After getting certified in Open Water, I dove right into advanced. Two twelve-hour days at sea to fulfill the 5 necessary types of dives: The first dive was a wreck. Seriously. A King Cruiser that sunk a few years ago. But it ended up meeting all of the other requirements too: deep, drift, boat, and underwater navigation. I was the first to jump into the water, and, for some reason, the boat decided to move to a different location immediately afterwards. Jamie, Monique (Maik’s wife), and this other guy Roland were dropped off a good distance away from me, forcing me to swim against the current to meet up with them. When we all convened at the buoy (and once I caught my breath), we began the descent down the rope. I had to ignore that little part of the brain that classified pulling myself into the unknown depths of the ocean as unwise. Toilets were the first recognizable elements of the ship to come into view. Then rooms and windows and the upper deck. What was once a luxurious ocean liner had transformed into an aquatic playground. Roland and I had planned on reenacting that famous scene from “The Titanic,” but it never worked out. After an appropriate surface interval, to account for the remaining nitrogen in our blood, we moved on to Shark Point. A beautiful place, but one that unfortunately did not live up to its name that day. We finished with Koh Doc Mai, a small island that continues deep underwater, creating what’s called a wall dive. It was like a never-ending cabinet of marine life, with countless varieties of animals filling the shelves. In every direction, a different shape and size and color, swaying to the rhythm of the water. The last 2 dives (now we’re talking yesterday) were around the Similan Islands, farther away but better by far. Small islands that looked like cardboard cutouts from afar, reminiscent of Vietnam’s Halong Bay. And thanks to Dramamine, I made it there in one piece. After listening to the orientations (as well as translating them into Spanish for friends I met), Jamie, Maik, and I got to it. The last dive was the best of my (5-day) career. In addition to eels, barracuda, trumpet fish, lion fish, schools of blue spotted sting rays, and a turtle, we saw a leopard shark. Snoozing on the sandy bottom. We hovered within 10 feet of it before waking it up, and that was close enough for me. Yom Kippur came and went here like the tide. My intense diving schedule made fasting impossible, and there aren’t a lot of temples in Phuket. I hope I’ll be forgiven for missing this day of forgiveness. Today I was presented my official PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) ID (Identification), along with an official logbook that Maik and Monique already filled with my first 9 dives. Basically, I’ve officially got the skills, and “girls like guys with skills.” To celebrate, Jamie and I are having dinner at the same place we have gone to every night. In fact, the name of the restaurant is Same Same. We are their number one customers, and have become great friends with Arna (Anna), the owner, and B, the main waiter and Spongebob look-alike. As soon as I step through the door, 3 orders of chicken sauté and 2 orders of mango sticky rice are commenced. Following dinner, there will be a special screening of “Finding Nemo” in my hotel room, now that I have a genuine appreciation for the animated content. And, let’s be honest, it’s one of my favorite movies.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 16th, 2005 at 6:04 am in I. Thailand. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.