Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Dive Pics Southern Thailand: Refugee Cave

One of the most interesting aspects of scuba diving is the otherworldly feeling you get when you're underwater. The sensation of weightlessness (provided you got your buoyancy right) and the ability to glide through the water effortlessly can sometimes make you think that you are Superman.

And along the way, you get to see creatures that are strange and wonderful in its shape, size and colour. Taking pictures of these sea creatures helps me to remember what I've seen and also allows me to learn more about them when I get back on land.

Our third dive brought us to another of the Koh Ha islands, Koh Ha Nue which sports another underwater cave system called Refugee's cave. Yanni gave me a few pointers on the approach as well as lighting required to take good shots while cave diving which I hope I put to good use.

It was indeed an exhilirating experience to explore the limestone cave with its side chambers, narrow passageways and interesting marine creatures on its walls. I wonder if they're also called stalagtites and stalagmites underwater?

Torchlights were required to navigate through some of the darker chambers and one gets a bit disorientated and claustrophobic at times. Sue (one of the divers and my dive buddy for this trip) wasn't too sure if she wanted to do this... but afterwards she was so excited that she wanted to do it over and over again.

I hung around longer in one corner of the cave to try snap a few shots as per Yanni's instructions and this pic (above) is the best shot. What do you think?



Ok. Had enough of underwater caves. Time to head to the light at the end of the tunnel. I see the light.....

Along the way, I saw lots of nudis and here is one of them: Ribeschia pulchella. Asther, correct ah?

Market scene at the local seafan.... this little fishy went to market, this little fishy stayed at home.....

As we surfaced, you can see the exhiliration on everyone's face. It was a very good dive. One of my personal favourites so far. Erm... guys, look behind you... Boat approaching! Boat approaching!

2 comments:

Asther said...

Yes yes... I love the best cave shot! Sigh... wish I'd taken a good one but I was "chasing" after Gan who's gone ever so fast thru it... ;P

The nudi ID is CORRECTO! :)

snowy said...

hi. Those are lovely pictures.... yes... the cave, i would want to do it again and again. It is so.... wonderful.... (hemmm whatelse can i say... Thanks Rick..