It may sound really glamourous , working a job you love doing BUT................. There's no long term planning in it. Just like a GRO there's not much future in it   Maybe when we are young OK larr but always plan something as backup when you get bored with island life. I spent 13 years almost 14 in Langkawi when the going was good, when our PM really taking care of the island. Then everything crash! All the 13 years, starting from electronics to angling shop and dumping everything you own into your own shop angling and dive shop then back to square one with debts to pay. Then back to the job where I most want to avoid   F and B. I was born into it, family business.

Actually diving is accidental. I was a fishing kaki and have a boat and shop. Met a friend from KL and convinced me to start diving. Me and wife were so hooked up to diving, addicted actually, we went diving almost every weekend. Might as well start a dive operations too. Then diving became a chore and tedious! Wake up at 6 am Take the van go around the island to pick up guest, then take them to the jetty, luckily our own boat so time is a bit casual. Take care of their diving, briefing, choosing dive spots. Feed them and then prepare them to go back. Meet with 4 footer or 5 footer waves sometimes and see the guest barf Argue on who to send the guest back to hotel, either that or go back and fill in air into tanks sitting 3 to 4 hours just listening to the 8 hp compressor motor blaring. Rewarding is watching beautiful Japanese or Korean ladies in bikini holding their hands while diving Then after meal, too tired so sleep and then back to the routine again the next day. My partner was bitten by a baby shark once and needed 64 stitches on his fingers (stupid stunt to impress girls) and out of commission for 3 weeks and I have to handle all dives, really taxing, at times 4 dives a day which is actually againts the rules.

Island or seaside life tends to make a person, how can I describe it................ carefree. Nothing really matters, regardless of whether you are loaded or not, friends are more important, very nature loving and gets angry at people who don't respect nature, friendly at times too friendly others bully you, lazy because of the laid back style, you are working but you don't seem to be working and this , after getting used TOTALLY not suitable to city life at all.

The currency crisis might just be a blessing in disguise, taking me away from diving operations. Sold off to my partner and I started a cafe. My former partner 'tapow' also after a year because he was greedy, shortchanging the tour guides. You might argue that in future you will start  an operation yourself but it seldom happens or become a DI or something. How many really survive these competitive markets, anyway.

Just something for those who are interested in becoming DI or DM to ponder.

PS/ Do you know when we charge divers RM180 for 2 dives (market price at that time), we have to pay RM80 to guides as commission?