Sihanoukville - 26th August 2009

I am completely exhausted. I don't think I've slept the whole night through without actively being conscious in my dreams, for the last week. I slept on the island last night, where I went to sleep quite early listening to the sounds of the waves and the sea rushing in and out of the shore. It was relaxing, and I also had the pleasure of listening to some music that was playing in the social area until about 1 or 2am. I had gone to bed around 8pm, drastically early, but I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.
I was up at 6am, and I read my book and had breakfast until my instructor and his Dive Master girlfriend woke at around 8am. I was making good progress through my book which was very enjoyable and relaxing, although I was feeling a bit sick with worry about going on the boat again today.
We started off our day with a dive from the shore. It was good, the visability was clearer than usual and we saw more fish than the previous day. We managed to spot a starfish, lots of large pretty fish, some sea-urchins and some other stranger looking fish. I was told to avoid anything that looked too beautiful or too ugly or wasn't scared of me, as it meant they were usually some kind of threat to me if I interferred with them, but most things looked beautiful to me! So I avoided being too close to most things. We went over a few of the skills that I'd learnt the day before, which I managed to successfully complete.
We did a couple more dives, with lunch in the middle; a risotto with tasty vegetables. The dives we were taken out on the boat to the location and I was very thankful for not being sick. I think lying down most of the time helped greatly. I was now very comfortable with attaching all the gear to the tank, and then to me, but walking around on a wobbly boat to the side where I could then fall backwards into the water, was more of a challenge.
By the end of the final dive for the day, I had some scratches on my leg from where I had accidentally grazed it on some coral, and then my toe was blistered from the fin, although it wasn't too painful.
It was quite good fun when there was a lack of visability; I could see all the little bits of coral/sediments moving towards me with the tide, and then I could focus back on the diver I was following. Sometimes it felt like a game like on tv, although there wasn't anything to dodge other than making sure I was neutrally buoyant at all times, and not kicking anyone or anything, and not being kicked by anyone.
At one time I lost them slightly, so after looking around for the required minute I popped up and saw their fins, so was able to get back to them again. I thought it was maybe some kind of test to see if I'd panic or not, but I don't think it had been.
My ears equilibriated very well, but by the end of the final dive my throat was really dry and sore. I think I must not have been drinking enough.
We went back to Sihanoukville on the boat, after a quick shower, and then to the office, by the tuk tuk driven by Sebastion, my instructor. He said it was his first time driving the tuk tuk, and it might have been true, he seemed to be going rather speedily, and on reversing he seemed to stutter a bit. We made it back to the office in one piece, where I got my certificate printed out, and my details were entered online so my official diving card would arrive eventually in the post.
I then popped into an internet cafe where I did my best to recouperate with a drink, although I still felt like I was bobbing up and down on the water.