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MV Andaman Seafarer and the crew | |||
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As Marie-Pierre and I arrived early on Sunday, I must confess we had time for a relaxing Thai massage before the whole group gathered at Seafarer dive centre at Chalong Bay. A bit of paper work, last batteries, films and alcohol purchase before we boarded MV Andaman Seafarer, on which we were to live during one week. We first settled in the cabins, two first class (4 people) and three VIP (for 2 people). Darin got a special very higher class cabin as his neighbours left him on his own: Paul kindly exiled himself on the upper deck where he could snore comfortably, Jason found a place where to lie on the diving deck, and Charles finally moved to the hammock. Air-con was available in the cabins, but one of the Swiss was really missing the fresh air from Leman Lake and used to open his scuttle. As a result, we were all frozen in the morning. The diving deck is quite convenient, large enough for 14 divers. The table down there was the ideal place for our breakfasts (after the first dive), for dive reports in the log books, for consultation of fish books, and at night for some cards games. The upper deck was used for the meals, for the rests (2 to 3 per day and per person), for sun tanning, for reading. Charlie, the captain, comes from Brittany. He shares with Jacques Cousteau an inimitable French accent and a passion of underwater life. Thanks to his perfect knowledge of each square centimetre in the area, he ruled our diving schedule as a master. However, any attempt to adapt his plan was severely repressed by this 100% Britton who will never pick a career in foreign affairs. God knows how many arguments Robert and Charlie had together; about Robert’s regulators position, about Robert’s foot of course, about use of mobile phones onboard, about nearly everything as it became kind of a game between them. Among the efficient and discreet Thai crew, a special mention to the cookie, who performed a superb fusion of Thai and Western food, wearing all day long his feminine colourful pinafores. Next page: We came for diving, didn't we?
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