Oh, congratulation and welcome to the underwater world, one of our member just came back his certification trip from redang on monday too. Do you have any sinus problem before diving? how's your condition right now? and who is your instructor... 

Oh, should be nothing to worry about then... Christopher from redang beach?

Yes better get AOW before going sipadan. Or at least gain more experience and practice buoyancy first.

rumors only... more info Here

join us for more dives lor.. hahaha..

3 dives in a single day too rush? try saying that to a Singaporean... hahaha

I also normally swim slowly.. i dun really fin that much also cos I wanna look at things not swim.. haha..

First few dives will feel tired and not that enjoyable.. I just got my license also and did extra dives.

1-2 dives = confined house reef dive. A bit boring cos only got sand but manage to see turtle and seahorse
3-4 dives = opens sea and strong current.. not that relaxed as feel the current and in being tested mode..
5-6 dive = totally enjoyed it even though got strong current.. saw a lot and just went with the flow. relax enjoyable dive..

Dun give up.. go for more dives and slowly u will enjoy it.. normally ur buddy will stick with u so should be fine..

Don't worry too much. Sounds like you are being overly stressed out about it and it will definitely affect how much you enjoy diving.
Make sure your buddy knows that you are a beginner. Most important thing is to calm down and take your time. Being panic will not get you anywhere nearer to the group. Take your time and look around, get familiar with the surroundings and your equipments. When you feel comfortable in the water, you will enjoy diving more. You can always catch up with the group at your own pace. If you're not comfortable, you can all off the dive and wait on the boat, dive within your limits, do not force yourself.

3 dives a day is normal. Some people can do up to 6-7 dives a day.
Practice definitely makes perfect when it comes to diving. But experienced divers shouldn't be too confident as well.

understand ur feeling, newbie here....

perhentian trip this May, and we newbies are buddy with the more experience divers... learn and enjoy   

U oso look after me ya and we sama2 go and steal others' balance air 
devilkid84,

after my exam dives last year, ie, newly certified...  another 2 newly certified divers and i were buddy up, we were having great joy during our leisure dives...

then during march this year, i visited perhentian island solo... i told my dive master (dm) tat i am new and fresh, would love to be buddy with experience diver... i was 1st buddy with a singapore diver and fren now with about 10yrs of experience, then i was buddy with a Japan-san (fren oso after diving)retiree who has been underwater for 7 -8 yrs... In fact, i learn so much from them  esp during buddy check 

- look for the dm tatz going to lead u and tell the dm wat u want
- never let buddy system stops u from further exploring the passion of diving
- confirm hand signals, buddy check... GO!!
- join ur buddy and the group, way to explore the world.......

u r certified rite after your island trip... so no more student loh 

why hard to buddy with people you don't know their experience? you can always choose to buddy with divemaster. Next time can i be your buddy ar? 

Haha.. i no master.. i noob.. got my license same day as u.

I think no need rush down.. slowly equalize go down.. go as ur comfortable but never too fast.. i think normally is 5min or so.. right all sifu?

I take a long time.. haha.. I tend to panick going down.. I am afraid of heights and most times the going down part scares me.. So it takes awhile for me to calm down and stop taking in air... haha

Yea i also just got my license last week.. haha..

Before u go down u equalize 1st than go down than keep equalizing as u go down. control ur descent by breathing in longer and out faster if u wan to descent slower.. thats how i do it.. so i no need to hold line. hehe..

No la.. share experience only... i did my ow with diver den/ redang kalobg.. they will settle all my things so i waiting for them to call me go take my card.. usibg temporary card now.. haha

hehe.. dun know.. but they fill in the form and everything for u already right?

mine dun know how long they will take to get me the card.. havent receive email saying my card in process also..

Ohhh.. I didn't know about the special edition card.. Dam..

Hahaha..

I paid 1750 for course and additional 260 for extra 1day + 2 dives. Than because last day i was alone so got 80 surcharge.

But quite enjoyable and relaxing cos the beach there is empty

hmm.. still using paper form?

When I did my OW, the instructor just fill the form online, and upload the photos directly after I finish the course. Then I just need to wait 3-4 weeks until my card arrived at my home by post.

It's the same when I took AOW, (idk if they do online or paper, but should be online I guess), then few weeks later the card arrived at my post box.