My Time as a Mermaid

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  Ko Tao, Thailand
Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Hello, (this is going to be a long one might have to read it in two installments)

I have just possibly had the best 6 days of my life. I never expected to enjoy diving so much & I think everyone should try it before they die!!

Day one was just theory & we watched 3 videos all about diving & what was expected of us. It was quite scary watching them as it was quite negative about what could go wrong, I was just thinking what the hell am I signing up for, one guy quit just after watching the videos!! I met the lovely Stephen & Barry Carson & Jenny Doyle (Team Ireland) & hoped I would be diving with them.

Day two we started are confined diving, we had to start the day with EXERCISE!!, after that was done we learnt how to kit up, that was ok & I thought oh think I might be ok with this diving lark. I had the carson brothers in my group but not Jen so at least I had some of team Ireland with me. I got buddied up with Dan & we were then told to jump in the swimming pool. Can't really explain the feeling of when you first go into ther water with your regulator in your mouth & you can breathe its weird & for a spilt second I had to think am I breathing!. I started off so well dead chuffed with myself taking out my reg (get me getting down with the diving talk) out of my mouth & breathing without it, then it all changed, we had to fill our masks with water & blow it out with our noses. I can honestly say I have never freaked out so much in my life & just swam to the top in a milli-second. It was horrible, I couldn't clear my mask so couldn't see a thing & I freaked out that much my contacts came out so that made it worse!! This is when I met my hero Andy(loks like Matt from Busted),he was a instructor & he never left my side for the whole duration of the open water course then as I was his project. After calming me down we went back down & tried it again, I freaked again & went straight back to the top. After a little cry because I was so annoyed myself we tried again, you have blow the water out with nose so Andy said when you do it give me the biggest greenie you have ever done in you life & it will work, so I did & I cleared the mask ha ha!! After that I was fine & carried on with the group but Andy was always my buddy as we had 2 instructors & a dive master (Nana from Denmark, the most stunning girl you have ever seen in your life) so Pauly concentrated on the group & I had 121 guidance for nothing so got my monies worth. I was so close to quitting but so glad I didn't & there was no way Andy was going to let me as he loves having a problem child & turning them into a diver!!

Day 3 we went out to the open sea for 2 dives, I was so quiet on the boat going out & all I kept thinking was please don't let me die, dramatic I know but thats me. We jumped into the sea & our first dive was only 10 metres. We went down & I was near the bottom & once agin I lost it but Andy & Nana wouldn't let me go up so Andy just grabbed my weight belt so I couldn't, I then calmed down & started to breathe normally, we then started swimming & then my love for diving began, words can not describe what its like down there, so clear & all the fishes just swimming around you, its so peaceful, colourful & you never want to come up, 40 mins seems lke 5!!
I was so happy when I came up. After a hour break it was time for the second dive at 18metres/30ft, in the de-brief we were told we would have to demostrate the skills we learnt in the pool so you can imagine my face, but thank god the mask was the next day so I could cope with the taking your mouth piece out & breathing without it & then taking your buddies emergency air supply source into your mouth- did that with flying colours. After we dived we had our exam- passed with 100% so well done me.

Day 4 another two dives & we were being filmed, no freaking today but couldn't get the mask thing out of my head as I had to empty in & then also remove it put it back on & then blow the water out all at 18 metres, Andy & Nana could see how nervous I was so they didn't leave my side, we had to sit at the bottom of the sea & take it turns, everyone was doing it great & then it got to me, Gavin & April who were next to me were waiting with baited breathe hoping I would do it, I DID IT so everyone was high fiving me in the water!! I no longer had any nerves whatsoever now so the last dive was just amazing & I did everything perfectly, so much in fact Andy & Nana told me to do the advance so I said I would think about it.

We had qualified so we watched the video- I had a staring role along with my fun socks that I wore to prevent blisters from the fins. We then had a messy night as you can see from the pics on facebook. I agreed to the advanced course when I was drunk so there was no going back & the lads were doing it so I knew it would be a good laugh.

Up with a hangover the next morning, in the classroom dying thinking I have to dive 30m/100ft, the carson brothers fell a sleep they were that hungover. I dived 30m & it was amazing but you never think you will get to the bottom & your ears pop so much. We then did a night dive which was so weird as it was obviously so dark so you are swimming with a torch trying to see all the fish, saw stingrays straight away. I had the pleasure of diving with Niall carson the brother of Barry & Stephen who is already a advanced so he decided to come along, & thank god he did, he saved me as I didn't realise but I was swimming up & I would of come up somewhere far away from the boat & been lost as it was pitch black, he noticed he lost me & shone his torch & realised what was happening & he swam up & grabbed my weight belt & brought be down I was quite worried!! We then were told to turn our torches off & swim in the pitch black, when we turned the torch off the sea lit up like twinkle lights it was beautiful.

After 5 dives I was qualified as a advanced diver, the last two dives were by far my favourite & nothing phases me down there I have so much confidence & would dive anywhere now.

Andy said its because of people like me he does his job, from crying on the first day to now being advanced, I have had the best experience.I have met the most amazing people, Dargh, Gavin, Dan, The Carson trio & the two Jens, Gavin (2) & April- I will be keeping you to picking me up at Vegas & showing me your lifestyle out there!!

We partied hard last night to celebrate & I am gutted we have finished!! but now I can't wait to dive in the barrier reef & Barry you are diving with me!!

Oh yeh broke my toe with three dives to go but no way I was quitting, I am hardcore really as the pain your in when you have a broken toe trying to kick your fins is unbearable. I broke it trying to get back on the boat & you climb up metal steps at the back of the boat, slipped & bang it went I just screamed so loud!

Well until next time x

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