The truck picked us up at a quarter till eight this morning to take us to the boat for our first day of diving in the ocean. We’d be diving in two places around the Phi Phi islands, one morning dive and one afternoon dive. We get into longtail boats waiting on the beach that will take us out to the big dive boat.

Longtail boats take us out to the dive boat in the morning.

The boat ride took two and a half hours to get to the first spot, during which we talked with our new instructor, Uchim (another German), and met his other student, Brigetta, whom we’d be diving with. We got a briefing of the dive location and the skills we’d be practicing. I was just a little nervous, but the pool sessions had gone well so I wasn’t worried.

When we neared the dive spot there was a flurry of activity, with divers and instructors getting their gear ready and into their wet suits. There were probably two dozen divers on the boat today, with about six to eight dive guides and instructors. We would prepare and enter the water last, with the advanced divers getting in first. When it came our time it seemed like chaos, and we had to prepare our tanks and BCDs quickly, then get into our gear. Dave and I didn’t have time for our pre-dive “buddy check” but Uchim did a quick check and then ushered us into the water. Everyone was telling us to hurry. I guess there were snorkelers that would be taken to a slightly different spot and the boat people were in a rush to use the boat time efficiently. Dave and I each took a big step out and fell in the water. Sploosh. For a second you’re sinking, and then just like that you breathe in and the regulator works. It works! In a half second you pop up to the surface, give the OK sign and swim backwards away from the boat.

Uchim, Brigetta, Dave and I gathered together on the surface and Uchim reviewed the skills we’d be doing on the surface and then under water on this dive. We did things like switch from regulator to snorkel and back again under water, flood and then clear our masks under water, simulate running out of air and switching to our buddy’s spare regulator, stuff like that. Once we’d performed a few skills we just swam around looking at the coral and fish. It was amazing and beautiful and peaceful. I was hooked.

After lunch Dave and I had to get in the water without our wetsuits or anything and do the swim test. We just had to swim twice around the boat because the current was so strong, then we had to hang on to a rope from the boat and demonstrate that we could float for ten minutes. We got back in and it was time to suit up for the second dive. It was a little less chaotic this time, but still a rush. The second dive was much like the first, with different skills. Then we just swam and looked at the sea life. We were lucky to see a big turtle near the end. I just wanted to follow him around all day.

The evening was as lovely as the last two, with more conversation and good food.