Koh Tao - Dive Master Snorkel Test

For those not in the know, the final piece of training for dive masters is a very serious test called The Snorkel Test. It was clearly invented by a Brit as no other nationality (except perhaps the Aussies) could come up with something like this.

Essentially you go to Lotus Bar* (*location optional) and after warming up with a few G&Ts, and have had a bit of food (we had a lovely fish BBQ with friends on the beach), you get sat down on The Snorkel Test Seat and are presented with a custom-designed mask and snorkel combo with a special funnel attached to the snorkel which you then don. A small bucket (about 1 litre) of cocktail is then poured down the aforementioned snorkel funnel and you have to drink the whole thing in one go without a) breathing, b) puking, or c) passing out completely.


Well as Kieran and El are such true Brits we managed to pass the test with flying colours and to be honest the rest of the night was a horrible sticky mess that neither of us can really remember!!!

Suffice it to say it was a really fun night with our dive buddies and the next day we didn't manage to get out of bed until 7.30pm. Obviously we are never drinking ever again (until the next time) and have realised that once you're past 30 you just can't do things like that anymore! Still it was a good way to say goodbye to Koh Tao and we made a fairly quiet exit 2 days later, exactly 2 months after we got there.