18 meters underwater - Koh Tao, Thailand

  Meditation focuses on mastery of the mind. Scuba diving, we found out, emphasizes control of the physical body, essentially manifested in maintenance of neutral buoyancy, which is greatly influenced by breathing patterns. This phenomenal state of weightlessness is the greatest asset in diving, allowing you to steadily navigate and admire the underwater world with ease.

  We arrived in Koh Tao in the morning, after a little discrepancy in the boat plans, as our reserved ride turned out to be nonfunctional. Since most diving companies provide discounted accommodation, we settled in for breakfast with the aim of finding our ideal option. Scuba Junction offers small, 4 – person group courses in a professional yet relaxed setting, and we weren't disappointed as our instructor G started patiently inducting us into the innerworld. Most days began with videos and classwork, but by early afternoon, we were in the water, practicing our freshly acquired skills. Scuba diving, naturally, relies heavily on equipment. Terms such as regulator, buoyancy compensator and submersible pressure gauge ping pong in your head, even as you try to adjust to the seemingly simple task of underwater breathing. It is hard to take in at first, as you finally realize your ability to coexist in this “new” world. Once we've established some confidence in our rudimentary skills (mask and regulator readjustment, ascent, descend, regular breathing, neutral buoyancy, etc.), G led us on four open water dives, his calm no-nonsense attitude easily getting us past some small snags (such as a disadvantageous strong current on our very first dive).

  Each dive began with on-deck preparation and equipment check.

 After a quick briefing and underwater signal confirmation, we descended for a visit into the blue water beyond. Koh Tao and the surrounding islands provide some great diving conditions, with clear aqua blue water, little inclement weather and thus decent visibility. The atmosphere was surreal, addicting. Some senses were dulled, while others heightened. But it was the weightlessness that made you feel as if you were in space. Sun rays slashed deep into the water, and highlighted the wonders below. Like some small model city, the coral, different in shapes and sizes, teemed with a frenzy of activity. Fish of various colors and brightness, sea slugs, eels, jellyfish and squid, crabs, plants and the elusive sea snake made an appearance. The closer you approached the reef, the more vibrant the colors became. We swam through a large school of small yellow-tailed barracudas. Curious and unafraid, they contoured to our movements, as if providing a silvery escort. Enchanting. We heard turtles and even whale sharks occasionally grace divers with their company, but we didn't have the chance to see them.

G, our instructor

Dive computer

Our last dive site

  Careful to ascent slowly and breathe normally (most diving complications relate to incorrect ascent), we surfaced happy, eager to share the experience with our diving buddies.  And here we have a chance to share it with you!

  After 3 ½ days of school (with actual homework), four dives and a final exam, we were officially open water diving certified. We celebrated with an evening out with G, Teemu and Brian.

  We stayed in Koh Tao for two more days to enjoy the beach, since before full days of diving, homework and pure physical exhaustion guaranteed early nights.

  SE Asia has many fine dive sites, so easy access should deepen our comfort level and ability in diving. Meanwhile, our usual lack of pre-planned reservations put us on a long arduous journey, via various modes of transportation, first to the notorious for corruption Poipet border-crossing and then to Battambang, Cambodia. For now, best wishes to my birthday boy!

Oyster sauce chicken

Complimentary green/jasmine tea

Best banana pancake ever, in Bubblehole, Thailand

Welcome to Chumphon train station