Day 148 – Koh Phi Phi, Thailand – 7:23 PM

I hoped to get SCUBA certified in the States prior to traveling but my schedule did not permit. During my research, I discovered that many travelers attain their certificates in Thailand, as the cost of each course is significantly less expensive. Ko Tao is a popular destination for aspiring divers and I planned to complete my open-water course there. That plan changed when I arrived in Mission Beach, Australia months later. I met a group of Scots who just completed three months traveling through Southeast Asia. They completed their open water SCUBA certification at Barakuda SCUBA on Koh Phi Phi and highly recommended I do the same. I wrote down the name of the company and hoped to squeeze it in during my month in Thailand.

Fast-forward almost three months and here I am on the island of Koh Phi Phi. I arrived yesterday by ferry after a short, two-day stop in Phuket. My brief stay in Phuket was highlighted by a trip to Kata Beach and an eventful dinner at New York Burger Co., located on tourist concentrated Kata Road. During the shuttle ride from Phuket Airport to my hostel, the driver pulled over outside New York Burger Co. to drop off a fellow rider. I noticed the square marquee emblazoned with the outline of a burger and craved a decent, American meal. I remembered the location as we departed for my hostel. After checking into my six-person room and depositing my bags, I set off for New York Burger Co. I worked my way through narrow streets that eventually fed into Kata Road. Minutes later I was outside my destination and glanced through the menu. The prices were to my liking and the waitress insisted I would not be disappointed with the burgers. I smiled and put my faith in her claim. I sat down at a nearby table and let the cool post-sunset breeze sweep over me. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and one cold, Chang beer, a local Thai brew. As I waited for my thick, juicy chunk of ground beef, the owner of New York Burger Co. appeared on the patio and we began chatting. I noticed his North American accent and informed him which American state I was from. He smiled and divulged that he graduated from a nearby state university and then resettled in South Florida after graduation.

My very impressive bacon cheeseburger arrived and he pulled up a nearby chair and our conversation continued. Over bites of burger and ketchup-laden fries he filled me in on his background and motivations behind relocating to the Kata section of Phuket. He asked about my background and I led him down the long path that inspired me to travel around the globe for an extended period of time. We chatted a bit longer and he eventually stood up to tend to business inside. As he walked through the door he turned and told me that you can never go wrong following your heart or your gut instinct.  He is 100% correct.

Yesterday morning, I checked out of my hostel and boarded an 11am ferry from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi. For two hours, the ferry skidded across the surface of the Strait of Malacca. We passed other ferries, private catamarans and yachts. As we pulled up to the pier, the water depth decreased causing its clarity and fluorescence to increase. I walked the short distance to Marine House, a hostel close to Barakuda SCUBA. I checked into a four-person room along with Frank, a German, who arrived aboard the same ferry. Small talk about our backgrounds and plans for Koh Phi Phi broke up the monotony of unpacking. Frank wanted to explore the island as he planned to return to Phuket today. I wanted to locate Barakuda SCUBA and ensure I knew its location for this morning’s class. We separated and agreed to reconvene at 5pm and check out the sunset at a nearby viewpoint.

I referred to an offline, map application on my phone and calculated the distance between Marine House and Barakuda SCUBA. I estimated it was not more than a ten minute walk away. I stepped into my flip-flops and took a right out of Marine House. I walked two blocks and turned left onto the main road that bisects Koh Phi Phi. This narrow path is lined with numerous SCUBA shops, hostels, restaurants and small shops run by locals selling everything imaginable. Motorized vehicles are not permitted on the island and pedestrians meandered in all directions. Two blocks later I saw the large marquee indicating the entrance to Barakuda SCUBA. With that item crossed off the mental list, I began searching for a place to eat lunch. I retraced my steps and found Mr. Soda directly across from Marine House. A sign hung outside the small, open-air restaurant, graciously thanking his neighbors and friends who helped him dig out from the tsunami that ravaged the region in 2000. He went on to claim that without their help, his restaurant would never have reopened. I read the sign and then eagerly found a seat and perused the menu. I am more than happy and willing to open my wallet for humble and gracious individuals like Mr. Soda. The hefty portion of green curry with chicken did not disappoint either.

After lunch I walked the bustling streets of the island that encompasses less than five square miles. Honeymooners walked arm in arm, couples with young children headed for the beach with buckets in hand, young backpackers looked for another opportunity to consume alcohol. Afternoon slowly faded into early evening and I returned to Marine House to meet Frank. We joined up and traversed the two-mile trek to an elevated viewpoint on the eastern end of Koh Phi Phi. Fifty other travelers looking for the same beautiful sunset joined us. Yellows, oranges and reds lit up the evening sky as the sun faded beyond the horizon. We snapped occasional photographs and then descended back down to the center of the island. After a quick dinner and post-sunset beer, I returned to Marine House and prepared for Day 1 of my SCUBA course.

I woke this morning at 8:15am and quickly jumped out of bed.   I changed into swim trunks and grabbed my backpack.   By 8:30am, I was out the door and in search of a quick breakfast before my class at Barakuda SCUBA began at 9am. I found a local street stall selling fruit and bought two bananas for $.50 USD. I proceeded to Barakuda SCUBA and introduced myself to the receptionist behind the counter. She welcomed me and invited me to sit at a nearby table. Moments later Peter, an expat from Northern Ireland, arrived and began guiding me through a small amount of paperwork. We discussed details of the upcoming three days and he noted that my instructor would fill me in on the rest. From there he walked me to a second floor classroom and got me started on computer-based training. For the next eight hours, I read through a series of presentations and completed accompanying tests. Items ranged from equipment to safety to health risks associated with SCUBA diving.

After a thirty-minute lunch break at Mr. Soda’s I returned to Barakuda SCUBA to complete the last remaining modules. Midway through my first post-lunch lesson, a female entered the room wearing a black, Barakuda SCUBA t-shirt. She smiled, reached out her hand and introduced herself as Lisa from Austria, my instructor. She sat in a nearby chair and rehashed much of the information that Peter stated earlier in the morning. She went over bits of information I previously covered in the modules and explained the scheduled dives for tomorrow and Friday. We discussed key aspects of a safe dive and she answered all questions and concerns I raised. She departed and left me to complete the classroom items. She insisted Day 2 and 3 would be much more enjoyable. I wrapped everything up around 4pm and returned to Marine House. The items I covered during today’s classroom session are an essential foundation to becoming a SCUBA diver. However, I look forward to putting these points into practice tomorrow when we don a mask, fins and tank and descend into the depths.