My PADI Open Water Certification Dive @ Perhentian Island (April 22-26, 2010)

It was some 15 years ago that the idea of taking up scuba diving popped into my mind. Well, I finally did it last weekend. Signed up for the course at Global Scuba (1Utama), attended all the classroom and pool sessions and finally made my trip to Pulau Perhentian to complete my certification for PADI Open Water.

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The experience of first time descending into depths of 9 metres underwater (the sea, actually) was memorable. I did most of my certification (4 dives) between the depths of 9-12 metres. Once all that got out of the way, it was time for some leisure dives as certified divers! The next 4 dives took me to maximum depths of 19 metres.

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We dived at D.Lagoon, Shark Point, Tukas Darat, Batu Layar, Tanjung Butong and Tanjung K K, all around the Perhentian Island vicinity. It was rather disappointing that we couldn't dive at Tokong Laut as the sea was very choppy with waves up to 1 metre high! I was told that Tokong Laut was the "highlight" of Perhentian diving. Sigh...

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Being an absolutely new diver, I saw all sorts of fish, big and small, long an short, fat and thin! But I am not able to recognise them all. I can identify a few namely stingrays, "Nemos", cushion starfish, sea turtles, trumper fish, lizard fish, barracuda look-alike fish and many many more! I think I saw a black tip shark too! Saw a huge 1m diameter stingray on the seabed...magnificent.

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But for some funny reason, the visibility that weekend at Perhentian was rather poor, moderate at most. I could only see as far as nothing more than 3 metres! The water was filled with plank tons. Not exactly satisfying, I must say. In fact, rather disappointed as I was kinda expecting something like Sipadan or at least give me 10metre visibility lar! Sigh...

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First time diving, obviously I didn't have an underwater camera, so all my pics here are "above water" pics!

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The welcome signboard that greets her visitors to Flora Bay Resort

Part of the white sandy beach of Flora Bay. Great for evening strolls with lover!

The dive centre at Flora Bay Resort...a 5-star PADI centre

The makan place...very nice and relaxing to eat under soft sea breeze

They also have these table and chairs by the beach for people to hang out and chat over a beer

Our dive equipment...all geared up, ready to go!

Briefing before jumping into the sea

Me, in my Bare Ignite 3/2mm wetsuit

The privilege of sticking close to my instructor during the leisure dives was being able to have my own underwater portraits taken with his camera!

Resurfaced after the 3-minute "safety stop" at 5 metres. During my first leisure dive after certification, I kinda slowly and automatically ascended all the way to the surface with no "safety stop". Really embarrassing!!!

The first one to get on board. Managed to get the boat man to help me capture myself in full gear!

The eagles have landed!!! Coming back on shore after a dive. Pretty tiring, I must say. I had 8 dives altogether and was almost poofed off on the last day.

Me and my instructor, Soo, who took another group to Tenggol the following weekend!

On some occasion, we brought with us extra tanks for the next dive. The 1-hour "surface interval" was spent relaxing on the boat in the middle of the sea. Nice!!!

That's it...done for the day!

From left : Tai Hau (my dive buddy), Soo (my instructor), me and Tan (an avid underwater photographer). Erm, the kid...belongs to a French couple in our group

On our last day, while we were loading our stuffs onto the boat heading back to the Kuala Besut jetty, it rained cats and dogs! Naturally, I was all wet throughout the entire boat journey.

The final group picture. Not everyone was in...4 left a day earlier and my dive buddy stayed back for snorkel ling!

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Overall, it was an awesome experience. Being officially certified is definitely a great thrill. I had problems equalizing during descends. I guess I may have "stressed" my left ear cause its now (and still is) kinda stuck (like as though I am wearing an earplug).

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Definitely looking forward to the next dive trip, perhaps Tenggol...cheap and easy. I will, eventually one day, make my dives at the renowned Sipadan, Layang-Layang and the likes.

Scuba Diving with PADI

I have always wanted to get certified as a scuba diver and be able to dive all the cool sites here in Malaysia and perhaps, move into underwater photography. Well, my first step into the underwater world just began on Feb 26, 2010 when I officially registered myself for the PADI Open Water Diver's Certification with Global Scuba.

Coincidentally, they were having this joint promotion between Global Scuba (the dive shop) and TUSA (a manufacturer for diving equipment). For RM850 (normally RM900), I will be given all the diver's manuals for self reading, dive log book, chart, tutorial DVD and of course, the exam fees. During this promotion, I also get a free mask (RM199) and a free snorkel (RM109).

I am to do 5 classroom sessions and 5 pool (confined water) sessions before heading to the sea for the Open Water certification, a.k.a. "the exam"!!! The sea trip, likely to places like Perhentian or Redang or Tenggol, is another separate cost of approximately RM1,000 (by flight), everything inclusive from makan, hotel (normally chalets), diving equipment (tanks and BCDs), boat, dive masters, etc.

Above all that, I should also get my own set of basic gears like the mask and snorkel (which I already have), wetsuit (<>RM600), fins (<>RM200) and booties (<>RM150). Once more advanced, I am expected to get my own dive computer (a wrist watch with many digital readings like depth, pressure, air, dive time, etc) at around RM1,500. Also my BCD (buoyancy control device) at around RM2,000. Then, my regulator (the breathing apparatus) at around RM1,500.

Gosh, its an expensive hobby! This one belum kira my underwater photography equipment!!!

But it was a good start today. I did my first confined water (pool) session and it was an awesome experience. Struggled a bit with the finning...not used to swimming with fins! And the wetsuit I wore today...was definitely too small for me. My instructor gave me "XL", the biggest size they had there but I needed XXL, I was informed. So, I really looked like a big "ham yuk jong"!!! Nonetheless, a great experience. Had lots of fun. My arms burnt red from 2 hours of hot afternoon sun (I wore the short-sleeve wetsuit)!

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Well, next session...next Tuesday!!! Woohoo...

Harlo 2010

Blessed greetings, I bring to you. And a Happy Chinese New Year and Gong Hei Fatt Choy. It has been exactly 2 months since I last wrote on this blog. There are so many things I want to say but just don't know how to put them to proper words. And I know I am weak in wisely using the right and appropriate words in my messages.

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November 2009 to Jan 2010 has been very busy months for me with events and shoots (both photo and video). And yes, I made some pretty good money in these last few months but I guess, as usual, they are for "reserves" in quiet months like March to June. It is almost a "holiday semester" break for me in these few months. Business will pick up again by mid-year and will climax in December and table off after Chinese New Year the following year.

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I have wanted to blog everytime but everytime, there is always something to put me off, either work or mood. I hate to write when the mood is not right cause I know I will write something unpleasant and that would not be any good for any reader anyway. A lot of things have gone through my mind, some are very promising, some are rather depresing while some are just a pure waste of time. Right now, I happen to be free and I suddenly felt like writing something. So, I quickly started before I "change my mind". But I am not sure what I want to say...I have too much to express.

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What is "life without a life"? Life without meaning? Or life without direction? Or life not living it worthy? Whatever it is, I sometimes wonder if I have lived mine in a worthy manner. There are so many things I want to do but never got close to trying them out. I want to play the drums profesionally and do concert tours and tour the world...maybe perform with Celine Dion? I wanted to be vocally trainned and be able to sing professionally...not for a living but for pleasure. I want to be a better professional photographer. I want to have the latest Nikon D3s gears and lens. I want to be back to driving a BMW...I like the M3 and X6. I want a MacBook! I want a 3,500 sqft luxury condominium in places like Bangsar, Bukit Damansara, Kiara, etc. I'd like to have RM50m sitting in my bank accounts all over the world. And I'd like that money to generate for me RM50k every month without needing to work. Well, that's the materialistic side of my "wants".

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I also want to build / run a high-end cafe that turns into a church on Sunday mornings. I want to be a better preacher, preaching the Word of God that will impact lifes. I want to be a better manager of things given to me. I want to operate orphange homes that teaches the children good and important morals and values in life, and prepare them young to impact the world. I want them to know that they are not loosers by birth but winners by choice! I want to start a foundation that gives out scholarships to people who really needs and deserves it.

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I want to be a better person in character and attitude. All these are not easy to come by but I want them all. I don't know how but I just want them all. Partially for myself, partially to be a blessing to others. Hmmm...I have already gone out of my original context of what I initially wanted to write!

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Scuba Diving...something I wanted to do some 15 years ago! Now, out of the blue, I just felt like I should get it done! Its not difficult at all for me to obtain my diving license. Course fee is RM900. Then I'll have to make a trip to say, Redang, to do my open water dive exam and be certified. That trip is another RM800. Basic gears to have will cost around RM800. Total is around RM2,500. My only procastination is money. Do I want to spend this amount of money some getting my scuba diving license? Do I "need" it? Could I have spent that money for something else more "useful". Sigh...

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Just had lunch with a friend. He tells me that he's kinda no longer in love with his long time very steady living together girlfriend. Suppose to get married end of this year. He said he kinda liked another girl...a Korean, someone whom he had known for a few weeks. This guy is a risk taker. He holds some of my projects. I hope things work out for them because I think his girlfriend is truly an awesome girl.

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On another note, I realised there is this "Murtadza Mokhtar" guy who left harsh remarks at my shoutout box and literally cursing the "Cina people". A check on his blog, "Islam - The Way Of Life", seem to show that he is somewhat religious and "holy". But why does this holy "Murtadza" Muslim throws such harmful and unloving remarks on the Chinese people? Does "his" Islam teaches him to do so and anchor hatred on non-Muslims? Is this really the "way of life"...by throwing insults and verbal assaults? Would his action promote unity and peace? Does this bear a good testimony? I truly wonder. I sometimes tend to agree with what Raja Petra Kamarudin says in his blog, "The Muslims are the greatest enemy of Islam".

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I am not into religious debates, in fact, I am not into any kinds of debates. I rather withdraw myself from the limelight and just stay low profile and enjoy what I have been blessed with. I have thought of migrating from this "Boleh Land". Too frustrated and too disappointed with the Government, people and culture here. Look at our neighbour, Singapore...just a fraction of Malaysia but excels 20 times far greater than us. I'd like to think that Australia or New Zealand is a good place to migrate and settle down. People say that I will be 2nd class citizen over there but hey, I am already 2nd class here in Malaysia anyway. At least, I will be treated EQUALLY over there. Here, the "Ketuanan Melayu" says it all. It is so obvious! I guess I better stop before ISA come and arrest me! So much for freedom of speech!!!

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My Macs are not here yet. So many hiccups! Most frustrating thing is I can't do anything about it. I hope to get them next week though. Everytime I walk pass Machines, I'd spend some 20-30 mins playing with the MacBooks wondering when I can get mine! Sigh...

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I want to spend a month or two touring Europe. Can ah?