An Adventurers Tale: The Cave!

Up at 6 am. Unheard of and it took a lot of persuading to get crispy from her pit. It was still first light but warm. We got sorted and met our boat man who had come to pick us up in his motorcycle taxi. Within minutes we were at the pier and onto his boat. The seea looked cold and we knew that in a few minutes we would be jumping into it and swimming through a cave. Plus the sea was a little choppy as it was high tide which is the perfect time to swim the cave our skipper informed us. He steered us around to the opposite side of the island and came to anchor next to a tiny opening in the rock. At hight tide you wouldn't guess it was a cave at all.

(Crispy excited to get in the water)

The boat guy said "ok... We swim" and jumped from the boat. I know crispy was a little uncertain because we were in deep, choppy water but she steeled herself and leapt overboard like a navy seal on a mission. I watched expecting the "ooooos and aarrghs" that accompany cold water but she smiled and said that the water was warm. I jumped in after her. The skipper was right as there was not another boat there. We had the cave to ourselves.

The boat guy set off swimming and we followed him towards the small dark opening. At best there was 2 foot head clearance above the waves.

Once through the opening the cave opened out and disappeared into the darkness. The water was deep and the tide was causing a pull. Inside the skipper turned on his head torch and immediately the dark water turned an electric green. It was amazing. I so wish I had a waterproof camera. We swam after the leader through the illuminated green water. The Cave went on for around 150 feet in total darkness before making a sharp left turn. After the turn you could see light from the opposite entrance and we swam onto a perfect, empty beach surrounded by high cliffs on all sides. Crispy loved it. It was incredible even more so as it was ours. All ours. We sat for a while to get our breath back as it was hard going swimming through the cave. The Cave must act as a Syphon and the pull of the water is really strong. After a short time the skipper said we must go as the crowds would be arriving soon. With the crowds come the national park boats who would want to charge us 200 Baht each for the privilege of entering the cave. We got it free which is always a bonus.

I wrote "Peter and Karen where here 07:30. No one else around" just to waz off the approaching crowds.

We got back into the water and made the return swim through the cave back to open water. It was just as spectacular on the return swim and just as hard going.

(Again not my pics but just as it was)

At the boat we climbed aboard and set off to Kho Kradan to snorkel. The skipper said it was the best snorkeling anywhere near Kho Muk. He wasn't wrong. It was superb. He stopped the boat about 50 feet from the beach and ordered us once more overboard. We popped on our masks and gazed into the deep. It was deep. Very deep. Maybe 30 feet deep and right on the edge of an incredible coral reef. I thought the snorkeling on Phi Phi was good but this was mind-blowing. We have never seen as many fish. Huge shoals of them swimming by and darting between the coral. Honestly it was like swimming in an aquarium. Fish of every size colour and shape. Thousands of them. The pics (although not mine) are not an exaggeration. I would have never believed it could be so wonderous. We swam around for ages and I could have stayed there gazing in awe at this colourful marine circus all day.

Eventually our time was up and after a rest on the beach we headed back to Muk.

It truly has been an amazing day. I am still speechless as to how beautiful it was.

We shall sleep well dreaming of the deep. An added bonus was we saw no sea snakes although I did watch a Moray eel slithering through the coral for a while.

Tomorrow, thus far, is a rest day. Crispy needs some down time as she has worked hard today.