On a sunny day in mid-June, the top Koh Tao dive site Chumphon Pinnacle was pristine: 30-meter visibility, 30-degree C water temperature. Wavy, but manageable. It was my last day diving in the island with Crystal Dive.

As we deflated our BCDs and started our descent, a school of yellow-tail trevallies graced us with their presence. Things escalated quickly: Jack Fish, HUGE tunas, Queen Fish and Bat Fish surrounded us.

Trevally tunnel. WOW! Photo by Crystal Images Koh Tao

What a show they put on!

Just when we thought our beautiful dive couldn’t get any better, a giant Barracuda tornado descended from our right — simultaneously colliding with a big school of Yellow-Tail Trevallies on our left

Within seconds, I was engulfed by both schools. I started to giggle like a little girl visiting Disneyland for the first time.

That’s ME! Incredible schools of fish engulfed us

Momentarily, I looked down. Hiding in a rock, I saw what seemed to be a juvenile Yellow Boxfish.

I LOVE BABY BOXFISHES.

To the surprise of some divers, I slowly drifted away from the Chevron Barracudas tornado and Yellow-tail Trevally school to investigate. I confirmed it was, in fact, one of my favorite species.

baby yellow boxfish photo by Bernard DUPONT, Flickr

Juvenile Yellow Boxfishes, with their black spots and tiny trumpet-like mouths, are SO. STINKING. CUTE.

I had another giggle attack — at almost 30 meters deep, my dive buddy must have thought I momentarily experienced narcosis. You know, the Martini Effect diving?

I WAS OVER THE MOON.

Other usual suspects found at top Koh Tao dive sites such as giant Groupers, Parrot Fishes, Bat Fishes, Titan Trigger Fishes, and angel fishes surrounded us as well. It was hard to wrap my head around the fact that I was leaving this paradise the very next day.

School of fish tunnel photo by Crystal Dive Resort

Oh, but not to worry. I know I’ll be coming back to beautiful Turtle Island soon enough. Who knows, I might even get my Divemaster at Crystal Dive Resort, as you get free diving FOR LIFE once you do it with them. Why? In their own words:

“Once you dive and do a course with us, you’re part of our family. We want our family to keep coming back.”

I can’t wait to see my family in Koh Tao again <3

Until next time, my beautiful Turtle Island

I was provided complimentary dives and accommodation at Koh Tao Regal Resort and Crystal Dive Resort. I was not paid for positive reviews, however, so all views expressed on this article are my honest opinion. Koh Tao is truly MAGICAL. I can’t wait to go back.