Paradise to hell ..... and back

We got picked up early Thursday morning by our driver, who then took us 2 hours north to Khao Lak. Here we met up with the dive shop, go over our briefing and then jump on a high powered speedboat out to the liveaboard, which is based out at the Similian Islands. We weren't sure what to expect of the boat, but I'm pleased to say we were suitably impressed. It was a three level boat with a sun deck, living deck and scuba / equipment deck. It had a well organized galley, decent eating area and a friendly multinational crew ........ oh, and not forgetting the good food and cold beer.

We complete two dives on day one. We opted to skip the third dive in place of relaxing with a cold beer and catch some rays. This place looks like it has come straight out of the tropical getaway magazine. Uninhabited islands, huge rock formed coast lines and scattered white beaches surrounded by aqua waters.

The two dives we did were both in excess of 45 minutes each, so we were pretty exhausted anyway and ready to put our feet up and sucked down a few cold ones. That night we both slept like babies in our little cabin. It might have been basic, but it had all we needed ...... a bed. It's been a very different valentines day, which is perfect, because who really likes normal anyway :-)

 Up at 6.30 the next morning for breakfast, a beautiful sunrise over the islands, and then our first dive at 7am. No better way to wake up than a 70 feet dive in a nice cool ocean. A day of diving, eating and sleeping commenced ......... our objective was met.

 The speedboat ride out to the Similan islands was just as you expect. Blue skies, smooth ocean and 90 mins of fun cruising across the ocean. The ride back to the mainland could not have been more opposite. I could see/feel/smell the rain coming, but to be honest I just thought it would be a little passing drizzle to clear the skies. Boy was I wrong. About 30 minutes into the ride to shore, we started to feel a little rain. No real cause for concern you say. Then we hit it like a brick wall. The wind and rain came like nothing I have seen before (and I've seen some storms). The once flat ocean looked like a scene out of deadliest catch. The 10 foot swells and rouge waves crashing from the side, were both slowing the boat down, and tossing us around like rubber ducks in a jacuzzi. Then I saw the driver, who was usually in a vest and shades, had swapped his normal summer attire for a poncho and crash helmet. No kidding, the guy had a crash helmet on. When the life jackets were distributed amongst the passengers, I thought this has all become very real. Another rouge wave crashes the side of the boat and that fear of getting thrown into the washing machine of an ocean dawns on you. I even started to think of a plan should the boat go over, but you cant see more than 10 feet from the boat, so the plan didnt consist of much more than get clear of the boat, try to stay afloat and hope help comes. As everyone was crouched on the floor, I looked round and saw some pretty scared faces. There really was nothing more to do than just hope that the captain gets you through.

Slowly we came out of the storm, and its just another episode that gets added to your list of life's crazy stories. After the fact, II learn from the dive master that in his 18 years of diving and being on the ocean, he has never been in a worse storm than that. He also told me that his biggest fear was hitting another boat at high speed. The driver had ZERO visibility, yet could not slow down totally or we risk being flipped by a wave.

We made it back, and are heading to Kata beach to a gorgeous hotel were we will celebrate with a drink or 5. They say you have to stare death in the face to truly appreciate life ....... and that, in my opinion, was as close as I dare get.