Kat’s Thailand trip!

Going into my Thailand trip, I spent most of my days rock climbing at various crags in Krabi. However, the most unforgettable part of the trip was the diving. It was my first time in Thailand, and sharing it with my boyfriend (Owen), my boss, and some colleagues made it even more special.

During my two-week stay, we split our time between Railay and Ao Nang. The first half was spent in Railay, but due to limited dive centers there and the fact that I hadn’t saved enough to dive more than six times, I only started diving during the second half of the trip in Ao Nang and only dived for 3 days.

Before the trip, I reached out to an acquaintance I’d met at ADEX 2024, who recommended a dive center called Sea Gypsy. I booked everything, and when I moved to Ao Nang, my dive adventure began!

From December 26 to 28, 2024, I embarked on six dives over three consecutive days. Before the trip, I had one big wish: to see a blacktip reef shark. I’d never seen one before, and I hoped this experience would be the one to fulfill that dream.

On December 26, I set out on my first-ever dive in Thailand. The boat ride to the dive site was nothing short of magical. We were heading to dive sites near the famous Koh Phi Phi islands, and the scenery was breathtaking. Towering limestone cliffs popping out of the bright turquoise waters, glistening under the sun. I couldn’t help but feel a mix of awe and excitement as we approached the dive site. It was as if I’d entered a dream!!

Our first dive site was Bida Nok, a spot so captivating that it became our default first dive every morning. As we geared up, I felt a tiny hit of nervousness; the currents were strong, and I wasn’t used to such conditions. But as soon as we descended, I was swept into a whole new world.

During this dive, I spotted lionfish for the first time. They were mesmerizing graceful, with their delicate fins fanning out like feathery crowns. They were completely carefree to our presence, which I found oddly amusing.

Then, I saw turtles…Huge ones! They were much larger than the turtles I’ve seen in Tioman, gliding through the water like gentle giants.

On my second dive day, we returned to Bida Nok and later explored Maya Corner. Maya Corner was a visual masterpiece. the coral was vibrant bursting with colour and completely untouched.. It was refreshing to see such pristine reefs in a place as popular as Thailand. There, I saw enormous lobsters and the faint-banded sea snake, the most venomous sea snake in the world. I couldn’t contain my excitement!! I love snakes, whether on land or in the sea, and seeing one underwater was thrilling.

By my third and final dive day, I was losing hope of seeing a shark. I kept telling myself to enjoy the experience

regardless, but deep down, I held onto the tiniest hope i had left. Our first dive at Bida Nok that day didn’t offer much due to poor visibility, but I knew we had one last chance at our next site, Mushroom Rock…

Mushroom Rock is famous for its shy blacktip reef sharks, but the dive masters warned us that these sharks were quick to swim away at the sight of divers and though it is known to have sharks the possibility of seeing one is rare due to their shyness. As we descended, I tried to lower my expectations, though my heart raced with anticipation.

The dive began quietly. We swam under unique rock structures where I spotted a chunky, adorable dotted nudibranch!

It brought a smile to my face, but my mind was still on the timid sharks. Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I saw a dark shadow glide by. My dive master tapped his pointer repeatedly on his tank, signaling something. My heart jumped and I turned quickly, but there was nothing there. Just water and coral.

Disappointed but determined, I continued the dive. Minutes later, I heard the tapping again. Another shadow appeared in the distance, but it faded before I could even get a clear view. My hope was fading, and I started to accept that maybe I wouldn’t get what i hoped for on this trip.

Then, out of nowhere, I looked up and there it was. A blacktip reef shark!!!  swimming gracefully toward us. Time seemed to slow as I stared in awe. Its toned body moved effortlessly through the water. But as soon as it noticed us, it turned and darted away, disappearing into the blue.

That single moment made my entire trip worth it. Though it was a baby black tip reef shark. The thrill of spotting the shark, combined with all the incredible marine life I’d seen like lionfish, sea snakes, massive turtles, and more made this an adventure I’ll never forget. Thailand’s underwater world left me in awe, and I can’t wait to return someday for even more unforgettable dives.

Now on my next bucket list: See a Whale Shark.

-Katheleen Foo