Adventure Awaits: Under the Sea

Okay, so I've been doing A LOT of research about just what it is I've got myself into. When I do things like this, I get a little obsessive too. In my excitement, I've managed to read just about a zillion stories about one small dot on a map. Just imagine how long that has taken. Dedication, I'm telling you. Or maybe just overly enthusiastic anticipation.

Either way, in my browsing I've come across typical things like what to eat and where are some unique places to visit. Looks like I might need to stay a while to see not only all that Thailand has to offer, but Southeast Asia in general.

I've also started thinking of what I'll be seeing in the big ol' blue. Some pretty cool stuff out there. What I love about sea life is that it is SO foreign. Not only do I get to go someplace new, but I get to explore the waters and see some of these little alien creatures living in the WATER! Just think about that for a minute. A whole community, no a whole world of creatures just hanging out all the time, swimming around in the ocean. Like I said, pretty cool.

Anyway, I've collected a little list here of what I'm most looking forward to observing. I'll let you know if I happen to catch a glimpse of any of these freakishly cool things.

I recently got back from my very first liveaboard and let me tell you, it was a lot of fun! From the moment the boat lifted the anchor to reaching the Similan Islands until we reached dry land again, each day was packed to the brim of things to do and see. My excitement for it all kept my energy levels high. I've started my Dive Master training course and in between the dives we has skills sessions, lectures about diving practices, and hands on reviews of safety an rescue procedures. Like I said, full of stuff to do but the other few DMTs were just as eager as I was to learn more and see the behind the scenes action of a liveaboard.

All that plus the bonus of diving in the Similan Islands. Though the tsunami of 2004, the coral bleaching just a few years ago and recent dynamite fishing has impacted the life on these islands, it isn't hard to imagine what they would have looked like in their prime. With the variety and amount of sea life it is quite a treat to observe the underwater world going about its daily routines. Whether it be a green sea turtle munching on some soft coral for a mid-day snack, an open-water hunter making a pit-stop at a "cleaning station" to have the little fish make their scales sparkle, a frog fish camouflaged while napping in a coral head or an octopus waking up when the sun goes down to search for breakfast, the sea is buzzing with activity at all hours. Luckily, I have about 5 more weeks of training and a few more opportunities to head out to the open see for more of these encounters. Sounds good to me!