Not another Dive trip

Hahaha,

Yup!! It was another great dive trip for me. Again, it was in Tioman. Some might ask why Tioman? my answer will be the cost factor. It's cheaper.........:P

Anyways, the only difference this time was, I dive with Sealantis. It was the first time that I joined em. A good friend of mine wanted to do his Advance Open Water course with Sealantis so that was how I ended up there. Hehehe

I had a great time to be honest. Diving with new people and obviously got to meet new friends along the way. I even managed to talk some serious issues with one of Paya Beach Resort Management team who happens to be a nice Singaporean chap. It was great to hear his ideas on making the place better than what it is now. That's what I call continuous improvement. Obviously, I hope to learn a thing or two from him. We can never stop learning kan?

Anyways, back to diving, I did a total of 7 dives including 1 night dive. I've been to most dive sites bar one, Sawadee Wreck. It's a deep dive of about 30 meters. The vis wasn't great as it reminded me of Pulau Sembilan and we were at the bottom for less than 15 minutes. Not bad lah.

Oh by the way, I tested my recently purchased regulators and I'm deeply happy with the performances. It was a good investment to be honest!! Heheheheh...

Since ramadhan is coming up real soon, I would think that this was the last trip to Tioman this year. It'll be difficult to dive after Raya as most of us will be busy with open house and stuff. Before we know it, it'll be October and that's when the monsoon starts! Perhaps, it's a good time to plan to dive in Sipadan or Raja Ampat or Pulau Weh.....hehehehe

Anyways, enjoy the pics...

Some strange looking fish

Myself and Funny (Sealantis Instructor)

Lion Fish

Some flathead fish I found during the night dive

Yup...yours truly

Have a good week everyone!!

Replacing the strap

One of my most trusted diving equipment is my dive comp. It helps me to measure the time of my dives as well as the depth. Almost after every dive, I'll check my dive comp to see my dive profile i.e whether I'm ascending too fast or too slow. Basically, it helps me in improving my diving skills for each dive as each dive is different (even though you've dive the same spot but it'll different experience each time)

Prior March this year, my last dive was at Pulau Sembilan and after that trip, my D4 strap somehow 'broke' or snapped into two. Hence, with the help of cable ties, I managed to tie it back together and use it. Initially, I refuse to buy a new set of strap cause it was expensive in the first place. Hence, I kept on using it for the next couple of trips until the strap keep on snapping from one side to another and can't be used anymore. No amount of cable ties can help in fixing the straps.

So, during the Dive Expo, I managed to grab a replacement strap, which was obviously cheaper than the price available at some stores. I didn't bring the dive comp with me during the expo hence, decided to send the dive comp together with the strap to a scuba shop in hartamas. The dude told me that it'll take them 5-6 days to replace the straps as the tech-man was away in Bali and will only be back next week. I said, I can't afford to wait till next week as I wanna use it this weekend. So, he asks me to check another shop which was about 10 minutes walking distance. Hence, I went there and met the shop rep and he told me, he can't do it as he ain't got the tools. At this time, I was a bit pissed and wondering why bother opening up a shop that can't help a customer's simple and straight forward request.

I then made my way to the office and went to an old-fashion watch shop and bought some tools so that I can replace the strap myself. And guess what, the tools only costs me RM10. HAhahaha. In the end, I spent almost 10 minutes to replace 'em straps. Quite a straight forward thingy to be honest....hahaha. At times, some things you just have to do it yourselves....eh??

Dive again!!...

I'm looking forward for another dive trip over the weekend....

Can't actually wait to try my new regulator set that I ordered from the States. It took almost 3 weeks before the stuff arrived safely at my home. Prior to this, I've been using a 'beginner-level' set of regulator and I felt the time has come to upgrade to a better regulator.

By the way, over the weekend, I made my way to PWTC to attend the Dive Expo that was held for the 6th time. Obviously met some friends and fellow divers and along the way made new friends as well.

I thought the event was good and there were many booths that were selling discounted products!! I even managed to grab some stuff that I was looking for a long-long time. I did ask wifey to be a diver but due to her time constraint she can only do it after completing her masters.

Anyways, like I said, I can't wait to wake up to a view like this in the morning. With everything that has been going around like crazy nowadays, I need to take a step back and re-charge myself. Who knows, I might change profession and be a professional diver one day. Hahahah. I'm seriously considering of going to Sipadan as I've never been there before. I'm planning to go there before the year ends. Some of my friends has asks me join 'em to dive trip in Bali but I can't make it this year. Maybe some other time lah....

This pic was taken from a friend who bought the same mask as I did....:)

Poseidon X-Stream

Anyways, originally, I planned to take up the EFR & Rescue course by PADI this month, but somehow my instructor has vanished into thin air. Hahaha. Perhaps, it's time for me to look for other instructor or maybe I will talk to the dive centre this week and see how it goes lah...

Have a good day everyone....

Tioman 27-30th May

Yup...Went to Tioman again for a nice and leisurely diving trip with the family this time around.

Initially, my brother in law was supposed to follow but since his fiance decided to be in the city for the weekend, he bailed out and a good friend of mine followed us instead...

I'm so happy that finally wifey and my daughter decided to tag along with me to Tioman. I've always wanted to bring them along so that they can see the beauty of the island.

Obviously, both of them were very impressed with the crystal clear waters and cheap foods and accomodation. My daughter can't believed when she swam among the fish so near to the beach. Hahahaha...

Anyways, we enjoyed the trip very much. Obviously, we will be heading there again sometime soon. Plus, puasa month is coming up thick and fast so, we'll have about a month and a half of diving time. Huhuhu...

Enjoy the pics


Kecik with her new found friend, nacho libre


wifey and kecik enjoying the sea


me looking frustrated of not being able to dive later that night......


wonderful vis down there


me playing around...


During SI at teluk bakau...

Have a good day

.......another dive trip.......

Yup........Went to Tioman again over the weekend for a diving trip (what else lah kan?)

Had a fun outing with good companies and friends.....The most important thing is....I enjoyed myself and all of us had a great laugh about the entire trip.

Did 5 dives to places all of us have never been before such as Gua Layang and Letak Hitam. The vis was great at both dive sites and we experienced thermocline twice in a day. That was fun considering I only had my rash-guard and my shorts instead of wearing wetsuits. The current was strong as well at times.

We also went to Labas and Sepoi. I enjoyed Labas. Spotted my first ever nudibranch on my own without the help of the others. Hehehehe. Can't remember the name of the nudibranch but I was glad that I found it. It was small to be honest. The length was about 2cm.

Sepoi is another interesting dive site as the current was a wee bit strong down there. Spotted a titan trigger fish during my descent. What a way to start the dive eh?. It was big to be honest!! Luckily it didn't attack us. Hehehe. Sighted a nurse shark as well as some blue-spotted sting-rays and moray eels.

I managed to do only 1 night dive and was glad that I did it. Spent about 64 minutes underwater. Managed to spot a lion fish, loads of puffer-fish, cuttlefish, a small octupus and lots of other strange creatures that cannot be seen during the day. Heheheh.

All in all, I enjoyed the trip and had fun. This was my 2nd dive trip in a month. Hehehehe. To be honest, I'm thinking of having another trip next month. Hahahaha..

Some of the pics were taken for my friends and some were taken by myself using my ever reliable BB. Enjoy the pics


On my way


On the ferry at 1am


The jetty in the morning




The view from the cafe


All set


It took us about an hour to reach Gua Layang


Myself......


Batfish


Blue spotted


The party has begun



Bubbles



Me....enjoying the sunset...


Have a good week ahead

Diving Trip 2011

Went to Tioman (again) during the weekend.

Yup....obviously it was another dive trip....

This time, I went with my old school mates and we went to Kampung Salang. For some, Salang is the most happening place in Tioman.For me though, it was my first ever visit to Kampung Salang. If I'm not wrong, my last visit to Tioman was about a year ago. Hence, for me to come back to Tioman again was always a welcome. I used to go to Zai Tioman Dive Center at Kampung Paya (which is about 15 minutes boat ride to Salang). In fact, the last 3 visits to Tioman I had was staying at Paya Village.




Last year, I only did 2 'official' dive trips and 1 'un-official' trip to Pulau Sembilan. Quite bad huh?

Well, diving is merely a hobby for me and I can only wish that I can do more diving trips if time permits...It's kinda hard when you got so many things to do at any one time. Heheheh.

Now that I have successfully gained my Advance Open Water Cert, I might try to go for the Rescue Diver course. Let's see la if I can do that this year. I hope to go to Sipadan before the end of the year though.....

Anyway, back to the recent dive trip, I managed to do 4 dives...which I think it was ok considering the fact that I went home earlier than the rest of the group.

The vis wasn't great as you can see from my pic below. I think at most, the vis was at 10 meters. The current was strong at Tiger Reef. We needed a bouy line to descent and ascent. Hehehe.

The most enjoyable dive was at Labas. Lots of 'swim-through' which I found very interesting. If I was a newly certified diver, I wouldn't dare to go for a swin-through. Nearly the end of the dive at Labas, I felt slightly nauseated. Perhaps it was due to the 2 bungkus of nasi lemak I had for breakfast....heheheh

To be honest, I learn a valuable lesson during the last dive I had. I had a problem with my BCD. Well...not the BCD to be exact, but it was the nut that was holding the back plate and the tank. During the night dive at Salang Jetty and while we were doing the customary safety stop, I felt something strange as if, someone was pulling my tank and my regulator to the right. The dive master then came up to me and showed me a sign that there was a problem with my BCD. So I went up to the surface with him and he told me that my tank was slanting...being almost as close as being horizontal. Hence, I made my way up to the jetty and quickly look at my BCD and I realised that the 'screw and nut' that was holding the back plate and the tank was missing.

Perhaps, it was loose even before I did the night dive as I felt my tank was slightly moving during the earlier dive.

Anyway, I bought the nut and the screw at a local hardware shop near my office on Monday and it only costs RM1. Hehehehehehe. As shown in the pic below.

The original nut/screw/washer is on the right and the RM1 nut/screw/washer is on the left.

Funny eh? For a Rm1 worth of screw and nut could cost a human's life. Interesting and scary fact at the same time eh?

Anyway, I enjoyed the trip as a whole although I hated the journey to and from Tioman. Hope to be back in Tioman again later next month. Heheheheh

Pulau 9

Went to Pulau Sembilan during the weekend.

It was a 'short' diving trip with some friends...

TO be honest, I don't even know that Pulau Sembilan existed before..shame on me eh?

Not much info can be gathered from net, but you may browse here about it.

The thing that I dread most about diving trips is the journey to the jety. It took us about 3 hours to reach Lumut town from KL on Saturday.

Decided to sleep over in a cheap hotel in Lumut called Orchard Inn or something. OK lh for RM20 per person.

From Lumut jety to the Island, it took us about 45 mins. Not the best of journey I have to admit though. The sea was choppy. I really thought that I would throw up during the 'ride'

Reached the first dive spot called White Rock. Descended till 10 meters and the visibility was so bad. Maybe about 1m-2m. There was no guide for us during the trip and were left on our own.

Intially when I checked my dive comp, my depth was at 12meters. Barely 2 minutes later when I checked, we were at 19 meters. I thought to myself that this is not good, so made a hand signal to my friends that we should level at 10 meters. Can actually feel the current is pushing us away to the open sea.

Managed to get to the 10 meter level and still the visibility was bad. We then decided to end the dive. We surfaced after the normal 3 mins safety stop. And yes...we surfaced quite far a way from the spot we descended.

Once on the boat, some of my friends threw up. Don't know whether it was the choppy seas or the not-so-interesting dive we had, but yeah...I felt sick too....hehehe

The boatman the decided that we should head to one of the island for a break and some lunch. The crew were good enough to cook us some delicious tom yam and friend fish. Ohhh...by the way, they 'caught' the fishes when we were diving at White Rock. To be honest, they can actually dive alone and spear those fishes for us.

After lunch, it was back on the boat for us, but I aborted the 2nd dive as the boatman told me that the vis was more or less the same like the 1st dive.

So nothing interesting happen there. We then went to our 3rd and last dive for the day. I decided to join the dive and was a bit regreted with my decision. My max depth during that dive was only 3meters. Vis was again very bad. It was like diving in a sea of air tebu. Hahahahaha

We went up after only 25 mins of diving. Was a bit disappointed as there was nothing much to see. Anyways, right after the dive, we head straight back to mainland.

Reached mainland about half past six in the evening. After washing our gears and mandi2, we head the road. Stopped at not-so-sedap nasi beriyani ayam madu somewhere after lumut town.

COntinued the journey and reached home at 1230 this morning!!. Hahahah

Anyways...would I go there again?....Maybe Not in the near future.

hehehehehe....

Interesting dive trip with a difference indeed....



The pics above were taken from: Ajaque

CNY weekend

What a weekend!!

I spent my CNY holidays with some friends for a diving trip to Tioman Island (again!!??). I even met Joe Wings during the trip and manage to get some good guitar tips directly from the man himself....

I thought it was a good & quick 'get-away' trip after not taking a holiday for quite a while. It's been six month I think the last time I took a short break.

Anyhoos, like I said, it was a good trip with good bunch of peeps. Nothing much to do as except for dive...dive...eat...sleep and dive and again!! Of course, I took some time at the island to think about what I'm gonna do for the next couple of months....

My 'batteries' are all charged up and some plans will be able to materialize in the next couple of weeks. Hope to be able to go to EPF's office today to enquire about some matters on my Account II. I also need to print my EPF statement.

Alright then, holiday's over and it's time for WORK!!..WORK!!...WORK!!

Dive Trip-Pulau Aur (15-18 Aug 09)

Date: 15th-18th August 2009
Total Divers: About 30++
Total Dives: Supposedly to be 13 but managed to do only 9

Some facts about the trip:

1) Pulau Aur is situated about 65km from Mersing


2) The boat ride took us about 4 and half hours from mersing to Aur



3) The journey to Aur from Mersing started at half past one in the morning and arrived in Aur slightly after 6am

4) Stayed at Atlantis Bay for 3 nights (Dormitory-8 to a room with a dysfunctional toilet!!)


5) THe food was reasonable and edible. A can coke costs RM2.50 and a packet of Marlboro costs you RM12 at the island.

6) No TV at the resort.

7) As mentioned, I did 9 dives altogether. Some was fun and some was not that fun


8) Had trouble sleeping due to the snoring 'ochestra' created by my dorm mates



9) During the dive number 8, I was having a bad headache. So I decided to abort the next dive.

10) Gained valuable diving lesson from some friends

11) Glad that I take up PADI Open Water certification

12) Glad that nothing or no bad incident occur during the trip.

13) Heard that in the 1980s, there were about 1000 locals residing at the island but now only left with about 100 of them. (didn't get the opportunity to visit the island's main village though)



In summary, it was a great trip and took the opportunity of having a nice little break before puasa. Heard that some of them had already plan another trip after Eid, but for me though, I just feel glad that I finally be able to join them for a REALLY fun outing.

I do have some plans in continuing my diving adventure by taking up an advanced open water course. However, that will have to wait until the time is right...