We have to study, sit for exam and get a license for diving. But we don't take a course for snorkeling and most of us don't know the danger. So I think it's alright to ask about snorkeling if you have any doubts about it.

Now, what question you wanted to ask?

I saw a baby whale shark during my dive trip in Pulau Dayang last November.
It was awesome. It was hanging around the surface of the water going in circles near our boat. You've never seen divers gear up and jump/backroll into the sea so fast before.

Thing is, we all decent and the baby whale shark was hanging around the boat all the while. The boatman was playing with it while waiting for us and we just chill there for like 40 minutes after our dive before going back to the island and admire the whale shark.

You mean Semporna? It's near Sipadan/Mabul area right?
I've been to Mabul, Sipadan and Kapalai before.

There are a few Malaysian diving forums around. Try MalaysianUnderwater.com. I go there to sell my dive gears.

I did my OW with Alu Alu Divers in Perhentian.
That was like 5-6 years ago. I don't even keep their contact anymore. Lol.

Yea it's normal for beginners.
Remember, practice makes perfect. Don't hesitate to ask and tell them you're a beginner so that they'll keep a special eye out for you.

Who are you going with? Alone?

Ooh. Yea try to get more people to go diving with you! It will definitely be more fun. Anyway you will get to know more and more people thru diving. Knowing more people also can help you increase your knowledge about diving and help you when you encounter problems. Sometimes you can get discounts as well like when you charter a boat or quad sharing rooms and also transportation like driving to Mersing.

If you find your mouth too dry when breathing thru the regulator, what I do is I put my tongue in front to close the mouth piece. This will actually help in using less air as well. I find too much air very dry for my mouth and throat.

Take it easy. Do not push yourself too much. Have fun!

Different masks fits different type of face as well. Sometimes water will sip in because the mask doesn't suit your face.

I went for Berjaya Reef Clean Up in Tioman last March, price was around there as well. It's a higher quality hotel where you get top service, good rooms and nice environment so yea, if you compare the price with other place then yes it's cheaper. But it's not for those who want to go for leisure dives. You'll be assisting in cleaning up the reef, especially catching Crown of Thorns starfish.

At least that was what we did.

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Added on September 26, 2011, 11:12 amTo those who are familiar with Labuan or have recently dived there, I've heard there are no more dive centers in Labuan and we have to go over to Brunei if we want to go diving in Labuan.

Is this true? Anyone please confirm it? I tried searching on Internet and stuff but all I get was dive sites and government websites never said anything about the change in dive centers.

This post has been edited by munkeyflo: Sep 26 2011, 11:12 AM

Like imran85 said, it's actually a choice. The wetsuits that we wear here in tropical waters are thinner and yes it will show our body shape.
However, there are lots of people I know who do not wear wetsuits. Most of us wear rash guards and some bottom but there are some who just wear surf pants or their bikinis and dive. I've also seen girls diving in tshirt and surf pants. It's up to you. If you're talking about colder waters then those wetsuits are so thick you won't be able to see any body shape.

She can always choose to dive in her swimming suit that she has for Muslim women. I'm sure she has one of those.

As for tudung, you can choose to wear bandana as imran85 mentioned or get a hood. The hood is mainly to protect us from cold but if you want something similar to tudung underwater then that's your choice.

Anyhow, at Sipadan, those places are more to foreigners and people there more open minded as well.

There are other dive sites than those at East Coast in case you forget.

True. But Sipadan/Mabul won't be affected so much by the monsoon. They are still open even though it's not the best time to go dive.

I remember my trip to Sipadan in July last two years and the first day there it was raining sooooo heavily. Even the best time to dive doesn't necessary mean the weather will be good. Haha.

^Usually mid-end February.

Cheap rates, empty resort. Sea and weather can be quite unpredictable.

I went to Redang for open season a few years ago. Waves were quite high when we were on the ferry there, practically covered the whole ferry. Bags were put outside, clothings in the bag all half wet and smell of sea water. Diving vis was quite bad, waves was crazy. Lots of us had seasick. So in the end, I swore never go during open season again.

It *should be* better in March or early April. But like digitalz say, weather is very unpredictable nowadays. But I think your best bet would be around mid March to early April as you've said, unless you can make it around June/July.

On another note, I've went for closing season before, heck most of the time I go during closing season and it's quite okay. Doesn't rain as well. (Oh I forgot to mention that when I was at Redang during open season, it was raining everyday for the 3D2N I was there. It stop raining the last day when I was about to go back)

The worst closing season weather I had was in Pulau Dayang where the monsoon rain/wind was crazy, 5 hour boat ride back to mainland was another one hella experience - vomited all the way. Then again, that was in November which was already monsoon. Usually closing season around end of September.

Any dive shops around Klang Valley will be able to sell you those power mask.
Scubatex is one of the cheapest already. If you have been to MIDE (Dive Expo), their shop will be the busiest always. As you might already know, they give the best price if you don't care about the brand.

Below RM200 is very cheap already. I got mine when I first started diving around 5-6 years ago from some shop in Sunway Mentari (now close down already) for about RM350.

Ahh, they were one of the first few dive shops last time I guess. Wonder why they closed down already.
I was just told by my instructor I should go there to get the mask when I first started diving, didn't even know the name of the shop.

They are pretty good aren't they?
The guy in charge was actually the one who brought me for my Open Water. I've bought from Scubatex many times already. Not only my stuff but my parents stuff for snorkelling, etc. One thing I like is the black silicone mask, only RM70 if not mistaken. This one can't put power in though. I have 3 masks and that RM70 mask is the best one I've ever used. It's the most comfortable and fits my face perfectly.

Ehhh 7-12th this coming December ar. Too short notice for me. Or I would love to join you guys.

If we can all plan for a trip together, it would be nice.

Any dive centers in Langkawi that you guys can recommend? Other than East Marine.

I've found another dive center charging me rm270 for day trip with 2 dives with own equipment. There's only 4 dive sites there so not much to cover. East marine is charging rm350 for day trip with equipment rental.

Yea langkawi may be not worth to dive but then I have 5 days there this trip and it's not like my first time to langkawi so I also dunno what to do for 5 days. And since I haven't dive there before, I thought maybe should give Pulau payar a try. I'll be heading to Thailand after my 5 days in langkawi.

etigge sifu, any other dive centers than east marine and pro dive in langkawi? Seems like choices so limited.

Thanks etigge,
Yea Andrew is still the owner of Pro Dive, he has been replying my emails and I'm pretty sure I'll be diving with them for my coming trip to Langkawi. Do they mix up the snorkellers and divers too? My family will be going snorkelling while me and my partner go diving.

Ooh okie. Nice! Thanks for the info etigge.

I've been to Pulau Dayang in November and the boat ride was hell. One of the nights the storm was crazy and blew off the roofs and everything hanging outside. Other than that, we saw whale shark and the diving was awesome. But that wasn't exactly during monsoon time, just starting of monsoon.

I went to Redang late February for their opening season. It was raining everyday and the vis was horrible can't even see your hand when you stretch it out. Current was very bad as well. Almost everyone that went out on the dive boat vomited due to sea sick. Everyone was rushing to jump into water asap.

I don't know about going to the islands in January though.