My First Diving Trip

Yay!! My first post start with my first diving story ;)

The indo-french diving group heading to Tioman Island, Malaysia on 25th April 2008 from Kranji MRT. The total of 2 Indonesian (Me and Indra) and 5 French (Perrine, Aurelien, Alexandre, Simon and Pauline) and 1 Singaporean (Mr.Erick) squeeze into a Hyundai Trajet.

And so the journey stops at 12.30am when we reach the hotel to rest, and continue to Mersing Jetty at 5.30am.

Once we reach the Salang Beach, Tioman, we were greeted by Mazlan (the instructor that replace Colin). He seems to be a very strict guy and didn't looks very friendly for the first impression.

The first dive starts at 9.50am, i was feeling ready for it but.... as we went into the water around 3-5m, i start having problem, i sucked in the water because i didn't bite the regulator properly. I was sooo panicked, i tried to swim up and it was a mistake. Scolded by the instructor, i tried again but it happened again, i keep on breath in the sea water, up until that point, i actually didn't realize what i did wrong =( The instructor Mazlan tried to force me into the water again and yes now i did it successfully... But as we want to proceed to the deeper level, the panic strike me again and i was shivering so i decided not to join the rest to go so i swim back and wait for the rest at the dive centre. It feels so bad, partly because of i want to join them so badly and the feeling of being a failure.

But I am not a quitter, i gave it another try for the second dive, i bite the regulator as hard as i could and keep on holding the instructor hand, i managed to go as deep as 18m. (okay, it crossed my mind, if the hand i am holding is someone else, it surely will be a very romantic dive ;P) The view is amazing, lots of fishes but not as colorful as i thought it will be.... Two things i remember the most for the second dive is the very very big Garoupa fish and the second thing is the ceiling of fishes surrounding us. I am not sure what is the type of the second fishes but there are like millions of them making a big chain up above the divers. Its really amazing to be able to see that view.

The third and Fourth dive was pretty amazing too, we jump off from the small boat and dive right in to the water. We took some pictures underwater, there are lots of beautiful corals and fishes but what makes it unforgettable is the vomitting part... After each dive, i vomitted right after we get back into the boat, the worst ever!!! I vomitted until i can feel that there is nothing i can vomit out anymore... And then, there is also Indra who vomitted right beside me. Luckily i haven't fully gear up so i successfully jumped to other side. But thanks to him, i feel better after i saw him vomitted.

The whole trip was fun, very tasty dinner... the squid, fish and chicken are nice!! One thing that will be my consideration for the next trip is the sun flies / sand flies. Me, Perrine and Indra are their victims. The bites are so itchy, reddish, getting bigger as u scratch. Urghh.. its just simply disgusting!!! When i apply the cream, i counted there are total of 97 bites in my hands and legs. The worst is my left leg. Gosh!! I just wish that they won't leave any marks and it won't be ITCHY anymore........