Phenominal SCUBA Diving

An Underwater Garden
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Up early for 4 dives this day, starting with 3 dives on Hin Daeng and Hin Muang - two pinacles rising up in the middle of nowhere, far south of Phi Phi.  One just breaks the water (Daeng), and the tip of the other is submerged.

In most of my diving experience, it tends to be disappointing sadness when I get underwater and see the destruction of the coral in places like Florida, Hawaii, Polynesia, and even parts of the Great Barrier Reef.  It was redeeming to see such a healthy burgeoning reef environment with little or no dead zones.  Lots of soft coral.  Huge purple and pink branching soft corral were sprouting everywhere, like 3D renderings of the Mandelbrot fractal.  It is facinating studying their intricate detail up close.  Many familiar fish like Parrot, Angel and Puffers were super sized.  And the fish were surprizingly tame and approachable like a preserve, even though this was not a preserve area.  So much wonderful life :)

A lush colourful garden from another planet

Reef close up
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Night Dive - Koh Haa - (5 islands in Thai)

These were 5 tiny islands in the Andaman, below the Phi Phi group.  Beautiful cliffs, caves, and diving.

Night Dive -  The boat weaved between the impresive vertible cliffs between the islands in evening twilight.  Like mushrooms, some of the parts of the islands overhung the water.  Time to gear up.

Like a lush colourful garden from another planet, the reef and fish come alive with colour at night under the dive lights.  And different creatures come out, and some existing ones transform.

Lion Fish
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Sascha (the dive master) had a small bell underwater he would ring if he observed something of particular note underwater.  Like Santa's jingle bells anouncing gifts awaiting, I learned to love the bell sound.

Dingaling....  I rose up the reef wall from below, through the darkness, my dive light brought a huge blood red sponge into view, projecting out and up.  The massive sponges typically have a deep barrel like a cannon - this one was like some ribbed and veined volcano, and covered with dozens of large white worms.  It was an almost grotesque and unholy vision, as if seeing something I shouldn't be looking at like a beating heart.  I floated up it's side with a combination of horror, and eagerness to look down into the barrel of the extream sponge.  And there I found a large puffer fish resting, with big popping eyes, and kooky, almost smiling expression on his face.

Pinacles just breaking the water. Our first dive goal.
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Encountered some big turtles that seemed even tamer and friendlier than in Hawaii.  Fantastic underwater terrain with lots of nooks and overhangs.

Finally back up onto the boat in the darkness to shower and have a hot meal.  The last dive of the day, and now the beers could flow, jubilating in the stimulation of this wonderland.

More Thailand Video from this trip: http://www.youtube.com/user/Cognaut

Approaching the island cluster
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More Thailand Photos from this trip: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/569400556LqbaXK