Best is go nearby countries - Indonesia, Thailand, etc.

If you don't mind vis, then go Pulau Sembilan. But there not exactly cheap also.

My sister going this weekend I think, with Kaleebso. I thought Jarak vis will be better than Sembilan? Or the same?

I think I'm going to Lumut this Saturday also. I know vis there is horrible.

Yup, the food is damn good. I was with kaleebso last September in Tioman as well.

What type of dives are you into? What do you want to see? There are many dive sites around the world. Your last dive quite recent what, so fast craving to dive already?

Popular Indonesia destinations will be Bali, Manado, Komodo, Lembeh, Lombok, Pulau Weh and the expensive and popular Raja Ampat.
In Thailand, the popular one is Similan islands LOB.
The ones I know in Philippines are Boracay and Malapascua, but I'm sure there are more dive sites if you check online.
You can also check out Maldives for big stuffs. Australia Great Barrier Reef, NZ and the Caribbean sea if you have the budget. Egypt Red Sea is also one of the places I wanna dive at in the future.

There are different types of equipments. If you really wanna get, just get mask, fins and booties (for open heeled fins). Wetsuit also if you want to but it's not really important. A lot of people that dive in Malaysia just wear rashguard and surf pants. When you are really into it, then only you invest in the regulator and BCD, dive comp and also a dive bag maybe.

Depending on what your needs are. There are fins that are really cheap and there are fins that are like RM700. Wetsuits got thin, thick and really thick, long or short, cheapest around RM300 and some can go up to RM1000 and above. Mask also many types, branded or not-so-branded, got cheap ones that you can get for RM80 and expensive ones probably around RM300. BCDs, regulators all got many types also. Dive more first and make more friends, then talk to them and see which one you prefer before investing in the equipments.

You're just taking OWD so just use rental equipments first.

For the mask, try getting Japanese brands one. My nose also quite small and hard to find masks that can fit nicely. So far I've found IST black color silicon mask to fit me perfectly. I was told Tusa mask are quite suitable for people with smaller and flatter nose, but I have not used one for diving yet.

Yesterday was my first and last trip to Pulau Sembilan.
Vis really bad, around 2-3m. The other thing I hate was that the moss (I think) gets stuck on all your body hair, dive gears, rash guards, shorts and everything. Even after washing off with fresh water after each dives, got flies come and stick to your skin. Make sure you wash every corner of your body after getting up, especially behind and around the ears.

We went on a Saturday so their divemasters were not free to bring us around. So we dived on our own and since it was our first time, didn't see much things. According to the boss, if we go on weekdays and their divemaster bring us around, then guarantee got things to see. But the bad vis and the moss getting stuck on my body just makes me not want to go back anymore. The sun was really bad too. Put on loads of sunblock still get sunburnt.

It's not very expensive, consider medium range I guess. You can also try Gull Coco mask, below RM200 the last I check. It fits my small nose.

This post has been edited by munkeyflo: Dec 23 2012, 05:49 PM

Ahh, so this algae getting stuck on my body isn't an all year long thing? Do you know when is the season? I would give Pulau Sembilan another chance if the algae won't kacau me.

I felt like I was diving in an aquarium that has not been cleaned for years, the water was greenish and almost yellowish! Lol.
The last I went to Pangkor was almost 6 years ago, in December as well, but didn't have this algae thing.

My bulu not that long so still quite easy to wash away. My bf bulu kaki a lot, that was even worst. Lol.

Btw, for those who plan to do a 1 day trip (like we did), best is stay overnight there cause very damn tiring. We left KL at 5am, had some delays on the boat cause of some miscommunication between the boats regarding our weights. In the end, not enough weight, some of us had to use fishing weights. We did our 1st dive around 11am, finished up 3 dives and reach the jetty around 6pm. Shower and left for KL at 7pm. On the way back, some lorry carrying fish overturn somewhere near Ijok and it seems people were stealing fishes lol. So traffic was quite bad. Reach KL around 11pm. Lucky I didn't have to drive.

Merry Christmas all!
Can't wait for east coast to open as well. Gonna go Redang end of March for a short trip.

I'll be staying at Laguna Redang on 21st March.

Imo, it's really up to you. The marine life at Perhentian is said to be better. The first and last time I went to Perhentian was nearly 6 years ago when I did my OW course, haven't got the chance to go back since. The accommodation was horrible that time I went but I wanna go back to Perhentian and try out the other hotels.

I go to Redang for diving these days cause the dives are cheap (RM50 per dive at Laguna) and I'm familiar with the accommodation and staffs there too as well. But don't take dive courses at Laguna, they are not very strict in teaching courses.

Not include equipment.
I believe you have to be a guest at their resort to dive with them. But they did tell me before can buy the package and dive with them when I stayed at the other resorts. Don't know they were joking or what la. But I don't think I wanna walk all the way to their dive center to dive at 8am. Lol! Quite far from the other hotels. Try to get their standard rooms which is right next to the dive center, rates around RM500 for 3D2N, then add on the dive package.

Should go to Redang at least once la.

Astro Kasih looks interesting!
Will register when I get back from overseas., but have to find someone to go with me first..

Dammit. Recently broke it off with my dive buddy/partner.

Oh well, no harm trying.

Check for promos and expo. Usually cheaper to buy during those time.

Or if you plan to get your gears overseas, was told Hong Kong is one of the cheapest place to get Scubapro products.

Putra, which online shop you bought from? I need to get a pair of Scubapro fins but no time to go HK.
They deliver to your house?

Ah ok. Thanks!

My Atomic splitfins broke edi after only 3 years or so. Thinking of getting Seawing Nova since I've tested a friend's one and found it very comfortable for me.

Mares X Stream looks good! I like Seawing Nova's bungee strap la, easier to wear hehe.
But Mares X Stream got more colors.. ahhhh..

Nvm still got time to decide before my next dive trip haha. You said delivery time just around 72 hours after you made payment? That's fast.

Some will ask you to swim, some just want you to float on water. What I was told is that basically you'll have to be comfortable on the surface in water in case there's no floatation device and you're stranded in the middle of the ocean.

If you guys have the time and some money to spare, no harm learning to know how to swim. I believe swimming is something everyone should put an effort into learning. Get a friend to teach you also can, doesn't have to be perfect swimming techniques.

Alright, I'm like half flutter half frog haha. X Stream more expensive, andden the 'sold separately' somemore for the bungee strap. Unless I get a really good deal for X Stream and the bungee strap. Or else I think I'll go for Seawing Nova.

That's really fast. Glad to know that. Thanks for your recommendation!

I'm from Shah Alam too. There's a dive center in Aquatik, I've not dived with them before, but they are the ones handling the swimming pool dives there.
My instructor is based in KEC Klang (if you want then I'll PM you his contact). You can find many dive centers in Subang and PJ as well. You can start anytime if you wanna do confine water here, just go to any dive center and enquire about it. Then come March or April they'll have trip to the islands for certification dives. Or you can just go straight to the island and do a 4D3N course.

ADEX need to pay some entrance fee. Besides, have to travel all the way there. Can also check out MIDE during July.

If you're doing course, everything is provided, you don't have to buy your own fins, wetsuit etc. In Malaysia, not many people wear wetsuits as well. Many divers also don't use the snorkle but your instructor may use it when teaching you. Fins got many types, got cheap ones got expensive ones. Try to try a few first and see which type you like before getting one.