there were waves hitting us from the side causing one side of the boat to tilt so far down in to the water we were almost horizontal!. Everwhere you looked poeple were sliding down deck and holding on to stuff for their life, needless to say there was a lot of sick flying about as well. It was the most exciting ferry ride ive ever been on!

On arrival in Koh Tao a very green faced ferry unloaded and we transferred to Asia Divers Resort where we would spend the next 5 days becoming fully qualified divers. It was a nice resort with a deep diving pool in the centre. We started our diving experience getting the boring stuff out of the way, doing academics. So we joined up with the rest of the guys in our group, (3 americans, 1 Canadian, and 2 other British) to watch and take notes on diving videos.

The next day we got our first real experience of breathing underwater. We got fully equiped, did the buddy checks, then took the plunge. It was quite funny doing the buddy checks as our dive master Oli was french and tried to teach us a way to remember all the checks. He said in strong french accent "Bangkok vomen really air felloos". Apparantly it wasnt just me who didnt have a clue what he was saying as everyone else just stared blankly. Anyway we waddled up to te edge of the pool (not as easy as it sounds with all the equipment and flippers on) and took one big divers step into the pool. Surprisingly it was quite natural, no one panicked as they often do. It was amazing being able to stay underwater for long amounts of time and just watch your bubbles floating to the surface. Unfortunately this was a skills session so we had to perform various tasks incase of emergencys such as breathing from a buddys airsupply, taking your mask and bcd off, and what it feels like to run out of air. We passed with flying colours and therefore got cleared to do the sea dive the next day to perform the same skills but this time with the experience of the sea.

Once out at the dive site we nervously descended down to about 5m depth where knelt on the rocky bottom. There was a strong current that day which knocked about and cut all our knees, thsi attracted these small annoying fish that crept up on you from behind and nipped you. We all managed to complete the skills apart from one american called Ian who didnt enjoy it and retired from diving. I found it hilarious watching Jack swim underwater with all the kit on his back as he did the ridiculously looking doggy paddle swim. At the end we all surfaced and felt amazing, we were hooked on diving and couldnt wait for the proper dive the next day!

We spent the whole of our 3rd day diving with our other instructor Rich, swimmign along a penninsula that ranged from 12m deep to 30m odd. We saw quite a bit of wildlfe that day including sea snakes (the most venomous in the world) and a huge puffer fish about 2m long! Much to our amuzement we witnessed one of the americans Josh have a complete panick underwater, nearly spitting out his reg,when a 10cm fish started charging him. You see he was so scared because w, had been warned about Trigger Fish. This is a fish that is so protective of its territory it will chase anything and try and bite you with some huge teeth. Fortuntely for Josh it wasn't a trigger fish as they are about 1m long, it was just a slightly angry fish.

That night we went out celebrating our first proper dives by watching some Thai Boxing, and goig to a bech party. We arrived back early the next day and had to leave again after only a few hours sleep for our final days dive. The rocking motion on the boat combined with the heavy weights on our back didnt make us feel to good, however furtunately we were reassures iit is possible to throw up in your reg underwater, the air might just not taste as good. Fortunately once in the water we completely forgot about this and enjoyed the dive.

As this was our last days diving we had a women come out with us to film us. We took a pair of sunglasses down with us and all had to dance underwater or play an instrument with our masks off and the glasses on. Much to our surprise we didnt look like complete fools, well apart from Jack that is. Also on the dive we saw another Sea Snake, which Oli nearly knelt on and had the high amusing experience of wathcing the americans gay romp on the 5 metre safety stop, whihc obviously made it onto the video we all watched later.

Eventually we had finished our dive course and had become qualified divers! So we left Koh Tao and set sail again for the tropical paradise Koh Phi Phi. Fortunately the seas had calmed down by then!