Wreck dive and Ko Ha

We had another long day.  Today we met at the dive boat at 7 a.m. for three dives.  The first would be an old Thai navy vessel deliberately submerged in 2014 to serve as an artificial reef.  Thus, it is important for our students to see this resource for its conservation value.  Because the wreck sits on the sand at 28 meters, it is categorized as a deep dive and the students received excellent specialized training to enable them to go to that depth.  The following two dives were at Ko Ha, my favorite dive site anywhere on the planet...

This photo is for Bonnie and Matt.  It's not possible for me to get photos of everybody, especially on dive trips.  The students are in small groups each with their own divemaster.  So I usually just see one or two groups.  Rest assured, Becca is just fine.  As you can see, she seems to be enjoying the program.

At the Kled Gaeow wreck, we descended on a line.  Pictured are divemaster David with Anna and Carley.

On the sand bottom next to the wreck, the students finished their deep dive training by answering questions, observing colors changes, and factors related to increased pressure.  They crack an egg and toss the yolk back-n-forth; it holds together like a rubber ball.  Divemaster Jay's group (refer to the white board).

Divemaster David with his group.

A few scenes from the superstructure of the wreck.

The amount of fish and invertebrate life on the wreck is unbelievable.

Golden-lined snappers completely fill this hallway.

More golden-lined and other snappers.

I've never seen a remora on a fish other than a shark.   Here's one attached to a porcupine fish.

After every dive, we do a safety stop by halting our ascent for three minutes at 5 meters depth to let the nitrogen in our bodies burn off.  It's standard practice for recreational diving.

Two hours after the wreck dive, we are approaching Ko Ha, which means Five Islands in Thai.

Carlie, Hally, Gabi, and Kelly are ready to go.

Carley, Olivia, divemaster David, Anna, and Jess.

Maggie, Dana, Jake, and Kyler

The Cathedral is a fantastic dive site that consists of two scalloped out rooms at the base of the vertical wall below the surface.  Each room extends above the waterline inside the island, so there is air above and is safe for divers.  Here are two students in the first room.

The students swam through a window that connects the two rooms.  The window is at 5 meters depth.  The sea floor at the rooms is only about 15 meters.

Looking through the window into the second room.

Students leaving the second room.

Just outside the cathedral rooms is a nice stand of whip coral.

Here is Becca right side up.

and upside down.

Alysa and Sara posing Thai-style for Andrew's camera.

A beautiful soft coral.

I love this photo. There's so much invertebrate life going on here:  various soft corals, bubble coral, sponge, and more...

Sara's giving the two-handed awesome signal.

Becca again.  The Thais love to give the peace sign in photos.

Ajarn Mark giving the bifurcated horned grunt signal.

Alysa and Sara again.  Do you think the kids are comfortable in the water now?

Divemaster Jay taking his group up for their safety stop.

Just a few other scenes from our dives at Ko Ha.

Many smaller fish use the coral structure to hide from predators.

We saw tons of fish including enormous mixed schools of two-spot and golden-lined snappers.

A moray eel waiting for a fish snack.

Although they look like plants, crinoids (feather stars) are related to starfish.

You can see the cirrhi by which the crinoid is able to walk on or attach to the substrate. 

There are 4 or 5 species of barracudas in Thailand, some of which form large schools.  The biggest are the great barracudas seen here.  They like to dart at shiny things thinking it's a fish.  Wearing jewelry on dives is a bad idea.

Off-gassing between dives at Ko Ha.

Becca and Ajarn Mark.  Mark is giving the 'okay' signal used in scuba diving when at longer distance.

Instead of basking in the sun, some students went snorkeling in the shallows.

On the 2 hour ride back to Phi Phi, Andrew (on the floor in the middle) talked about the dives and gave a briefing of what's coming up in two days (no diving tomorrow).

The students followed along in their spiral bound Reef Watch slates, which they will use as another means of evaluating reef health.

What a great day... now almost back to Phi Phi.