WHen diving in Koh Tao, the interesting creatures you see are not just the ones in the water, as Jim and Sarah found out on their recent return trip to Thailand.

The couple got their PADI Open Water Diver certification at Ban’s Diving Resort and, while they had a good experience, they did meet some “interesting” instructors.

The rakish Swedish fella who was to be our instructor for the next four days cried off with a flu, and just as we were finishing watching the drivel that is the PADI dvd, in bounded a floppy haired Brit introducing himself as Guy. I was fairly sure he had been an extra in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves at some point…but he was very friendly and seemed to know what he was on about.

A funny writeup, nonetheless, and a good look into how new divers see their first trip below the surface.

The weather had continued to reside in the realms of total shite, and the view on the choppy speedboat ride to the dive boat was of sheet lightning off the coast. Not great on the already jittery nerves. ..

Sarah was characteristically šhìttìng herself about the prospect of seeing sharks. Guy was brilliant, and gave a masterclass in that most elusive art of “calming Sarah down” or CSD for short. Fears of mask filling, blood thirsty sharks/barracuda/rare sub aqua giant mosquito’s biting and decompression sickness were all dispelled with a magic shrug of the shoulder and toothy grin. ‘It’ll be fiiiiiiine’ (winks to me). Genius. Wouldn’t have happened without him.

They both enjoyed the course enough that they signed up for the Advanced Open Water course. Read their full report here.