OffTrack
Issue #10
Sunset on Koh Tao
What’s happening {{first_name}}!
This issue features the magic of hidden underwater worlds and the free thing you should be doing now to bring your future self travel luxuries. We take a look at the worlds most famous base camp adventure and the silent exploding lake. Also, let’s talk about that one time I tried to relax and it backfired in spectacular fashion… enjoy!
The Adventure in Review
Sail Rock Scuba Dive
If there’s one place in the world that is designed to make you want to breath underwater it’s Koh Tao.
This small island in the Gulf of Thailand has built a reputation as one of the best places on earth to learn to scuba dive, and after doing my very own open water certification there, it’s not hard to see why.
First of all the conditions there are ridiculously good, warm clear water with minimal currents, great visibility and lots of dive sites close to the shore. It basically means it is the perfect place to learn without immediately panicking in the middle of the ocean and constantly popping up at the surface like a human cork.
But the part that really sets Koh Tao apart is the people. You’ve got world class instructors from all over the globe choosing to live here and not because they have to for a job, but because the diving is that good and the island itself is the kind of place people come to and then just never leave. Here is an island where you can learn something new or push yourself further in your levels and you’re doing it in a spot where every sunset makes you question your return flight.
At the time I was there I was mostly focused on not f*cking anything up
Equalise properly
Don’t panic
Don’t accidentally launch yourself to the surface
Try my best not to look like an absolute liability
Not sure I succeeded in that last one… but the point is, I really appreciated this place and its beauty, but I don’t even think I took it all in properly at the time. Especially with the final dives where you head to Sail Rock. It looks like its name sake from the surface, just a big rock sticking up out of the middle of the ocean, but underneath? It’s a completely different world full of huge schools of fish moving in sync, vibrant colour formations everywhere and if you’re really lucky you might even catch Whale Sharks passing through.
It’s one of them places that makes you realise how much of the world some people are missing that don’t learn this incredible skill. I mean I still have a long way to go to actually get half decent at it, but at least I get to see the beautiful world that lies beneath.
Quick Details:
Location: Koh Tao, Thailand
Great for: First time divers or level progressions
Highlight: Sail Rock
Would I do it again: Yes. I’d love to go back now and not have to think about the exam exercises and just enjoy it
Theres some clips in one of my first Youtube videos from the Sail Rock dives that show how amazing it really is for those of you that want to check it out below (Tip skip to 1:30)👇
Explorer’s Hack
Airline Miles (Free travel Bonuses You’re Probably Ignoring)
If you travel even a little bit and you’re not collecting airline miles, you’re basically leaving free upgrades on the table.
The best part? It costs you absolutely nothing!
Airlines are part of global alliances like:
Star Alliance
Oneworld
Sky Team
Each alliance includes multiple airlines, and you only need one frequent flyer account per alliance in order to start collecting. So instead of signing up to 20 different airlines randomly as you book each time, just pick one airline from each alliance, sign up to their free program and save your membership numbers in a note. Now every time you book a flight you can just add in the relevant number from your notes and build up points across all your flights.
Overtime those points stack up, turning into free flights, upgrades, lounge access and priority boarding. It’s one of them things where your future self will either get a free upgrade to business class, or realises they could have, but didn’t bother signing up that one time a while back.
Low effort + Zero cost = Actual long term rewards
One for the List
Everest Base Camp.
Not everyone wants to stand atop Mount Everest. Some people would rather skip the potential frostbite, summit queues and life threatening altitude by just hiking to the base camp instead. Which is still an epic achievement in its own right.
The trek to base camp takes around 10 to 14 days, gradually ascending through the Himalayas to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude. Taking in the stunning mountain views along the way, passing through remote villages, over suspension bridges, across deep valleys and witnessing the true scale of the Himalayas.
Eventually you will reach the worlds most famous Base Camp at 5,364m (insane, that that is just the base camp height). Personally this one is for me, I’ll take this over the summit. Yes, reaching the highest mountain summit on earth would be an epic feat, but by doing the base camp you still get an epic experience without needing to remortgage your life or risk becoming another mountain checkpoint.
So for now I think I’ll just stick to the base camp on my list and explore some of Nepals other mountain summits. How about you?
The Weird & Wild
The lake that explodes.
In Cameroon, there’s a lake called Lake Nyos that looks completely calm on the surface, but underneath it is holding a massive amount of dissolved carbon dioxide gas.
In 1986 that gas suddenly erupted from the lake in a massive cloud. The gas spread across the nearby villages silently displacing the oxygen in the air.
Over 1,700 people died in their sleep.
Scientists now monitor lakes like this to stop it from happening again (I should bloody well think so as well)
So next time your looking at a calm and peaceful lake thinking, this seems relaxing, just remember some of them are basically, quietly, waiting to suffocate you… sweet dreams.
Misadventures
The Day I Tried To Relax… and Got Eaten Alive
While on a boat tour around the beautiful Cambodian Island of Koh Rong (it will be featured in a future Adventure review section) we did a few activities in the morning and then mid afternoon we pulled up to what looked like a perfect beach to chill and watch the sunset. Which is exactly what we came for.
The first issue… the boat couldn’t reach the shore, so we had to drop out and wade through the water with our bags and valuables balanced on our heads hoping not to drop anything in the sea. Not ideal, but definitely manageable.
Now the bigger issue… we had 3+ hours to kill on a beach… and I’m not built for that.
Sitting still, doing nothing, relaxing.. it’s not really my thing, BUT I thought you know what lets try it (not that I had a choice really).
So I sat down, put some music on, stared out at the ocean and attempted to embrace the peaceful beach life.
For about 20 minutes. Until my legs started itching. I looked down and yep, I was covered in tiny sand flies!
I jumped straight into the water to wash them off, fully aware the damage had already been done. Fast forward to the next day and my legs looked like I’d been used as a pin cushion, covered in bites itching like mad. So yeah, the first time I tried to relax on a beach and go with the flow and I get absolutely destroyed by invisible insects.
Should’ve just gone and climbed something instead, at least then I’d expect the suffering.
Wading to the shore with a backpack on my head
Trying to chill whilst silently being eaten
A rough idea of the aftermath
Sunset was worth it though… I think
Got a travel f*ck up or “why did I think that was a good idea?” moment? Reply to this email and the best ones might get featured in a future issue (anonymously if you'd prefer).
Wise words…
“Life is all about new experiences like breathing underwater or discovering that “relaxing” just means suffering in a different location .”
I’d love to hear from you.
👉 What’s the weirdest, funniest or most ridiculous thing that’s ever happened to you whilst travelling? Or maybe you have your own trick, tip or favourite piece of gear to share?
Hit reply and share, I might even feature your story or advice in a future issue.
Until next time,
Chase the Adventure.
Want to find a group of like-minded adventure mates smarter than me?
We share stories, tips, tricks, lessons and resources to make your next adventure the best one yet.
👇 Join
This newsletter may contain affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them at no extra cost to you.