Newsletter

This month has seen a few new changes at Buddha View. From the bar to the staff to a new IDC, things have been happening. This newsletter will keep you abreast of the changes, the gossip and what's happening in the near future.


March is always a popular month on Koh Tao. There is the chance of whale sharks, Japanese holiday season and always busy with instructor and divemaster courses. This March the whale sharks have not come yet, but the island has been busy like the years before.
March started off with a great group of Divemaster candidates. Most of them are still around now, unable to leave, prolonging their Koh Tao experience with an instructor course or any other excuse they can find to stay. We had some great nights up at the bowling alley, with Sarah hustling the boys not just in poker but bowling as well, and of course Emma hustling me at pool. A victory that she still has not let me or anyone else on the island forget. Next time we will play sober! During March we also had a load of Irish divemaster trainees. There must not be many left in Ireland. They flooded this island for St Patricks day. So John, Ness, James and Ricky showed us all how to celebrate St Patricks day with Irish flag bikinis and loads of beer. The DMTs definately enjoyed March. Possibly they managed to get some diving in and a bit of work towards there dive professional education as well... Maybe?
We also had a couple of IDCs running as well. Gilles, Park, Terry, Tjark and Frank finished there programme off in February. Gilles hung around for a while after the IDC, off travelling with Frank and diving the Similans. Frank even brought back a souvenir with a young Thai girl in tow. Gilles is back in France now working as a CMAS/PADI instructor. Frank is back to Florida again for retirement. But I am sure both will be back again soon. Terry is busy working for Sail Rock Divers in Koh Phangan. I am sure Nui has him working hard. Charlotte (Charly) is still pining for her little Isle of Man. Park, after an unforgettable IE party, with broken English and a lot of alcohol convinced that Tjarks girlfirend was Tjarks mother, has returned to work in Phuket. And Tjark is in and out of meditation retreats even though I keep on ringing him up with offers of work.
Then began an IDC with Angus, Kat, Brett, Woody, Danny, Tristan, Miles, Karen, Littal and Paul. This really was such a fun, easy, relaxed IDC. I think all of us really enjoyed ourselves. We had Angus and Kat squabbling like a teenage couple. Writing notes to each other during the lessons, playing little tricks on each other. Very cute until the IE party when Kat stormed off in a huff. Angus is meant to be writing a magazine article about his Koh Tao experience, hope this does not affect it adversely. Jack would kill me if Angus goes back to the forces with anything but the best impression of dive thailand and buddha view. Kat had to return to the real world, back to work, regretting that she would not be able to return until November. However, I have heard that she has been applying for work on Koh Tao already. The real world is just not Koh Tao. Brett is on the verge of tapping an enormous market. Really looks like it will work out wonderfully for him for the Chinese market. He already has 30 plus OW and AOW bookings for next month and it will continue to grow. Woody is back on Phangan, teaching Daniel and Harry m-values and e-e washouts. Physics did not turn out ot be so scary afterall. Danny spent the entire IDC without alcohol and really got into the study. First time in 30 years. Truly an achievement. Tristan, juggling the girlfirends, organised work in Japan as an instructor before the IDC was even over. He has already left for the culture shock of Okinawa. Miles is already bringing loads of Korean customers. Her enthusiasm is infectious and has already established a great reputation for her amongst the Korean dive community. Karen is back down at Phoenix, where I am sure she is happy to escape Danny's advances. Littal is busy with the Hebrew market for us and Paul is back in Phi Phi where he has taken over for Remco. I am glad everything seems to be working out well for all of you and thank you for a great IDC.
So a couple of IDCs, a riotous St Patricks day all made a great March. Kyte and I have made some advances in getting together environmental projects for this year, the computer research library int he IDC center has grown, the construction at the shop is almost over and all of our customers are having a great time. Looks like the year will get even better.