03.20.06
Tropical Diving
3/20/06, Koh Tao
I got up early this morning for a diving trip. I thought I would have a bowl of fruit before my pickup but there was no-one at the desk or bar of the Pearl Cabana. It turned out to be just fine as it allowed me to sit and listen to the ocean in the quiet of the early morning. Eventually a local came walking through that turned out to be my driver.
The dive boat to Koh Tao had about a dozen divers from four different dive operators. I was the only person signed up from Captain Caveman Diving, which meant the dive instructor was my dive buddy and gave me his full time and attention. On the one hand it was good to be looked after, especially since it had been some time since my last dive, on the other hand he was a bit too careful and checked in on me as though I were a student… even though I equalized well, set my buoyancy with no problems and, well in general dove well and comfortably. True I have not dove much in the last few years but warn water diving is SO much easier and more comfortable than Pacific Northwest diving that it is a breeze. Just the fact that you are not fully encased in thick neoprene gives an unaccustomed degree of movement.
The dive went great; the waters around Koh Tao are teaming with colorful life. I saw a number of rays, puffer fish, eels and all sort of tropical fish. I particularly enjoyed swimming through schools of Barracuda. After our first dive we went into a nice semi-secluded bay and anchored for lunch then went to the south end of the island for a second dive at ‘Shark Rock’. The boat agreed that Shark Rock needs to be renamed ‘Trigger Fish Rock’ and my guide kept having to warn me of the many (dangerous) trigger fish, and dive away. It started to rain on the way back to Koh Samui, a two-hour trip by fast speedboat.
Back on the main island power had failed. I sat at one of the beach facing tables of the Pearl Cabana an read my book. I had stir fried vegetables in a coconut curry for dinner along with a Singha beer. I must admit I am developing a taste for Lagers, probably because they are the only affordable beer in the country.
tom said,
March 20, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Great site! I’ve enjoyed your Thai blog. Google’d across your page from searching for “thai phrase for allergic to fish.” Ironically, I’m headed out to Thailand next Tuesday (3/28) and my girlfriend is allergic to fish. Hence, I’m making some menu cards to direct any street-vendors etc. for proper prepartion of great grub, sans fish sauce.
Got any recommendation on hotel accomodations in Chiang Mai? I might try the Atlanta in BKK for the night before departure.
-Tom
(SF Bay Area)
Leopoldo said,
March 20, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Oh dude, you should totally check these guys out:
http://slashfood.com/2006/01/11/haveallergy-cantravel/ . I had a fish allergy card printed out in Thai, Chinese and Japanese and then found out (just before my travels) that I was not allergic after all. If you were in Portland I could hand you the card.
Also check out http://travelmenu.netasia.org/ it will give you all you need to order street or restaurant food with or without whatever you need.
In Chang Mai I recommend the Top North hotel. Very nice, excellent location and quite inexpensive. For BKK I do recommend the Atlanta for the same reasons. I am heading back there tonight myself.