My Diving Experience

I actually don't know since when I am interested to get a diving license, but I really love the sea. Always find there's something lacking when I go snorkeling. It would be great if I could go closer and see clearer. Money, time, and people are what I considered. I am lucky to have asked a friend and surprisingly received 'yes' as an answer from one of my best friend... Rebecca. The next step I do is to search for diving course and center. After some discusssion, we finallly chooseScuba Dynamics in Sri hartamas. We spent about RM1300++ for the whole course... the only things that is not included is the transportation and food. We ttok PADI Open Water Diving Course.

We have our first class in the centre on 3 August 2013, there we meet Amelia as classmate and Paul as our instructor. Staying in a room for a few hours lecture can be very boring but luckily there's video, explanation, exercise, and a cup of coffee <3

The following day ( 4th August 2013), we went to Panasonic Sport Complex or Kompleks sukan negara to have our pool training session. There I have my great first time. Gear up with all the equipment...

The weather was super hot and we only managed to take photo before the training session begin... So I actually have no photo of 100% gear up (T.T). First time staying in water for so long with scuba equipment. I was very heavy. but really SYOK! The air is cold as I breathe and it's not easy to control my buoyancy in water but practice makes perfect.

On 15 August night, we headed to Tioman Island at the night. We took bus there and then extra RM5 to reach the port. Only on 16th August morning, we reach our destination... Salang, Tioman

This is the first time I visited Tioman and the water is so clean that we can see our feet in the water.

For the first day in Tioman, we checked in Salang Sayang and have our first shore dive (Salang Bay)... with extra 20kg on us, we walked on the beach to the water. Exhausting but really worth it as I look around in the water, there's fish everywhere. It's too bad not to have camera. My mask get fog easily and I have to clear it regularly to see. If I have to invest... I would do it for the mask. The second thing is the suits. it's not long sleeve so I actually get scratch easily. and I was bitten by a fish ! not very painful but... (>_<) 

On the second day ( 17 Aug), we have 2 boat dive and one shore dive. Boat Dive is interesting as we have to jump from a boat fully equipped, no need to carry for a long way (^_^) but we have to gear up fast.

My diving buddy... Sanjay. We helped each other before and during the dive

The first boat dive spot is Sea Fancanyon for 42 minutes. We have to go down using a rope... and I'm without glove! We have some practise and test underwater with buddy such as alternative air source. While waiting... I looked around and there's coral everywhere and nemo.

The second boat dive spot is Batu Malang for 46 minutes. I actually accidentally cut my finger and saw blood coming out underwater but not too serious. We have only a few test because the beauty of underwater adventure should not be wasted. After finished the test, our instructor guide us for a short leisure dive. It was unforgettable that there's corals everywhere... vertically on the rock, horizontally on the seabed. One of the most wonderful experience is swimming under and through big rocks, where it's like a rock cave with colourful exit (corals 

and blue sea in front).

Our last dive there is a shore dive in Salang Bay. We have all of our remaining test and pass! and i got bitten by small fish again (>_<). That night we have our paper test and I pass with flying color~ Hehe. 

On 18 Aug, we go back in the afternoon. So, we go for canoeing.

   

This time I can bring my camera along because not too deep and not training.

Although all run smoothly but when we were going back, we missed our bus because of the ferry technical problem. (>_<) We have to take taxi to another district and take bus back to KL and it's very late when we reach. However, this trip is wonderful in overall.

Getting a diving license is one of my greatest achievement and greatest decision made in my life. 

Gua Tempurung

On 9th August 2013, my friends and I (6 of us) have challenged one of the biggest and longest limestone cave in Peninsular Malaysia. It's Gua Tempurung in Perak. There are 4 types of tour and we chose the longest one. Tour 4: Grand Tour.

As written, we have to spend 3 and a half hour in the cave. What surprised me at first is..... There's a lot of people! from the age of 10++ to 50++. and they are all choosing grand tour, some of them with slipper. With about 20+ people and only 1 guide, we have to take care of ourselves and luckily we have 4 men. We are well prepared with shoes and torchlight.

The journey is dangerous as we have to walk through the underground river... knee level (it depends on weather). duck-walk, climb up and slide down slippery stone with no protection (-.-''). We almost get lost as we are confused which group are we following. Only after half of the journey we see who is the tour guide mentioned by the other guy in the briefing. 

Walk in the river and get our shoes completely wet.

Duck walk and it happens that the guy in front of me has low cut pants that could not cover his underwear. (-.-'')

Climbing up. There's an incident where one of their slipper fall down and my friend become slipper rescuer. Just a few more inches away, the slipper will be gone. There's also a place that the walkway is so narrow and we were like walking on the cliff. Another interesting place is a slippery slope and we have to squat down and slide down slowly. 

We stop and wait quite long in one place where there's only 1 way out.... and the gap is so small that only allow a people to lie down and pull himself into the hole and slide down a vertical rock. DANGEROUS! because it's like 90 degree and my leg is not long enough for the landing. The waiting space have a big hole (not too deep) in the center which I only sit at the side and  let my leg hanging there.  

After a long journey in darkness... we see light. Then we go back using other roads.... which is also similar then a long~ staircase. 

The natural limestone cave is so beautiful, especially the rock formation and some of the stalactites are still dripping water! It is wonderful~