Our destination was the setting for Greg's attempt at becoming a diver: Coral Grand Divers Resort. As part of the deal (about AUD$330), accommodation came with the PADI open water course. It was a basic but comfortable room at this rather plush resort located right on the beach.
While Greg hit the classroom, Tash got down to some serious sunset photography. A past-time based on the irresistible beauty of a tropical beach in fading crimson hues.
The class had a multicultural feel with me, a Brit, a Swede and a Dutchman. I won't bore you with the details, suffice to say we all got on well and all passed well. As part of the course we were taken on 4 dives around the island. The most beautiful of which was to Chumpuon pinnacle, with clouds of fish and beds of corals. This was a dive down to 18m, the maximum depth for this qualification. I found deeper dives much more fun.
The day after, filled with the energy of completing a course successfully, and armed with new masks, Tash and I were "diving buddies" for a mornings fun diving. We went to a site called Southwest, which was again great, with schooling Barracuda, Groupers, Angel fish, Anemone fish, Xmas tree worms and some striking rock formations. Our new masks worked beautifully, completely free of fog, allowing great viewing (you're there to see things after all). Frustratingly, the other pairing were excited and breathed deeply, shortening the dive considerably. The second dive was also amazing, with our guide showing us little see-through Glass shrimp, and Pipe fish (cousins of the seahorse), Moray eels and Blue Spotted Rays. The rock formations were also really cool and the dive was long.
Happy, we grabbed the ferry across to the next island, Koh Phangan, without a clue as to where we'd be staying. Ten minutes after landing, we were on the back of a ute heading to a beach resort. After we arrived, we decided the shack with ill fitting panels and a great view of the local road didn't befit 'resort'. We did however later find a bungalow on the headland with fantastic sea
views, and for the same price!
The main reason to come was a dive site called Sail Rock, a rock pinnacle 15k off the islands shore. One of the best dive sites in the gulf of Thailand because of the diverse fish and coral life, as well as the varied rock formations (including a cool chimney 18m down to swim up and a rock wall to explore). There was some great schools of fish, and some big schools of divers. Our boat was the first to arrive, but when we came up there were 7 other boats on location! Despite the other divers, Sail Rock was no disappointment.
The day after, filled with the energy of completing a course successfully, and armed with new masks, Tash and I were "diving buddies" for a mornings fun diving. We went to a site called Southwest, which was again great, with schooling Barracuda, Groupers, Angel fish, Anemone fish, Xmas tree worms and some striking rock formations. Our new masks worked beautifully, completely free of fog, allowing great viewing (you're there to see things after all). Frustratingly, the other pairing were excited and breathed deeply, shortening the dive considerably. The second dive was also amazing, with our guide showing us little see-through Glass shrimp, and Pipe fish (cousins of the seahorse), Moray eels and Blue Spotted Rays. The rock formations were also really cool and the dive was long.
Happy, we grabbed the ferry across to the next island, Koh Phangan, without a clue as to where we'd be staying. Ten minutes after landing, we were on the back of a ute heading to a beach resort. After we arrived, we decided the shack with ill fitting panels and a great view of the local road didn't befit 'resort'. We did however later find a bungalow on the headland with fantastic sea
views, and for the same price!The main reason to come was a dive site called Sail Rock, a rock pinnacle 15k off the islands shore. One of the best dive sites in the gulf of Thailand because of the diverse fish and coral life, as well as the varied rock formations (including a cool chimney 18m down to swim up and a rock wall to explore). There was some great schools of fish, and some big schools of divers. Our boat was the first to arrive, but when we came up there were 7 other boats on location! Despite the other divers, Sail Rock was no disappointment.
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