1994 – My First Weeks in Thailand - The Diving Vacation That Changed My Life
Photo Gallery & Memories
In 1994, after many demanding years of work in Norway, I decided to take a long break — a time to breathe and rediscover life beyond stress and responsibility.
Before coming to Thailand, I had established a small 24-hour emergency service for elderly people living alone in Oslo. The system grew over the years, and eventually the Norwegian government chose to take it over so the service could be expanded nationwide. I agreed to continue as a Special Adviser for three years during the expansion.
The friendly settlement from the sale became the financial basis for my later investments in Thailand.
In early 1994, the nationwide implementation was completed. Under the terms of my contract, I was allowed to travel abroad as long as I remained on a “stand-by” basis while continuing to receive my full salary.
My original plan was to dive in Mexico, but at the last moment I changed my ticket to Thailand. That simple decision would shape the rest of my life.
From the moment I arrived in Phuket, I was met with warmth and kindness. At a small dive centre, I met Sam, a Thai instructor, and his wife. They became my first friends in Thailand. Together we travelled to the Similan Islands on a modest fishing boat, diving among untouched coral reefs far from the noise of the world. The beauty of the sea and the generosity of the people left a deep impression on me.
During Songkran, Thailand’s New Year festival, I followed Sam to his village in the North. There I met Ann and her little son, Koh. The warmth of their family and the spirit of the community touched me deeply.
Years later, Ann would become my wife, and Koh my beloved stepson.
After my first three-week holiday, I soon returned for a stay of a couple of months, and later for a third visit that lasted more than three months. During those long periods in Thailand, I spent nearly all my time scuba diving, taking PADI courses, exploring the Similan Islands, and enjoying the freedom and peace that had been missing in my life for so long — all while still receiving my full salary from Norway.
By the end of that year, after many dives, long days at sea, and months of training, I completed my professional diving program and became a certified PADI instructor.
That first year in Thailand gave me more than I ever expected: friendship, trust, and the first quiet signs of a new life taking root in the Kingdom.
