if you are short of time on island, then you will do the theory and pool sessions in town, your cost will be higher.

e.g.
OW at Seamonkey PJ RM 1,200
Island diving RM 400 (not inc transport, lodging, food)

the plus point of this is, you will have a more relaxing time on island, no stress and rush, and wont fall asleep on the manual at night

7 ppl group, how many instructors? Cheap might be good, but you're really getting what you pay for, which is just a license but not the lessons behind it. It's like ppl paying for the driving licence, except that this one, your life is at much higher risk if you don't know your stuffs properly

The one u posted less electric to none sighting of the electric currents.

Here's one excerpt from Internet, it does have the blue currents.



I managed to posted the video that I took and uploaded in LYN FB page. Chopped version tho, but you can see the glimpse of the currents, something like the above picture. bit shaky coz the cave quite narrow and few divers move in plus currents swinging us around. Thank goodness no sandstorm.

When the clam detected any external movement such as bubbles, currents or felt being touched or rather harass. The electric line will stop and posed as normal clams. The clam do possessed some electric currents, it will give u a shocks when u touch it. But it wont kill la, the capacity too low but low enough to itch u when u touch it.

The clam is the resident in the dive site: POS2, Menjangan Island, Bali, Indonesia. Depth about 16-18m.
The clam resided in the cave. Spotted quite a few. Big one no longer there.

*hardly any good pictures during these dive trip, due to meikon casing shutter button start irritates me for depth more than 12m and my dive com went crazy again...

This post has been edited by ukiya: Jul 12 2016, 09:48 AM

The quote I got was from a Recreational Diver, for 950 all in except for food in Perhentian and transportation to the jetty to get to Perhentian. Staying in a campsite apparently. Was told that I need 4 days, Thursdays to Sunday to get the qualifying dives.

The other one for Rm1300 was one I got from a lady diver in FB. Shop is based in Melaka if I'm not mistaken but has an outlet in KL. All in as well, except for transport to the jetty to get to Perhentian.

Really interested in doing this, my only obstacle at the moment is obtaining leave as I already have a long trip planned for November which requires 13 days leave.

This post has been edited by air_mood: Jul 12 2016, 10:03 AM

Just to let you know that the there is a dive show at the end of this month at PWTC so you might want to check out and get bargain prices.
Otherwise you might just as well rest it until next year when you have more leaves.
There's an old (?) Chinese saying that goes like, 'Time is like cleavage, you have it when you squeeze it'

Yeah I did read about MIDE this month end. Was thinking of trying to get the Open Water Diver this year if I can because am thinking of going for a Lombok-Komodo sailing trip next year and trying to squeeze in some dives there if possible.

Wow. Honestly might be quite dangerous to go there after open water. Currents are unpredictable there.

Owh did you read about the sunken boat that was going from lombok-komodo-lombok as well? interesting read.

The Perama boat? That was a few years back right? Been reading a lot on the trip. Need to make sure I don't go during monsoon season. Still has it's dangers but been something I was looking forward to do.

The one I'm thinking of taking is possibly the Phinisi boat trip with Kencana Adventures and maybe the dive with Dive Komodo, granted if I have the license that is.

This post has been edited by air_mood: Jul 12 2016, 11:00 AM

Not sure how long the post was. I was reading it last month and found it interesting. HAHA.

If you are diving there be aware of the currents there. There are so many different currents that even professionals are wary there.

I would like to point out that first experience if very important. A lot of ppl who did not have a good first experience will most likely not continue diving after that.

Also, the basics of scuba diving is very important. We need a good mentor to teach us properly. Not one that cin cai let you pass or don't correct you when needed to, especially in bigger group. 1 instructor to a 2-3 students is still okay. Anything more than that, I wouldn't really recommend.

Yes go check out MIDE for good deals and see what the dive centers can work out for you. East coast islands is the best place to learn, nearest to KL but take note of the monsoon seasons. It's already middle of the year now. MIDE packages usually last a year from the time you get it.

And please please don't go to komodo if you are a newbie.

i aint touching no sea critters since that will result in a poisonous bite/sting/rash etc, keep your hands and touchy ideas to yourself....

Be aware of the ITF, Indonesian Throughflow. Currents can be extreme and near impossible for dive.
Best to leave it alone. Around tat path, is where Pacific Ocean meets South Indian Ocean.

Yup. When deal with currents and temperature there, its pretty scary because it is so unpredictable and it can change immediately.
Our dives got aborted recently.

Affirmative. LoLed...

Well, some people do have itchy hand to touch tho to be feel the shock underwater.

When I dived in Crystal Bay recently, DMs said life is more important. When washing machine currents hits u, grab or poke or hook whatever rocks/hard corals u can find near the reef. Avoid the currents pushes u downwards. And its devastating to see many corals damage near the bay and everyone just for the Sun fish.

Water is still warm in Bali. Guess El Nino is not over yet. Last dive 8/Jul registered 27'C. (Last year bout 18'C near August 2015)

That Komodo dive thing is a bonus probably. But yeah, will heed the advice to only do when I get better. It's the sailing trip that I've been targeting for the past few years.

Experience came with more dives. As open water certification primarily teaches you survival skills, you will need more time to build up experience from fun dives, which judging from your lack of free time to do fun dives, I'd probably give diving komodo a second thought. Diving at those sites require minimum advanced open water with drift specialty since the current is unpredictable.

Recently I read an article (via wechat in Chinese) of a Chinese diver with 20 tanks experience diving at Canyons, Puerto Galera, where they encountered with massive down current.

Here are excerpts of the images of the dive comp only, if you can / want to read the article (in Chinese) click here (not sure how long the link will work).

Definitely agree with all that. As mentioned, my primary has always been that sailing trip for the Komodo Dragons and with luck, maybe snorkeling with manta rays at Manta Point. The view at the viewpoint of Gili Laba is also to die for. During my readings, came across a lot of mentions on how Komodo is possibly one of the best dive spots in the world. Since was thinking of making that particular sailing trip, I thought it would be a great added bonus. But point taken, will probably do it when am better versed with diving. Considering how it's regularly mentioned, thought it's a straightforward thingy.

Anyway, I digress. Need to research and find a schedule to do the Open Water course that would fit my current annual leave situation.

Theres September. Got a 3d2n long weekend. You could do a KL base pool than island certifying dive kind of dive.

Strong and dangerous current...... think twice.... but.... thats where all the good stuff are!!!!!

Evan,flora..... mola mola dive also no better rite..... high risk....

Thank you! Will have a look at that.

I dove in thailand recently and encountered down current.... it was so strong that bubles were stationary and my reg hose was vibrating!!! Real story...

Yea. It is a risk. But got you to protect us so we feel safer.