Koh Tao Dive Adventure Action!

Nicole and I are now PADI-certified SCUBA divers! Technically, I was already certified, but the nuances of breathing underwater without dying get a little hazy when you haven't dived since middle school. So I am re-certified. It's like when you renew your marriage vows after you forget you love your spouse.

We did two dives on both Friday and Saturday and had ridiculous amounts of fun. The "viz" - which is short for underwater visibility to us dive vets - isn't the best right now because of some serious rainstorms, but it was still totes exciting when you can have imaginary Planet Earth narration playing in your head as you study the reefs. We plan to do some more diving as soon as possible, perhaps on the west coast of Thailand where the "viz" is bettter right now.

The night after the final dives, our fellow students and Danish dive instructor, Kristian, went out for pizza and drinks. We hit a couple awesome bars on the beach, highlights being the fire twirling (see above and below), giant couches and shore dancing.

We planned to check out Sunday morning and spend one more day on another part of the island, before heading to neighboring island Ko Phangan. The area we had been staying on Koh Tao, Sairee Beach, was nice enough, but lacking any significant streches of actual beach and pretty crowded with tourists and generic English pubs. We decided to explore the southeast part of the island, which can only be reached by foot after a certain point and has but a few secluded bungalows.

Needless to say, our plans to leave today have evaporated. We've found the perfect stretch of paradise on June Juea Beach at Moondance Bungalows. It costs $9 a night. There are like five other people milling about. A solitary restaurant where we can enjoy all our meals.

The bungalows, themselves, are out of this world. Each of the six are built with a living palm tree supporting one corner, classic thatched roof, coconut shower heads, bamboo bathroom "wall" divider and elevated bed with mosquito net. Surprisingly, this is all tastefully done, and dare I say Roark-esque? We have no photos yet but are working on it. We might be here for a while, weather permitting, so there will be time to give the place justice with some snaps.

We are going to go snorkeling now to check out the "viz". Hang ten.