Scuba diving in Thailand: an epic solo adventure

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At sunrise and on my way to the harbor, my stomach pounded with nerves and excitement.

I had booked a full day boat dive at my hostel in Phuket, even though I hadn’t dived in years.

Despite the quick refresher course I had completed to prepare for the trip, I still didn’t feel safe. I was hoping it wouldn’t be a nuisance to my dive master or the other divers in my group.

You see, this was also my first solo trip and I was alone, there was no diving companion to lean back on this time. However, my worries were not enough to influence me. There is nothing better than the feeling of breathing underwater … especially when the water is crystal clear and has about 89 ° Fahrenheit. Although the Thai island of Koh Tao is known for its world-class diving, I had no idea what to expect in Phuket. I just wanted to relive my diving skills and spend a fun day in the water, even though we didn’t see much marine life.

See also: The best dive sites in Koh Tao

Arriving at the port, I was introduced to my diving master Praew (a local on the island) and another diver from Germany who would join us during the day. Praew informed us about the dive sites we would visit and patiently answered all of our questions. As we approached the first dive site and felt a bit like mothers for the boat trip, we put on our gear and (after a quick safety check), we slid into the water.

Nothing happens here!

As we slowly and quietly descended, my pre-dive nerves dissolved and my breathing relaxed. A whole world opened up before me. Banks of fish passed before my eyes, a turtle swam in the distance, a sea snake slid over the sand, and huge blocks formed mini underwater cannons for swimming. In the distance, my diving instructor pointed to a reef shark coming in and out of sight. This dive was proving to be one of the best of my life. We found a sea turtle and swam beside it (at a respectful distance), and soon lost track of time.

Before we knew it, our tanks were going down and we had to go up. Back on the boat, we enjoyed fresh watermelon and fruit juice as we recounted everything we had seen as we headed to the next dive site.

Over the next two days, we found countless more turtles, reef sharks, and fish, including my favorite: the bat. I even swam for my first shipwreck and marine life schools strayed from my path as I explored the different corridors.

It was, to put it mildly, the experience of a lifetime and one I will never forget.

After our last dive, Praew was kind enough to share their GoPro pictures with us (for free!), And now I have hundreds of beautiful photos to remember the trip.

Back in my room that night, I fell asleep exhausted, but so happy and happy. I promised to return to Thailand the following year for another solo diving adventure, and I did, this time to Koh Tao. Now I plan to keep coming back for years to come.

Scuba diving in Thailand offers everything you would expect in terms of service, climate, marine life and diversity, and really suits all skill levels. In fact, there is no better place to get certified if you are interested in becoming an open water diver.

To book your own scuba diving adventure in Phuket, keep your eyes peeled for scuba diving trips to Racha Noi and Racha Yai. Trips are usually all-day excursions and the chosen provider will pick you up directly at your hotel. In 2017, my trip cost $ 105 (3,700 Bhat) and included breakfast, lunch and supplies.

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