Hi all,

I am planning to get my AOW in April this year. I have not been diving much ever since I got my OW, which I did in Tioman about almost 2 years back. I don't mind doing a refresher course together with my AOW (if that allows).

However, I am wondering if it's strongly recommended that I get my AOW locally in Malaysia then only dive elsewhere, or is it also okay that I just get it overseas such as Indonesia/Koh Samui/etc? Just so I can travel somewhere at the same time 

Thanks! 

A tech instructor doesn’t guarantee a better course, but a tech facility might mean the tanks are in better condition (not always the case though).

To begin with, there are few around, and when you do find one, it can be fiendishly hard to get hold of them to schedule a class like AOW... 

respectfully disagree. tech instructors teach different things. they will hv better knowledge in tech diving, yes. but when it comes to aow, they teach the same thing and have the same knowledge as far as rec diving is concerned. you may want a more experienced (and safe) instructor to help you navigate the learning process and to customise the course to your abilities.

however for aow, it also boils down to what dives you and your instructor chooses and what interests you. peak performance bouyancy dive sounds boring and technically more difficult to learn compared to a drift dive but it is very beneficial. what do you want out of the aow?

Perhentian is open now. If you want I can hook you up with turtlebay divers

iinm, semporna area have already been operating since may. Perhentian just started again this week.

diving semporna = going to mabul to dive normally

MACRO heaven!
no need to go far. just shore dive.

of course cannot compare. lol

I'm also looking to purchase new fin.

So far highest on my list that several recommended is Mares Avanti Quattro.

Any other recommendations ?

There are also the jet/turtle-type fins that are single piece rubber or monoprene... like the OG Scubapro/Beuchat ones which are stiff and heavy rubber, and then you have softer & lighter versions like Hollis F2, OMS slipstream, Xdeep soft, Deep 6, Apeks RK3 just to name a few.

Swimming against current is a no-no for me... if it's unbearable, i'll say bye bye to the group and go on my own adventure hehe. Some dive guides are just sadistic.

Sipadan this past week has been having alternating days of fair weather and wet weather.

I tried day trips from Semporna. It was super tiring with the day starting at 730am and ending at 7pm. Sailing for 1 hour+ in swell and rain is not fun at all 😅