Learn Diving

[tegan&sara]

Hey there!!! Anyone here interested to learn diving? I am planning to get the certification by the end of this year and it would be good to go with someone / a group. I am open to start learning in Singapore first or head straight to Tioman. Any other suggestions? 23/f here...

[JR8]

Hey there!!! Anyone here interested to learn diving? I am planning to get the certification by the end of this year and it would be good to go with someone / a group. I am open to start learning in Singapore first or head straight to Tioman. Any other suggestions? 23/f here...

Splitting the course as you suggest is called a referral. You do the theory and tests at home, and the qualifying dives on holiday. You can lose a little continuity, but it is good for those who don't have easy access to suitable open water back home, and who do not want to spend a lot of their valuable holiday sitting in a classroom.

My own choice of centre on Tioman is http://www.tioman-dive-centre.com/. I've dived with them many times and also a couple of years back did my DM with them.

Any other questions fire away.

[foreverdogs]

Hi Tegan&Sara,
Have you gone for the course already? I am also looking for a buddy.

[nixie]

Hi,

I am going to sign up for PADI open water (dives in Bintan on 22 and 23 Dec). Has anyone dived in Bintan in Dec? Is the visibility bad during this time of the year?

I'm signing up alone but the dive company says that there will usually be enough people. Anyone interested to join?

[JR8]

Hi,

I am going to sign up for PADI open water (dives in Bintan on 22 and 23 Dec). Has anyone dived in Bintan in Dec? Is the visibility bad during this time of the year?

I'm signing up alone but the dive company says that there will usually be enough people. Anyone interested to join?

I haven't dived Bintan before, but I can understand why local operators use it for their 'Open Water' qualifying dives. The water is likely to be quite turbid (stirred up) at that time of year and if the bottom is anything like SG then the visibility (vis.) might not be that great. Why not ask the operator for their honest assessment of what the vis. might be? And if you feel you cannot cope with conditions where you cannot say see your feet, then reschedule to post-monsoon.

One of the ol' regulars here (Carteki) used to lead training and leisure dives somewhere down that way. Unfortunately I can't say I've seen her around for a while, shame as she'd have the expert opinion for you.

What I can say though is that a reputable dive shop will never take you somewhere for which you are not skilled enough to be comfortable.

Even if the vis. is poor, that in itself is not the end of the world. Do the skills, and leave the sight-seeing until next time. [Even in poor vis. you can see lots of stuff if you take your time, but I expect your mind will be busy on other stuff].

Think about it positively.
- The operator wants you to pass.
- If you qualify in Bintan/monsoon conditions, just about any diving afterwards is going to seem like a walk in the park [I qualified in a 7mm full-length 'farmer John' double suit in 6C water (2-3c air-temp), a silty bottom, down to 10cm vis, and snow on the ground in a quarry on the Heathrow landing approach in London - trust me, any diving since then has been absolutely blissful in comparison ].

Last word: The OW course is not just you being taught, it is learning via exchanges between you and your instructor. If you aren't happy with the plans ahead then tell him/her you'd appreciate a chat about the likely conditions. This is an aspect of their job, and they should positively welcome your sensible and mature approach. Your question makes it easier for them to do their job: help you to pass!

Good luck, and any other questions fire away, there a number of divers here you will be only too happy to try and help!

[nixie]

Hey JR8, thank you so much for your very helpful and wise advice. Indeed, tougher conditions would give one better training if one sees them positively.

I was hoping to get it over and done with soon because I have procrastinated for so long and now I can't wait to join other interesting dives! The guy at the shop has been really helpful thus far so I guess I'll just see how it goes!

[JR8]

I was hoping to get it over and done with soon because I have procrastinated for so long and now I can't wait to join other interesting dives! The guy at the shop has been really helpful thus far so I guess I'll just see how it goes!

Yeah, and why not.

So where would you like to go and dive? I think my best spot to date must be Sipidan. On (I think) my final dive I saw about 7 sharks and 65 turtles*.

* yah, I have a method to keep count

I'd like to go to Layang Layang too, but it's $$$ and a shark-fest (which gets a bit one dimensional after a few days).

I'd actually rather dive with tuna than sharks, more fun IMHO, or ideally marlin.

[nixie]

Yeah, and why not.

So where would you like to go and dive? I think my best spot to date must be Sipidan. On (I think) my final dive I saw about 7 sharks and 65 turtles*.

* yah, I have a method to keep count

I'd like to go to Layang Layang too, but it's $$$ and a shark-fest (which gets a bit one dimensional after a few days).

I'd actually rather dive with tuna than sharks, more fun IMHO, or ideally marlin.

Wow! How did you keep count? hahahaha... I am very keen on Layang Layang because it looks so amazing from the pictures. Besides, shark counting could be fun. However, I read that it is more recommended for intermediate to advanced divers . Not sure how true it is since it is possible to take open water courses there.

Hence, I was thinking of first taking Advanced Open water in Dayang when season opens

[JR8]

Wow! How did you keep count? hahahaha... I am very keen on Layang Layang because it looks so amazing from the pictures. Besides, shark counting could be fun. However, I read that it is more recommended for intermediate to advanced divers . Not sure how true it is since it is possible to take open water courses there.

Hence, I was thinking of first taking Advanced Open water in Dayang when season opens

Oh I use a dive slate, like this...
http://www.deepbluedive.com/beaver-dive ... 12332.html
But I also try to keep in mind that a dive trip costs $, and so I should enjoy it for the moment, and not spend the whole dive writing on a slate just so I can write up a log entry afterwards ...

So I write in abbreviated code. 'WTRS' or 'WT' is White-Tip Reef Shark. You see three at once then note WT3. You see a Giant Triggerfish, note 'GT', a shoal of Sergeant Majors, 'ShSM'. Two more White-tips?... go back to the first note 'WT3' and edit it to 'WT3 +2'

and so on.

I know my personality type, and it strives for perfect accuracy But there is compromise. These days I'll keep count in my head for say 10 minutes and then 'download' to the slate which might take 10-20 secs.

Yes Layang2 is a pretty advanced destination. It is a mid-ocean atoll and so as you might imagine you get some real rippers (currents) there. That is of course what brings in the sharks, but don't underestimate it. There is no point paying to go there now unless you are seriously loaded with $. Better to leave it until later when you are experienced. More confident... and say the prospect of a ripper positively excites rather than potentially concerns you.

Somewhere else I dived earlier this year was http://www.diverslodgelembeh.com/ in Sulawesi. This is muck diving, or macro diving aka critter-diving, heaven. Amazing for someone who loves diving and is building up experience. Honestly the weirdest creatures you can imagine? Then double it, or x10 it! THEN there are a group of 'them' flashing lights at you and signaling to YOU a metre in front of you [cuttlefish*]. The dives are not too deep, the slower you go - without question - the more you see. You will see stuff on every dive that I expect will blow your mind.


*
Yeah cuttlefish do this thing at times, when they hold up combinations of tentacles signaling you. You can hold up a hand facing forwards on your forehead and flick fingers back up and down right back at them. And they'll continue 'chatting with you'. I've only ever had this kind of dialogue with one other marine animal and that was Cleaner Shrimp. It's fascinating, and also... umm, very humbling in the strangest of ways. You really are doing what Dr. Doolittle suggested, talking with the animals.

p.s. dolphins can also do this in a way. But they tend to put on a show for you (like barrel-rolling, or blowing big bubbles under you) but it's one way. I.e. nothing you do seems to make an impression on them...

[carteki]

I find my camera v useful for remembering what I've seen (and to look it up later). I do just take snaps as well as try to get proper pictures when I have the time.

[tegan&sara]

nixie, foreverdogs....have you guys gone for the course yet?

[nixie]

Happy New Year everyone!

JR8 - Muck diving sounds really fun! Haha.. I shall add it to my to-do list. I think I should first get a camera to take photos of all the cuttlefish and other interesting-looking creatures!

Do you have any sensible cameras (reasonably priced, not too bulky and takes ok pictures) to recommend? Would there be good deals for cameras at ADEX?

carteki - What camera are you using?

Tegan&sara - I completed the PADI open water course. Go sign up if you haven't!

[azura12]

Hey Tegan and Sara,

If you haven't done the Open Water course yet, you should definitely go for it - so much fun to be had diving!! My partner and I would be interested in meeting up with other diving enthusiasts looking to explore all the amazing dive sites I keep hearing about in SE Asia. So if you guys, or anyone else on here is in a similar position let me know! Bit rusty as we haven't been diving in a while, so going to try and get a refresher in asap!

Thanks!
Lexie