[Phi Phi, Thailand] On the way to the dive centre there are two bakeries on opposite sides of the street with irresistible hoards of fresh pastries. That was breakfast and then on to the pier. Barakuda have supplied V with a prescription mask if you are wondering why she is wearing her glasses in the photos. They made a huge difference to her yesterday – one less thing to worry about I guess.

Our first dive site (Ban Nok) was just off a small island 40 minutes from port on flat seas under sunny skies. That’s more like it ! No rough pitching seas to remove our apple dough-nuts. The boat wasn’t full and we busied ourselves with setting up the gear and chatting to Stephane about the dive. Dive 1 would be a ‘no skills’ fun dive just cruising around. The boat stopped just off a stunning little bay – we jumped in and paddled to the shallower part (12m) to start the dive. Just treading at the surface Stephane spotted a baby black tip reef shark swimming beneath us. At that size they actually look cute. The dive was perfect. Great visibility and a lot of life on a beautiful reef. V didn’t remember much. That’s what happens on your first dive – as soon as you go under your memory switches off. We did see, besides countless others, a scary scorpion fish and a small Morey.

For an early lunch our captain pulled into Maya Bay. Yip – the one from the movie “The Beach” – which they are STILL playing in bars and restaurants on Phi Phi over 10 years after it screened. Your could barely see the sand through the swarm of speedboats, long-tails and 450 person ferries. A special trip there won’t be necessary or worth it. V had the boring task of swimming twice around the boat and then treading for 10 minutes while I had lunch. I was kind enough to have a cup of tea waiting for her when she got out.

The second dive site was just around the corner from Maya bay – a site called Malong. The visibility was not as good but the terrain was interesting and we saw a lot of lazy turtles munching coral and I got up close with a giant puffer fish (they are very cool). V took in a lot more on the dive and also completed the prerequisite skills and then some. Instead of just filling the mask and clearing it she removed it completely. So that fear is obviously gone and has been replaced with an even bigger grin.

I took a lot (well it’s a film camera so 24 is a lot) of photos and I hope they turn out but we will have to wait as there isn’t a photo lab on Phi Phi. After snoozing and inter-netting all afternoon we popped out for a meal and then straight back to bed. This diving thing is exhausting. Just two dives left and V will be certified. Tomorrow should be a breeze.

[Pictures: On the way out to the dive sites. V swimming around the boat in front of Maya bay]

– Posted from my iPhone via WiFi