Yea, I wear wetsuit more for its protection. Also, I'm very thin so no fat to protect me from cold temperatures.
Kena jellyfish even when I had long wetsuits on. Damn painful. Not something I wanna kena again in the future.
But if shore dives or shallow dives 5m or so, then I just put on a rash guard. The sun heat is good enough to keep me comfortable.
Otherwise, I'll always go with wetsuit.

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Added on February 26, 2012, 10:18 amAre you referring to doing the course at the island itself or doing confine water lessons here in mainland andden going to island for certification dives?
Most of the dive center on mainland that does confine water lessons here include the island package, since it's compulsory to do your certification dives before you are certified to be a diver.

This post has been edited by munkeyflo: Feb 26 2012, 10:18 AM

OIC, I was thinking that going to Island is not compulsory..from your point of view, which one is cheaper ? take you certification in mainland or from island course and once I got the certification, how long is the validation period?

This post has been edited by altung: Feb 26 2012, 02:15 PM

you have to do a open water dive to get your certification. cheaper is do everything on the island, but in my opinion, better to take the course on mainland and once you're ok with the skills, the go for the island dive. you become a much better diver

Certification dives on island is compulsory for your license, so you can't exactly don't take it.
I'm not sure about the prices now. Prices will also highly depends on what type of resort you'll be staying at. If you want fast, then island will be very fast. 3D2N and you can finish everything.

On mainland, you'll be learning the theory part during your free time (after work, weekends, etc.), andden going for confine water classes (swimming pools) also during your free time. This can take weeks or months, depending on when you and your instructor will be free and how fast you finish up your theory lessons, exam and confine water skills. If you learn your skills thru confine water in the pool, the instructor will usually not rush you and let you learn at your own pace. Some of the skills may require some practice to get it right. Certification trips are usually 3D2N trips over the weekend.

But if you want to do it on the island, you will be doing your course within a set period of time and whether you understand or don't understand the skills and theory lessons, you'll be rushed to finish the course by the end of your trip.

Based on experience, my Open Water was done in Perhentian 4D3N, very rush, no time to relax at all. Early morning after breakfast then sit for theory lessons, watch videos, go thru questions, then learn some skills in the sea, lunch, theory, dive, dinner, theory, sleep. Repeat same thing next day. In the end, I felt that I didn't learn much. I did my other certifications all on mainland first then go to island, and it was definitely much more enjoyable than doing everything on the island. Especially the theory part.

oh man im doing a 3d2n thing =(
hope i can enjoy it despite the rush.

Thanks a lot for the advice guys!

Hi all,

My friends and i (around 4 of us), am looking to get our OWS soon. Maybe in March/April.

I have been looking around LYN and the net, and find that OWS packages usually are around 1.3-1.5k (all in).

Am wondernig if they are other OWS packages that are cheaper?

Thanks!

PS: All in = lodging, food, course.

I believe 1.3k are the cheapest that I have heard. But bear in mind, you get what you paid for. Most people that I know which searching for cheapest when doing course are regret on their decision.

This post has been edited by Putraskyline: Feb 27 2012, 04:16 PM

thanks for the reply. In wat aspect did they regret it?

Woot back to this thread to do some research after spending all my diving savings the last time i was researching.

I decided to take SSI since some say it has better cover of teaching in the techniques of diving.

Anyone can intro me to a responsible school around PJ area with reasonable price? or are we not allowed to ask about diving schools here?

I can offer you RM1,100.00 at Perhentian Island

Wow.. Rm1.1k all in is the cheapest i ever heard. Samurai, did you have any fun dive offer..? Fan accommodation will do.

hi,

whats included in the package?



This post has been edited by bakry: Feb 27 2012, 05:57 PM

Typically, ~RM1.5k would be the price to expect for "confined water in KL, open water in island". I believe you can get below RM1k if you opt for the "do everything on the island" approach, although you might not be comfortable with rushing through the course.

Personally think that the difference of few hundred ringgit is worth paying for you to master the basics in the pool before heading out to the ocean.

Some people say that 1st dive in the pool is not a good 1st time experience and the wow for the 1st dive in the big blue sea is more worth it..
and from last time i check confined water is cheaper then doing all in the island..

Haha I assure you, there will be no wow in the first dive if you're struggling with buoyancy/equalizing. I had to abort one of my first few boat dives because I wasn't able to descend, and I think this will be a real issue if you haven't had sufficient practice in the pool.
Most importantly is for you to be comfortable in the water, and I think only you are able to gauge that comfort level.

Lastly, your first dive is likely gonna be a shore dive. Nothing fancy to see one

As for costs, if that's the case, then I stand corrected. It's just that I recall seeing signboards in Samui/Redang advertising OWD certification below RM1k. Been some months though, maybe things have changed heh.

I think perhentian DC are still offering between 900-950 for OWC. This is just for course, nothing else. No food, no lodging.

yea.. no food and lodging included can go to below 1000..
i saw a few also.. even with confined water..

dammit.. now i am thinking what to do... confine water 1st or go to the island.. padi or ssi.. headache headache..

I regretted doing my OWD in Perhentian island. Didn't do my homework on dive centers, was in a rush to get my license and just simply pick a dive master to intro me to a dive center. I didn't learn much. Had some fun, but I had more fun after exploring more opportunities and getting to know more about diving. I did my Rescue with another dive center and I was one of those who had to assist the instructor with the OWDivers during the certification dive trip. And from what I see, they learn so much more than me and had so much more fun as well.

Some instructors just want the money. They won't teach you extra information. They might not share experiences with you.
They might not even go thru the entire theory book with you. Well, this is just base on my experience.

I did 2 discovery scuba before I went for my OWD.
Yes, first time discovery scuba was really the wow. But I think it also depends on the dive master/instructor who bring you for discovery. My 2nd time wasn't that interesting.

If you ask me, I'd say definitely go for confine water first. Not the whole 3D2N thing on island.

This package include meals,accommodation,boat transfer and Open Water Course only 4 Day 3 Night.

Really good offer... Any advance offer..?