28th February 2014

Well, Julian my Tanzanian student has finally gone.  After doing Open Water, Advanced, Peak Perfomance Bouyancy Speciality and then straight on to do Reef Check, he did a great job.  He was slightly cocky at times, turned up late on occasion, but he did his homework, took on board what you told, seemed passionate about the course (Reef Check) which is brilliant at that young age.

So, what’s next?  I’m not sure to be honest.  I think Simon might be starting his ‘Tec’ course tomorrow and I’ve yet to see/find out what my schedule is.  If I’m not doing anything, then it’s out on the bike, a bit of a swim and exploring the island  …sounds silly seeing we’ve been here nearly 5 years :-D

As of this morning, Simon is now a 'Master Instructor'   ..Congratulations!!!  So proud!!!!

23rd February 2014

Well the last few days have been pretty uneventful for me.  I've cleaned a little, sorted out my wardrobe and have been for the odd cycle and massage.  What's been nice is that Kirsty's at home too, so we've been watching the odd episode of Downtown Abbey and just pottering, doing nails, snoozing and have gone out for the odd walk.  Other than that, I've been very lazy

Si on the other hand has been up to his eyes in it.  UK work, Wild Challenge and soon to be teaching Reef Check ..there's no peace for the wicked :-D

 I did make a list last night of things to do, but as today is Sunday, I couldn't do have of it.

Tomorrow is another day and I'll get cracking.  Kirsty is back at work, so they'll be no excuses !!

20th February 2014

My last Open Water course was with only 3 students, 2 Italians who I later found out squatted in Brixton, London and worked as a chef and a bar man and a 18yr old chap from Tanzania, who seems to very knowledgeable for his age.  It certainly was an odd mix and I did a lot of shouting but thankfully they were very good in the water.  Julian, the young chap from Tanzania is now doing a two week Eco Intership, so I’ll be assisting on Reef Check and taking him out on some Eco dives …I think he must be sick of me now :-D

So today I got up nice and early 6am and cycled in to Crystal.  I was supposed to have two students for a super quick course.  Confined pool session in the morning, followed by academics and then on the afternoon boat for dives 1 & 2  …Unfortunately only one of the guys showed up, the other was still out partying.

After a very easy confined session, I took the one student that I had to do his swim test and float.  Just as the float was coming to an end, the missing student showed up  …he was very apologetic, blamed it on a girl and that he’d been really stupid.  I just agreed with him.  I could still smell alcohol on his breath, so there was no way I was going to take him diving today but he did want to finish all his academics, so I sat down in the restaurant with them both, reviewed their knowledge reviews and got them to do the final exam.   As the chap I took in the pool wasn’t on any time consraint, he decided to delay his diving by another day, so by the end of the morning, I went from two students to none LOL

This afternoon I'm sat at home with Simon who’s busy with UK work as usual   ..oh well ;-D

News on Mr Grasshead.  He's now had a haircut and is looking definitely more presentable.

17th February 2014

Hey guys,

Sorry about the gap... I thought Jen was going to update the blog, but it turned out that she was too busy!! HA!!

So anyway, we spent a couple more days of pool time and sunning ourselves by the pool (while I studied the Tec Diving)

Returning back to Koh Tao, Jen was asked to work immediately!  Another Open Water course... this time with 3 people.

Darren was still here, so I went out for a couple of fun dives with him, since all his dives had been training dives. I also took my new toy... The Torid Pulse..

This is my new underwater gun!

Shooting Darren over 2 dives (in the face alot!) was so much fun... Unfortunately, since it is connected to my scuba tank... it uses a ton of air... so I have to been conservative.

For video of this thing in action... see here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14pIvaDdtec


The next day I took Darren to Junkyard to show him around and do some shifting structures underwater. A large group was involved, and the work got done quickly so we had plenty of time to have a look around.

Seeing Darren off that evening was sad :-( But hopefully, he enjoys the rest of his journey without us oldies!! 

The next couple of days (Jen still working) had me rebuilding my laptop... It finally was repaired and returned.... Getting everything back to normal, while still trying to continue to work is a long process... and I feel like I have my own little control room with all the electronics around.. (check out the cup of tea on the left!!)..

Continuing my Tec Diver studies as well, has been keeping me an extremely busy boy. In addition, dealing with the Wild Challenge event coming up.... the list is endless.

Here is a promo video that I created... the dude that features heavily in it, is Crystal's Operation Manager...

https://vimeo.com/86758854

And now, teaching Reef Check, also joining Wreck Diver... etc etc etc... too busy to have free time...

Big love...

xx

SD

8th February 2014 - Visa Run (Short Break in Malaysia)

Its that time again... Visa Run...

This time I had decided that I was over the "Burma Run"... so I planned a 3 day break to Kuala Lumpur for Jen and I to get away, and I could do some studying for the Tec Diver course that I have been trying to start for ages.

Flights were cheap as chips from the mainland (£30 !!) so we left Koh Tao on the night boat after a few beers with Darren and some food.

Arriving on mainland Thailand the next day, we waited for the minibus to collect us. It was a big mess but the guys worked it out eventually, putting various people in different minibuses... Then we got thrown into a Tuk Tuk, and taken to the town centre, to wait for a taxi to take us to another minibus... Confused yet??  We were.

Anyway, we finally got on a minibus that was actually going to the airport, and we flew out of there, arriving in KL at lunchtime. Exiting arrivals, our prearranged transfer collected us to take us to Villa Samadhi.

The room was very different.... I had read a lot of reviews calling it "weird" and "quirky"... and I can see what they mean.... but WOW... it was lovely.

This the view when you open the door... seating area on left, and bed at the far end.

Panoramic Version here...

Then you walk into the bathroom...This is how I  imagine a bathroom that I would build...

And a panoramic view!

After relaxing in the Jacuzzi for a bit, we headed out to try and find an ATM... 45 minutes later, we found one... and then caught a taxi to Chinatown to pick up some cheap board shorts and sunglasses.

Next stop was the Bombay Palace... an Indian restaurant which looks very old fashioned...apparently there is one in the UK as well.

 We had our first decent bottle of wine in months... as well as a great meal...

Time for bed!!

x

SD

6th February 2014

So, after running the test event for the Wild Challenge project I am assisting with getting off the ground, we had some valuable feedback from the guinea pigs and will need to work on it before the first official event at the end of the month.

Needing some time away from mobile phone and laptop, I joined Jen and Darren on his final 2 dives of the Advanced Open Water Course... I brought a camera, but of course I forgot it on the first dive... Anyway, I remembered it on the 2nd dive and took a few snaps.

We went to the wreck, for Darrens Wreck Adventure... the visibility was average, which is hardly ever good... but it adds to the spookiness factor.

Coming away from the wreck to go to White Rock where the boat was mooring, we bumped into this little fellow hanging around... Great to see for Darren, and its been a few weeks at least since I last saw one!

Well done Darren!!  And he goes on to Deep Diver Speciality... while we dissapear on a visa run!!

3rd February 2014

Hey guys,

Been a few days... I have 'Man Flu' , while Jen is busy teaching another course.  Within this course there is a fella called Darren.

Darren is the son of Garth, who used to live on the farm with me and Jen many moons ago. Darren has since grown up!  The last time I saw him was a few years ago, while having a few beers with Garth and Darren in London...

Anyway, the course is going well, and Darren should complete his course today... (possible video coming soon!!)... then he will continue onto the Advanced course too...

In the meantime, our new lodger's hair is getting enormous!!

 And boy, tonights sunset was a doozy

xxx


SD