The technical diving team is finally assembled as another dive arrives

Khao Lak, Thailand - The technical diving team came together today with the arrival of Matt Payne who would be joining us for the similan islands portion of diving. Matt joins Andy, Emily and Mark for his TDI Extended Range, Gas Blender and Compressor Operator course which will be combined with wreck diving and a liveaboard on the Similan Islands.

Matt arrived this morning from Phuket Airport after a flight from his home in Pattaya. Matt joined us last year for a Khao Sok Expedition where he completed his Cavern and Decompression Procedures course.

Also today Andy and Emily were on a trip to Ranong to get their visas extended, this left James, Mark and Matt the afternoon free to be tourists. One of the more remarkable things in this area is the tsunami memorial which pays homage to the people who lost their lives and were effected during this event during christmas in 2005. This is illustrated by a large police boat which was swept over a kilometer in land and is now displayed as a reminder to the force and destruction of the water which took over 4000 lives in Khao Lak alone.

The remainder of the day would be spent adjusting gear, charging flashlights/torches, checking our dive profile through our decompression dive planner and getting to bed early for tomorrow would start at 7am to get on the wreck at slack tide.

Big Blue Tech opens it’s doors today to start the new season after closing during the annual monsoon that hit’s the east side of Koh Tao, however the monsoon never happened. Despite diving destinations on the east coast of Thailand like Pattaya being effected by consistent rain and flash flooding; koh tao was sunny and dry.

The many wise locals of koh tao who have been on the island before beer swear that monsoon is coming and that we shouldn’t be opening just yet. So against better judgment we opened the doors of Big Blue Tech and welcomed all the new activity.

One of the more regretful events is the departure of Christos Kardana who’s leaving Thailand to go to England to delve into the plentiful job market there. Regardless we hope he’ll find nothing but misery and come back in the new year.

Today isn’t without celebration as it’s also the first day for Ash Dunn who has been training to become the new Facilities Manager for this past month and walked right into work this morning ready to get to go.

Today is also the first day for our new technical diving interns who have a very long list of courses and goals to complete over the next 3 months on their way up to becoming a technical diving instructor. You can read more about them tomorrow.

Living and diving on a small island can be unpredictable in so many ways, one of the more intrusive ways is the weather. Without warning it can change from hot and sunny to cold and rainy, recently Koh Tao was hit with a storm that lasted a few days ( see “Blown Away by the Diving“, took down some trees, threw sand in our eyes and general put everyone off the idea of going into the sea. That short period of boredom and gloom is over now with the return of the sunny and hot season typically enjoyed by all in Koh Tao and exactly what you would expect from a small island.

Koh Tao is unique beyond anywhere in Thailand, it has yet to be given a large airport which means the groups of people here are determined to enjoy the island. It’s always been considered a hippy backpacker place so it’s still quite young and fresh in mood and atmosphere. The shop owners are relaxed and leave you to browse with out the high pressure sales tactics. And the number one great thing about Koh Tao is the absence of the sex industry found most commonly in other parts of Thailand. Here on Koh Tao you would never see a “go go bar” in other places already mentioned you can’t avoid them. Most people already know this about Koh Tao and that’s what makes this place a great place to put your feet up.

Even the manager of Big Blue Diving wrote this: “ I woke up this morning I had an early morning swim from my house on Sairee Terrace south, a couple of hundred meters, to Sairee Beach & then back again. Me & my lovely wife walked the dogs down to the beach & then we had breakfast on the balcony at home. Then when I drove into work this morning the breeze was a refreshing break to the early morning heat of another beautifully bright hot sunny day. I went to yoga & put the fans on full. I got to spend most of my working day in my air conditioned office & then I’ve got a wedding party at the beach tonight at sunset. Then tomorrow I got to do the same again though I might replace my yoga work out with a couple of dives at Chumphon Pinnacle! I’m living the dream : ) Are you? “. Sounds good to me.

With the weather change brought about a mad rush of diving, Christos couldn’t wait to get back in the water to start taking pictures again and generally everyone is in a good mood soaking up the sun.

Below are some pictures taken over the past few days. The photo’s Christos took can be found >here<