if you have normal camera and wanted to buy it dedicated underwater casing is quite expensive (especially DSLR underwater casing) and the waterproof plastics case is cheaper choice.

A dedicated underwater camera such as Canon D10 i think is a good choice... the buttons are large enough... easy especially when you wear glove.

just my 2cent.

for professional underwater photography its very crucial... when I was at MIDE got booth sell underwater photography equipment and accessories...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scuba-Sympho...158936020818043

Hi guys, I am just coming back from my OWC took with Sipadan.com... I am officially an open water diver !! yay !!...

All my course held in Mabul... there is no confine water for us, all the skills did in real ocean about 5-6 meter depth. we did 4 days to complete all the quiz(s), final & 4 OWC dive.

I hate the open mask and put back during underwater, burn my eyes, nose and really freak me out... 2 times I have to go to surface... haha... I am very lucky that my instructor is very cool teacher.

All the instructor there 100% foreigners but they are very friendly. 80% customers there are foreigners.... toilets are clean, dorm also clean and food is quite repeatative but expected.

This post has been edited by zaff1984: Jul 27 2011, 10:25 AM

Yeah, just go by yourself... I just come back from Mabul did my OWC there 1st time solo travel and 1st time backing. there are few malaysian. I group with Slovenians they are nice and cool too... all the instructors are foreigner.. my instructor is English man. 2 years in Mabul. cool guy.

It is quite an experience for me... more or less it will built ur confident. many of foreigner also travel solo they will ask you alot since u r malaysian...

Damn... that snorkel clearing !!! hate it. We dont have swimming pool (confined water) in Mabul, so all the skill need to do in ocean 5-6m depth... arrgghghhhh...

This post has been edited by zaff1984: Jul 27 2011, 09:47 PM

oic... PADI only got 5 chapter... ahaha... i got it... lol

since I just got back from OWC... my ears still feel discomfort, I still have to equalize ... should I go to a doctor for a check?

Hi guys, what is normal rate for 3D2N for Diver Package @ Tioman. I dont need a fancy hotel/resort... backpackers hostel enough for me. Planning to go after raya 7-9 sept.

Hi zstan, I just did my PADI OWC last week in Mabul, since my accommodation included meal 3x daily (RM65/day).. I didn't spend extra money during the course.
Based on my experiences; to pass the OWC we have to do 4 open water dive which is enough for me so I don't have to take extra fun dive after I got my PADI certification. (usuall fun dive is RM100 per dive). Therefore my total damage during my OWC as per below :-

20th July - Dragon Inn - Dorm @ Semporna (RM20) + Airport to Semporna - shared taxi with China tourist (RM30)
21st July - Check out Dragon Inn go to Mabul Island. OWC class started (chapter 1 & 2) + Snorkeling trip in evening + OWC class (chapter 3). Sleep. No $ spend.
22nd July - Introduction to Equipment + Skills Test in 5-6m depth + OWC class (Chapter 4). Sleep. No $ spend.
23nd July - Skills Test in 5-6m depth + Open water dive 1 & 2 + Final Exam
24th July - Skills Test in 5-6m depth + Open water dive 3 & 4 (finished PADI OWC)
25th July - Check out, back to Semporna. Dragon Inn again (love this resort it cheap and cool)(RM20) + buy some souvenir + Eat Lamb Chop (revenge)(RM200)
26th July - Bus from Semporna to Tawau Airport (RM25)

Total Accommodation = RM20(Dragon Inn Semporna)+RM65x4night @ Mabul+RM20(Dragon Inn Semporna) = RM300
OWC Cost = RM950
Transport = RM100(return boat transfer) + RM30(taxi) + RM25(bus) = RM155
Foods @ Semporna & Souvenir = RM200

Total = RM1605. Please note I do not include return flight ticket bcoz may varies during promotion.

Taking OWC in Peninsular Malaysia is more cheaper and RM2000 enough... my dive operator allow to pay 30% first and another 70% at their office so that I have time to save money every month... February u still alot of time to save money... furthermore peninsular malaysia is cheaper u not compulsory to take a flight..

p/s: different instructor may use different approach and depend on your time... we completed OWC in 4 days is just nice and no stress at all. my operator dont have confined water (swimming pool) so all the skill we did in the ocean.



This post has been edited by zaff1984: Aug 2 2011, 12:04 PM

Planning to go Dive @ Tioman 16-18 sept 2011. hopefully still have a room to stay..

Most probably will stay at Cheers Chalets in Kg. Tekek, I already FB msg them for a single room (I travel solo), the replied they still got room. but need to reconfirm again 2 days before.

btw thanks for the tips 'photopro' - i will travel by bus from TBS.

off topic: i have to search the meaning of "Ang Mohs" lol.

This post has been edited by zaff1984: Sep 3 2011, 09:09 PM

I took my Open Water Course in Mabul !! starfishes everywhere. Nice experience for me... for me the cost just the same with peninsular island, just the flight tix make the more expensive...

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Added on September 5, 2011, 8:07 pmthanks... ABC also located at Kg. Tekek..?

This post has been edited by zaff1984: Sep 5 2011, 08:07 PM

Will be in Tioman tomorrow.. but cant get tonight bus @ 11.30pm (15/9/2011)... so I bought 12.30PM (6/09/2011) bus from KL to Mersing...

Is it 6 hours by bus? and is there any ferry/boat around 6-7pm..?

I managed to get a single bed room at Kg. Tekek. from 16-18 sept and will dive at Tioman Dive Center on Saturday. Maybe I will only take 2 dive or 1 extra night dive...

This will be my 1st time leisure dive after my open water course in Mabul... I still have a bit nervous when underwater... is it normal for beginner..?

Thanks, much release... I not a really get panic person.. but I got bit worry when my mouth too dry and hard to equalize without spit in mouth... blowing nose is not enough for me.. I have do both.

Yes, I will go alone tomorrow... this will be my 2nd time tavel solo.. 1st when I take my OWC @ Mabul.

Thanks for the tips. More buddy more fun, still new and i have few school friends into scuba dive.

Ok thanks for the link. Will do.

mmm.. I try to register but.. The last question which is:-

What does the acronym S.C.U.B.A. stand for?:

I copy and paste from google and i am sure it the correct answer.. But still fail to register.


This post has been edited by zaff1984: Sep 16 2011, 08:42 PM

Ok. Many thanks and i completed the registration.

FYI, i just come back from Tioman, 2 dive and got new friends and potential dive buddy. I dive at Tumuk and Pirate Reef.

Tumuk the reef and the marine life are average, there alot of huge boulders its quite nice and my dive master show us a 'special wreak' - it a car body in a middle of the sea. I lol-ed underwater.

Pirate Reef is great too.. A lot of hard reef and fishes - we saw a group of juvnile barracuda and alot group of small fishes. Its hard to find penyu, other group saw ot but we not find it.

I realized that i managed control my panic this time. Just need to improve my bouyancy and swim in a current.

This post has been edited by zaff1984: Sep 18 2011, 02:58 PM

hehe, mask clearing the skill that I most scared. lol. even I pass the OWC but I dont have a guts to doing it underwater. I must master this skill one day...

Hi... I am considering Pulau Weh on Dec... anybody have a comment..? quite cheap Rm699 include 6dives and 5D4N... but not include air ticket, airport tax, ferry retun, equip rental and 1 night accom at banda acheh.

This post has been edited by zaff1984: Nov 8 2011, 09:41 AM

yup scubatex.. I bought power mask there during MIDE mask+powered lens = RM180.. my power is 400.
and yes their shop at USJ1.

This post has been edited by zaff1984: Nov 15 2011, 11:35 AM

I am going to Pulau Weh on 07 Dec to 12 Dec (6Days 5Night) with my friend (he will take OWC there)...RM699 - 6 dives with accommodation+airport transfer. Currently AirAsia is RM283 return. feel free to join me

This post has been edited by zaff1984: Nov 14 2011, 07:08 PM