BJ O'Doherty, 32, from Hollywood Avenue, returns to Thailand on Monday after a few months spent back home.

A keen diver for many years, BJ and his friend Brian McCafferty set-up the company with three Irish friends they met on a diving holiday two years ago.

BJ told the 'Journal': "I used to nurse in Australia and always stopped in Thailand on the way home. I fancied a lifestyle change and really enjoyed the atmosphere in Thailand. The Thai people are wonderfully humble and pleasant, the food is great, the beer is cheap, and the climate is terrific."

BJ plans to stay in Thailand at least until the end of High Season in April 2009.

"Thailand is in the top ten places in the world to dive and it's relatively cheap, too. To do a basic diving course costs about £200 whereas back at home you're looking at twice that figure. People who want to come and learn to dive with 'The Scuba Team' can do so for as long or as short as they want. A basic open water course takes three or four days or to reach the first professional level it takes at least two months and 60 dives.

Seahorses or sharks

"There is also the 'Live Aboard' option which involves going out on the boat for a few days and diving, sunbathing, and reading books. We know where all the best places are now so we can take people to see whatever they want - whether it's seahorses or sharks."

BJ loves the teaching element of being a scuba instructor and his goal this year is to become a staff instructor.

"There are so many thrills involved with diving.

"You get to explore the underwater world and see things that not many people get to see. The whole experience is brilliant - you get to experience a completely different environment.

"There's also the adrenaline rush of seeing sharks and shipwrecks. There is so much enjoyment and freedom in the water and the feeling of weightlessness really adds to that."

BJ and his scuba mates decided to set up the company as it was mutually beneficial for everyone involved.

"It's very difficult to work legitimately in Thailand and it has taken us quite some time to sort out all the red tape that is involved. Now we have everything sorted out, including our 'Tourism Authority of Thailand Licence'."

After spending the last few months soaking up the Derry weather, BJ is looking forward to getting back to the sunshine. "The conditions are ideal. The weather is beautiful every day. I'm really looking forward to getting back in the water and sucking on some compressed air."

For more information on 'The Scuba Team', e-mail: bjod76@hotmail.com The website www.thescubateam.com will be operational within the next few weeks and you can see their promotional video on www.youtube.com