A good read for those interested: http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/holiday/d...scover-1.247487 (thanks to Imran85)

What is Scuba Diving?
- SCUBA stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

When can I sign up to become a Certified Diver
- Anytime! As long as you are 10 years old or above.

Where can I get certified?
- Any Certified Dive Center. The two major choices is whether to do it over a period of time on mainland or a few days course on the island.
- Undecided about where to do it? One of our members have roughly explained it here: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=60222463 (Credit to b5n111)

How much I would need to pay?
- Price ranges from RM 750 – 2500, depending on diving institution and accommodation on island.

How long?
- If you do it on the island, you'll need a minimum of 3 days.

How many Scuba Certification agencies are there?
- PADI www.padi.com
- SDI www.tdisdi.com
- SSI www.divessi.com
- Naui www.naui.org
- Others

What is an Open Water Diver ?
- Open Water Diver is an entry full-diver certification for scuba diving.

How deep can I dive after getting the certification?
- 12 meters limit for Junior Open Water Diver
- 18 meters limit for Open Water Diver
- 30 meters limit for Advance Open Water Diver
- 40 meters limit for Recreation diving
*Based on PADI Certification Agency, other agency may be different.

How long can I dive?
- It depends on your breathing style, the depth and the air volume in the tank. But most dives are around 30-50 minutes.

I'm wearing glasses, I can't see without glasses. How will it affect me when scuba diving?
- You can always get a prescription mask, especially if your left and right eye power varies a lot. Some dive centers have prescription masks for rent (usually more expensive than non-prescription masks). The other alternative is to wear contact lens.

Can I dive with Contact Lens?
- Yes, you can. You should bring all your necessary solutions for your contacts when you go diving. Some divers find that their eyes will get dryer faster. Some divers change contacts after every dive. You'll find what's best for you after a few dives.

How to prevent my mask from fogging up whenever I go snorkeling/swimming?
- You can use an anti-fog solution before you put your mask on. There are commercial anti-fog solutions sold in dive shops. However, you can also use toothpaste, shower gel or your own saliva. I like to use Baby Shampoo because it smells good and works awesomely.

What if my mask still fog up underwater?
- You will learn the basic of mask clearing underwater in your open water certification.

Do I need to know how to swim for scuba diving?
- Yes, you will need to be comfortable in the water. You don't have to be a professional swimmer but you'll need to know the basics. It’s a prerequisite for the Open Water Diving certification.

How long/far do I need to swim?
- For PADI Open water certification, 200 meters continuously surface swim, 300 meters swim with mask, fins, and snorkel. No Time limit, meaning you can take as long as you need.

Do I need to know how to float?
- Yes, for PADI Open water certification, you need to float/tread water for 10 minutes.

Is Scuba Diving Safe?
- Like any other sport, there is always a risk involved, you should know how to dive within your limit. You will learn about safety in your Open Water certification.

I'm afraid of sharks!
- In US, the chances of getting attacked by sharks is 1:11,500,000 (11.5million) people. Lightning kills 37 more people than sharks each year. In Comparison, Human kill 100 millions shark per year. I personally think that sharks are more afraid of us.

I’m not sure if I will be comfortable in the water, what should I do?
- You can always sign up for Discovery Scuba, which is an introductory program that allows you to experience SCUBA without the full certification course. There will someone who will brief and guide you through it.

How much Discovery Scuba will cost?
- Discover Scuba will cost around RM 50-250.

How long will it takes?
- Expect 2 hours or more.

Where can I sign up for Discovery Scuba.
- Most dive center in town/islands. If you choose to do Discovery Scuba with a city dive center, you'll most likely be diving in a pool. If you go to a dive center at an island or a seaside resort, you'll most likely be diving in the sea.

Open Water Diver Entry Level Certification - Where you start your journey


Advance Open Water Diver Second level certification, allowing the diver to explore different environment underwater (Eg, night dive, deeper dive 30m)

Seasick, Motion sickness
- Look at the horizon and move your head to level with the horizon.
- Motion sickness pill, can get easily at the pharmacies from over the counter. Brand names: Novomin (Drowsy) Stugeron (Not-so-drowsy)
- Drink more warm water, try to avoid caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea), especially if you are vomiting.
- Don’t take oily or fried food, e.g. fried chicken, fried eggs, fried noodles, etc.
- Don’t take spicy food, e.g. tomyam, sambal, etc.
- Don’t take heavy meal, e.g. two packets of nasi lemak with mutton curry or maggie goreng double.
- Try to eat simple meals like bread or biscuits if you're hungry.

Problem Equalization
- Rest well the night before dive.
- Drink Plenty of warm water.
- Try to maintain neutral buoyancy so you won't ascent or descent without control.
- Equalize more often. Equalize on the surface, before you start descending and even before you get into the water.
- If you have problem equalizing, ascent then equalize, take your time.
- Relax and don't panic. Tell your buddy that you are having some problems equalizing.
- Tilt your head and equalize.
- Tilt your head so that the ear which is hard to equalize is facing upwards and equalize again.
- Get a good fitting mask that allows you to easily pinch your nose.
- Stay in a head up position (descent feet down first) as it is easier to equalize that way. Look up and extend your neck to open your Eustachian tubes.
- Clear your mask as water might irritate your membranes to produce more mucus that will clog up the sinus.
- Combine few methods of equalizing.
- Some find that using nasal sprays (e.g. Afrin) or antihistamine meds (e.g. Clarinase). Be careful not to be too dependent on these. You should also consult your ENT doctor before using any medicine.
- You'll have trouble equalizing if you have sinus or suffering from the flu.
- Do not force it, you definitely do not want a ear infection or any damage to your ears. If you really can't equalize, dive at a comfortable depth or abort the dive.
- More about sinus and how it can affect your dives: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/...ars_and_Sinuses

Breathing Control
Buoyancy Control

Let me think what else i can put in give me some time to do a write up

Is scuba diving dangerous? As with any other sport, some risks are involved. Humans are not built to breathe underwater, which means that every time a diver descends, he is completely dependent upon his equipment, skills, and emergency training to ensure that he surfaces safely. This truth, while it may sound frightening, should not discourage prospective divers. However, it should encourage divers to approach the sport with an appropriate amount of respect. Scuba diving is not dangerous as long as a diver seeks thorough training, follows safe diving guidelines, uses proper gear, and dives within his experience level.

DAN Insurance
Diver Alert Network (DAN) offers insurance for Scuba Diver. To purchase this insurance, divers would need to pay an annual subscription fee for DAN Membership. No, that doesn’t include the cost of the insurance. You have to pay for both DAN Membership and DAN Insurance. Some of the benefits of being a DAN member are, DAN TravelAssist® - which will provide you with up to $100,000 of evacuation assistance coverage for both diving/non diving medical emergency, useful when you have an emergency on a remote island. You can contact their hotline and they will provide you with air transportation for your emergency. Other than that, you will get a quarterly DAN magazine. They also provide you with DAN Dive and Travel Medical Guide. With almost AUD$35 per year membership fee, this is what you will get. As for DAN standard insurance (around AUD$30 per year), they will provide some of the basic coverage for scuba diving.

Not only DAN offer coverage for scuba diving. In Malaysia, quite a number of travel insurances covers scuba diving, most of the time, for an additional fee. The best way to find out whether the insurance covers scuba diving is to call your insurance hotline and inquire about that. You can buy according to your trip or annually, depending on how often you travel. The usual travel insurance will cover all travelling, which include your flight delay, lost baggage, and many more; not only for scuba diving. Some of us here have recommended AXA SmartTraveller, which offers a good coverage for Scuba Diving and also very easy to purchase. However, so far no first hand experience on anyone claiming from it yet.

For more info, you can visit the websites respectively:-
DAN - https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/trip/
AXA SmartTraveller - http://www.axa.com.my/123/en/Personal-Insu.../SmartTraveller

Don't Be a Statistic - Seven Tips for Avoiding Accidents.

1. Dive within the limits of your training. Every year, divers who have never taken a wreck, cave or cavern class die inside cave systems. Nearly as often, divers without proper training die inside the overhead environment of wrecks, too. Get proper training before attempting any dive above your skill level.
2. Get the right gear. Whether it's wearing the correct exposure protection for conditions or making sure you have the specialized equipment for a cave penetration, the right gear can make a world of difference. All life-support equipment should be properly maintained, serviced regularly and inspected before every dive.
3. Take a refresher course. Even when diving within the limits of your training, take a refresher course to shake off the rust from a long lay-off. A little time spent in the pool before you take that trip-of-a-lifetime vacation will pay big dividends. You'll dive safer and you'll have more fun because you will be more confident.
4. Get rescue certified. Every diver should know how to respond in an emergency, but the primary benefit of this class is that it will teach you to be responsible for your own safety.
5. Practice safety skills. Practice critical dive skills, such as flooding and clearing your mask, recovering your reg, sharing air, etc.
6. Stay in shape for diving. See your doctor about any medical condition that may limit your ability to dive safely. Maintain a level of general fitness so you're prepared to respond to any conditions.
7. Stay within your personal safety envelope. Don't make any dive you're not comfortable with. There is nothing wrong with saying no, at least until you have the chance to get the appropriate training.

Source (Common Causes of Death among Divers)

Read more: http://scuba.about.com/od/divemedicinesafety/a/dcs.htm

- Mask
Make sure you try it on your face without the mask strap. Try inhaling and see whether the mask will seal properly onto your face, and that you will be able to press your nose, otherwise you might have difficulties equalizing underwater. Each mask design is different so make sure you try it on.

- Power Mask (Prescription mask)
The same step of trying on a mask. For Prescription lenses, try to go down on 1 step. If your power is 200(2.0), try put on 175(1.75). The best way to confirm is to put lens the same distance as if you are wearing your spectacles. After you confirm, request to install into it the mask and put it on and try to read some book from 1 feet distance. FYI, don't expect it to be 100% clear like you are wearing spectacles. Objects are magnified underwater so those with low power might not need prescription lens to see clearly underwater.

- Snorkel
There are few type of snorkel, some with purge and some with multiple purge valve, some even will prevent water from going in your snorkel. It's important to have a snorkel especially when there is strong waves on the surface. It will help you save air on the surface. It is mandatory to have a snorkel when you are doing your Rescue course, but most leisure divers don't dive with a snorkel.

- Fin
Which to choose, Open Heel or Full foot? Split Fin, Power Fin, Jet Fin and normal fin differences? Too much to cover about this topic. Open heel you need to wear booties, while full foot just wear over your feet. If you wear booties, your feet will be kept warm, but that is not that important in Malaysia water temp. Its more comfortable with booties when you walk, especially up a shore full of dead coral... OUCH... or on wet slippery floor. You can reduce the risk of slipping and falling with your tank on. Split fins are design in a efficient way to minimize your energy and maximum the thrust. I would say the pros about split fins is that its efficient, a normal kick is very powerful. However, cons about split fins is that you can't really fight current with it. Jet Fin & Power fin are almost the same. Power fin are very good in fighting currents but you need to have good stamina and strong leg power to kick, you will end up with a leg cramp if you try too hard.

- Wetsuit/Vest/Rashguards or other thermo guard
The best way to choose a right wetsuit is to try it on, wetsuit is suppose to be tight and fitting, it will act as the 2nd layer of skin, the space between your wetsuit and your skin is used to trap the water inside and will use your body to generate heat to warm the water trapped inside the wetsuit. In Malaysian water temp, most of us are comfortable in rashguards and beach shorts.

- Buoyancy Controlling Device (BCD)
Conventional Jacket Type, Back Inflation, and Wings
How to choose the right one? First of all, you will need to get the right size, make sure it fit you well, try it on and buckle everything up, see whether it is too tight or too loose. Second, take note of the lifting capacity, so that you can be properly weighted. The best BCD to get for a beginner is the jacket type, try to be comfortable underwater and practice your buoyancy, then only upgrade to a better one. Some BCD comes with integrated weight pocket and some doesn't, so you should know where the quick releases are. It's important to be familiar with you and your buddy's BCD in the event of any emergency.

- Regulator
Which regulator to choose? There is two types of valves (din/yoke). Most of the dive center in SEAsia uses Yoke valve, the din valve is more commonly used in US. Make sure if you would like to purchase outside malaysia, be sure to check the regulator valve system. There is two types of regulator, balance and unbalance. Balance type meaning if you go down to 40meter, you wont feel any difference in ease of breathing. Unbalance type will eventually get harder to breathe when you go deeper. Unbalance regulator is cheaper than balanced regulator.

- Dive Comp
Which dive comp to choose? Your dive comp is very important, it will show you your dive depth, dive time, dive temperature, actual bottom time, surface interval time, which are all calculate automatically after each dive, you can plan your dive accordingly to your limit. Some dive comp comes with other functions like digital compass, tank pressure with wireless transmitter, nitrox, trimix (gas combination for technical), etc. I would say its better to do some research or ask our fellow members before you buy. Dive comp is very useful, but its only for a reference/guide, do not depend on it entirely. It is still better to dive within your limit and practice safe diving every time you dive.