Sunday, April 06, 2008

Pulau Dayang Open Water Dive

Day 1
We left Singapore at 7pm in a mini van/bus and left for Mersing, Johor. There was a jam at the customs (because of Mas Selamat Bin Kastari) but luckily we were only stuck for about half an hour. On the way, we stopped somewhere around Kluang for dinner. I ordered some local wan tan mee which tasted nothing like what I had in mind! The noodle was awful, the taste is yucky and I ended up not finishing my food. I only ate the bits and pieces of char siew that was in the bowl.

When we finally arrived at the Mersing ferry, it was around 11:30pm. We had purposely whiled some time away at the coffee shop because the ferries don't leave until a certain time. We boarded the ferry at about midnight. My darling boyfriend who drove 6 hours from KL met us at the ferry. I was so sleepy and was hoping to watch 40 winks on the ferry but we were seated at the back where it was rocky, noisy and hot. I did snooze off once in awhile but it was not sleep.

Poor boyfriend was feeling so hot that he didn't even get any sleep at all.

It was pitch black when we arrived on Dayang Blues Resort (the ONLY resort on Pulau Dayang) as it was already 3am+. I was very tired but I couldn't sleep yet because I hadn't brushed my teeth. I was a little sticky but I was too tired to bathe. I just quickly flossed my teeth, brush them then went to bed. As you can see in the picture, that's me gawking at the size of the room. It is a really tiny room with just enough bed for a double decker bed.

Day 2
Woke up at 8am. Went for a buffet breakfast. Then around 9-ish, we went for our first dive! We were supposed to do some drills that we had learn during the pool session but somehow we didn't. I went in with a full tank of air and came up with about another half left. Not bad breathing for a beginner diver, I guess. *smile* I got a bit nauseous on the boat when waiting for other divers to surface. But I managed to keep my breakfast in my tummy, unlike my boyfriend who puked as soon as he got on the boat. *grin*

We went back to the island after the first dive so the boatmen could top up the aluminum cylinders with air. The resort people had prepared lunch and so we filled our stomachs eventhough I wasn't really hungry. Alright, I'm a glutton.

During the 2nd dive, we did our drills and I'd say that my dive buddy Zaidi and I did quite well. There was one time when I forgot to exhale when the regulator came out of my mouth though so I had to repeat. One very important thing when scuba diving is to always breathe normally at all times. After the dive, we went back to the resort again. By this time, I was really tired and exhausted. The resort served very yummy banana fritters which I gorged down with ice cold syrup drink.

Soon after, we left for our next and last dive of the day. Here are some of the sea creatures that I saw during my weekend dive trip:










After the 3rd and last dive of the day, we all came back for a multiple choice question test. The passing mark is 40 and I got 43 out of 50. Yay! I was so tired from all the dives and the weather was so hot (as with all beaches) that I got so tired and groggy. It's a wonder that I passed the test.

Day 3
Woke up at 7am, had a quick breakfast and went for our first dive. Seem to be getting up earlier every day! Came back, recharged the air cylinder then went for the 2nd dive at 9am. Came back, had lunch... bathe then waited for the ferry. The ferry was supposed to be here at about 12 but only came around 2pm. By that time, I had perspired and became all sweaty from the hot, sunny wait.

I parted ways with boyfriend at Mersing jetty. By the time I reached Singapore, it was already 9pm+ and when I got home, it was almost midnight. It was a tiring weekend but I must say that it was very fun. I would definitely do it again.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

My last SCUBA pool session

Actually Dominic thought that we did alright for the last pool session but some of us weren't very comfortable with the diving gear. Scuba diving after all, is an equipment intensive sport. As shown on the left (clockwise), we have the fins - for your feet, Buoyancy Compensator - to be worn as a life jacket, Snorkel - for breathing, Mask - for your eyes. But that's not all. You have the regulator - for underwater breathing, weights - to help you sink and maintain a neutral buoyancy underwater and most of all, the aluminum tank - for oxygen.

The oxygen tank carries 200 bars (or 3000 psi) of air so it weighs about 20kgs. That's like carrying a huge pack of rice on your back. I also didn't like the regulator in my mouth. Makes me feel and look like an idiot.

Anyway, today a different instructor taught us our 2nd and last pool session. He is Koh Kiam Kiat, recipient of the "Best Instructor Award". How lucky are we that he will be training us for the Open Water this weekend. He is so detailed, patient and knowledgeable. I am glad to have taken up the Open Water Course with Diventures. I guess I'm ready for the sea. Here I come...