Yahh... i was tense especially when instructor always scold me not to do that, not to do this.
can't blamed him, coz it's all about safety. i understand that
almost drowned during mask take off clearing skill test.

Haha. Its okay juniorkirk. Let's wait for others.

Anyway, during my OW license recently, I almost failed. In one of compulsory dives (12m), I had problems with my mask. The water kept leaking in and I had to clear my mask almost all the time. I got very uncomfortable and finally when I reached the bottom and kneeled down they asked me to do the regulator recovery drill exercise. I was not too comfortable with the idea because I was feeling uncomfortable with the whole thing but I did it anyway. I threw the regulator but I could not recovered it. I got panicked and quickly signalled out of air. He tried to give me his alternative reg but I was so panicked I pushed the reg away. In my mind all I wanted was to swim up and resurface. So I quickly swam up and as soon as I reached to the top, I felt alive and relieved. Near death experience, not pretty. I didn't continue my dive.

I resumed my dive the next day and luckily this time I managed to wash away my trauma and got it done. All the drills. But it wasn't easy.

Things I learnt from my dive license

1. My face can only fits cressi big eye mask ( tried scuba pro and few other masks my DM gave me but cress I works the best. No leak whatsoever haha )
2. I have to use bigger mouth piece. Bigger space to bite. Peace of mind haha.

Yahh... i was tense especially when instructor always scold me not to do that, not to do this.
can't blamed him, coz it's all about safety. i understand that
almost drowned during mask take off clearing skill test.

where do you take ur OW course? and with which organization?

aw too bad you have bad experience on your first OW. Instructor shouldn't be scolding, they should teach you patiently as OW course is a beginner course..

but you should try diving again, just try for fun dive. and maybe if can, join us for our next trip. there are lot's of sifu that can mentor/help 

yeah, thank god that you are safe... just remember what have you learnt and try to solve everything uw.

Yahh... i was tense especially when instructor always scold me not to do that, not to do this.
can't blamed him, coz it's all about safety. i understand that
almost drowned during mask take off clearing skill test.

Yahh... i was tense especially when instructor always scold me not to do that, not to do this.
can't blamed him, coz it's all about safety. i understand that
almost drowned during mask take off clearing skill test.

i feel you friend, mask take off and reg recovery are the hardest set of skills!! haha. Looking forward for more dives to get comfortable UW.

Yahh... i was tense especially when instructor always scold me not to do that, not to do this.
can't blamed him, coz it's all about safety. i understand that
almost drowned during mask take off clearing skill test.

bro juniorkirk, i want to buy a good, wide, easy to bite, mouldable mouth piece. Any advise and tips?

Got a few brands in the market. Saw quite a number of dive center carrying Mares Jax moldable mouthpiece. Comes in many many colors and if not mistaken cost around RM100 like that.
Me and juniorkirk using it. But our mouth is normal size la, I don't know whether wide enough for yours or not. Can go shop to look see look see.

Dear all....by reading some of the comments on buying equipments for new divers.

I would strongly recommend and highlight to all fresh or experience divers to buy a good and not too small "sausage", learn how to use it as it will be your life saving equipments and it doesn't cost you a lot.  a decent one will cost about 100 -200. remember Perhentian incident lately it can be avoided if a sausage is deploy.

you may consider to accessorize yourself up with dive com and others fancy stuff when you move towards advance level or consider diving as your frequent hobby.

hahaha. thanks munkeyflo. and one more thing, do we have to immerse the mouth piece into the hot water (95 degree C) and then put it in our mouth, bite it so that it will mould to suit our teeth profile? Is this true or someone pulled my leg? haha

Dear all....by reading some of the comments on buying equipments for new divers.

I would strongly recommend and highlight to all fresh or experience divers to buy a good and not too small "sausage", learn how to use it as it will be your life saving equipments and it doesn't cost you a lot.  a decent one will cost about 100 -200. remember Perhentian incident lately it can be avoided if a sausage is deploy.

you may consider to accessorize yourself up with dive com and others fancy stuff when you move towards advance level or consider diving as your frequent hobby.

Dear Erictdl,

I am super new to diving so i am not familiar with the terminology. Can you clarify what 'sausage' means or referring to?

Yea that's true. We did that. Haha. No one pulled your leg la.
Some can mould it more than once. Say you mould edi no ngam then you dunno after when you can soak it in hot water and mould it again.

It really molds to our teeth. Like I can't use juniorkirk's mouthpiece cause the shape completely different.

thank you munkeyflo. Will try to look for one in Johor as i am currently working here. Any good dive shops in Johor guys? Did some research online and i only got one hit, one dive shop in KSL shopping centre forgot what its called ady haha.