Elastomer refers to the material of the watch strap.

If you are doing Tec or wanting to do it in the near future, D6i is worth considering. It allows user to switch gases during dive and has a digital compass. The compass has a bit of a learning curve though. Most Tec divers will prefer larger dive comps like shearwater and use D6i as a backup.

Else just opt for the D4i. If stock still avail, the older version cost around RM1.1 while NOVO is now selling around 2k. MIDE was at RM1790. IMHO, getting the old ver is more sensible. NOVO has a better strap that can be purchased and fit onto the older version at RM230.

A clip on suunto compass will be at around RM60. You may actually go to an outdoor equipment shop to find a compass that can be attached to the watch strap as well. Just make sure it's a liquid filled compass and not the hollow type. If you are lucky, u may find it a those RM2-5 ringgit shop too.

Some BCD inflator hoses are made from elastomer. D4i NOVO strap is elastomer too. The older version of suunto dive watches are made of rubber and they break in just 2-3 years. Easier if they do not come in contact with water for a long duration.

When the NOVO came around, they changed the strap from rubber to elastomer which is said to have a higher tolerance of breakage. My Old D4i rubber strap failed me after 3 years of usage during my recent dive at sipadan and I replaced it with the new NOVO elastomer strap. It looks sturdier and feels slicker in comparison to the old rubber strap.

If you are planning to use it during IDC and for teaching purposes, i would suggest you get D4i NOVO. Better use dive gears that are similar/closer specification to rental gears so u can relate it to your teaching and demonstration during courses.

Future Tec/Rec Trimix Diver

The last i checked, suunto transmitter is going from 800+ to 1k.


There is another turtle sanctuary worth mentioning that is legit and said to be one of the cheapest around.

Juara Turtle Project at Tioman ~! http://www.juaraturtleproject.com/

I'm heading towards the tec path as well. Hoping to have a chance to do cave diving. Anyone here interested?

Minimum requirements to PADI TEC 40 :

To enroll in the Tec 40 course, you must be:

A PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
A PADI Enriched Air Diver with at least 10 dives using enriched air deeper than 18 metres/60 feet
A PADI Deep Diver with at least 10 dives to 30 metres/100 feet
At least 18 years old and have a minimum of 30 logged dives
You also need to have a Medical Statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months.
Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organizations may apply – ask your PADI Tec Deep Instructor.

I've spoken to a few Tec instructors and they said the requirements are subjective, but most of them have higher expectations on the diver. (eg. Divemaster, 200 dives, perfect buoyancy) As decompression diving is serious business, tec courses are more demanding and differ much from recreational courses. Completion of the whole course does not mean you will pass. Instructors will also take into consideration of the diver's mindset and personality.

One should have a valid reason to go Tec. (eg. wreck, cave) If it's just for the purpose of going deeper, IMHO it's just not worth the risk and wallet. Moreover, you will need to have a group of divers you frequent with who are willing to go the distance. It's somewhat a lonely road as you progress further up the qualification chart. Being here in Malaysia does not help with the situation either. Gears are more expensive, hard to come by and good Tec instructors are scarce.

Is there any Tec diver in this forum? Do u guys have any info on any Tec community that is based here in Malaysia?

Tec courses in general does not include rental of gear to divers. It's encouraged that Tec Diver should have their own gear for safety purposes. At minimum, their own bcd and 2 main regulators which they are familiar with and been using for sometime with adequate muscle memories.

That being said, an avid and frequent Rec diver should have their own regularly serviced personal gear in order to minimize the risk of diving. Dive centres usually blame human error as the cause, but often times it's due to the lack of familiarization or malfunction of gear which escalate to an incident. No matter how experienced you are as a diver, when the regulator fails to function, you are at the mercy of your buddy and the element.

A cave instructor once told me, cave diving is the most dangerous form of diving and also the safest way to dive. This is due to the redundancies that are in place and the training to make use of such redundancies. Training is of course important, but it will requires the right amount of proper dive gear to execute what is learned.

Hey Guys,

To those of you who are using Kevlar/braided hoses. There's been talks in the dive community about them being faulty and recalls from manufacturers. It seems some of the hoses are causing explosive incidents and delivery of insufficient air supplies.

Nylon-Braided Regulator Hose Diving Emergency

Put in a silica gel sachet or part of it in the case. Works best when it comes to absorbing moisture. Submerge the camera in water when not in use or put it in a cooling place to prevent condensation. Do not open the cover unnecessary unless its for changing of battery and transferring of data.

A tampon works well if water gets leaked into the case but it wont help with fogging.

I'm planning to go check them out soon. Are there a lot of ppl during the weekends?

SeaMonkey's PJ Palms Pool Rates

One of our recent dives at Tioman ~!

So Sorry ~! The recording was meant to check trim for equipment adjustment. If not mistaken, the editor speed up the video for a more dramatic effect. Made the jerking more obvious with increased speed.

A DM's job is actually not as easy as most rec divers think. There are actually a lot of things going on that a normal diver is not aware of. They will have to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of each divers and often times doing it discreetly without the knowledge of others to ensure an enjoyable trip.

DM not only have to lookout for attractions to point to divers, they also make sure the path is safe from predictors like trigger fish and jelly fish. In the real world it's "plan the dive and dive the plan". But sea conditions change from time to time and it's not always feasible to let say dive 55-60 mins every time.

A dive group usually consist of divers from different backgrounds. Some maybe expert with others are newbies. With photographers, a dive tends to move slower. It's a safety precaution that a dive should ends together despite other divers having remaining air as separation is always best avoided.

SAFETY OF ALL DIVERS (NOT ONLY U) IS THE MAIN PRIORITY.

PS: A DM may conduct the dive with good vibes or not. But that is totally depends on the DM personality and characteristic.

This post has been edited by N0eL: Aug 27 2015, 02:05 PM

Dear Carmen,

Apart from having an instructor you are comfortable with, the most important factor when it comes to taking AOW is the types of diving available at the area u are taking the course.

You are required to take Navigation + Deep dive and 3 electives which you may choose from. Make sure the 3 electives that you have chosen can be provided by the dive centre. For example, Dive centres at Mabul island are not allowed to conduct night dive by ESSCOM, Dive centres that does not have DPV will not be able to provide such a dive and places that doesn't have a wreck will not certify you with this type of diving.

Check with your instructor at Koh Lanta or any other DC that you will be diving with.

As most members stated, the visual impact between single and dual frame is hardly noticeable. Instead, focus more on the profile of the mask. Lower profile means less gap between the eyes and the lens which will provide much accurate visuals and wider viewing angle. It will also be easier to equalize and purge water from your mask.

One of the main reasons for dual frame is the consideration of prescription lenses. Often times, manufacturers provide it for dual frame masks as the the correction for both eyes may vary. That being said, it's also understandable that the lenses from dual frame may be replaced while single frame usually can't.

I personally prefer a black rubber mask in comparison with translucent ones. Apart from what being said at previous posts, translucent masks are more prone to tunnel vision. Specially after a night of drinking before the morning dive . They will also turn yellowish as it ages.

Most importantly though, the mask must fit your facial structure with minimal water sipping in and it's comfortable to wear.

Edit : Anyone going ADEX this weekend ?

This post has been edited by N0eL: Apr 11 2016, 01:00 PM

Sup Evan,

Which day will you be going? Got ur shopping list all ready? and ur wallet filled for it to be emptied by the weekend?

Im flying in Friday and might go in the evening before it close. Sat/Sun will be at Tek Conference.

U may pay the dive centre and hotel in advance via cash/transfer to avoid bringing loads of bills. Work it out with them if u may get a refund if u dont manage to use all of the advances paid.

Some dive centres provide money withdrawal services by swiping ur card and giving u cash on the spot when there r no atm nearby.