Koh Lanta Thailand Snorkeling Trip

I decided to do some snorkeling while on my trip to Thailand. I booked a 4 Island Tour on a long boat with my hotel. I should have known I was in for quite the adventure when the "shuttle" to the launch site was the bed of a pick-up truck. Somehow this is the second time I have ridden in the back of a pick-up truck in 6 months- the other time being in Ecuador.

My fellow snorkelers and I get to the pier and a long boat awaits us with some sort of crazy outboard motor. Several wood benches is where we sat. There was maybe 12-15 of us.

The bow of our boat and one of the guides.

Picture of a similar boat to ours at the dock (the tiny one)

The water was incredibly rough- the trip probably would have been cancelled in the US. Thank goodness I don't get sea sick, but the same couldn't be said for 4-5 others with me. Let's just say, I saw a lot of "chum."

After about an 1 1/2 ride, we made it to a stunning island with the water protected and calm for our first snorkel spot. Then we were off to another island for more snorkeling.

My favorite part and something they would never allow in the States was the third island. The water was incredibly choppy. We are talking small craft advisory choppy, and yes, we were in a small craft. The guide gives everyone life vests and tells us to jump in the water. There is no snorkeling and no beach...there is some talk of a cave, but none of us are exactly sure what is going on. Mind you- two people are throwing up while we anchored, so I am jumping into chummed water. Waves are crashing into rocks not 10 feet away from us while we wait for our guide.
He gets in and leads us into a cave, telling us "not far, not far" and to follow his flashlight. We have no idea where we are going. This cave is dark, and you can only see his flashlight. At some point, I do hear him count us- somewhat a relief, I guess.

I swam after that flashlight like my life depended on it as it very well may have. The water was still very wavy in the cave. Let me just say this- the biggest man I have ever seen in person and a professional rugby player said he had a moment of panic when he lost sight of the flashlight and it fell into complete darkness. But once we rounded a corner- there it was- an opening to a stunningly beautiful cove and beach. One of the most beautiful things I have seem in my life! The pictures below do not do this place justice!

I am so proud of myself for doing this, and I know my (step) Dad is going to be proud too considering that my last cave swimming experience involved panic and just leaving him behind.

After the cave, they took us to a beach and fed us some delicious green curry. Then another 1 1/2 hour ride back to Koh Lanta. This ride was rough! Water was spraying in- I loved it, but the poor sea sick ones spent the whole time with eyes clenched and grimaces on their faces.