it sounds more like you gained weight fat floats, bone sinks
The saltier the water the more easier to float.
The thicker your wetsuit the easier for you to float also.
The more rubber you have on your body the more easier you float too.

if you go dead sea, Jordan, you don't need anything also can float because it is the saltiest water in the world

i want to take PADI open water course in this mid year. Any recommendation on where the best place to take the course, prefer in Malaysia or nearby country such as Bali or Phuket....

Im wearing glass, and I will go to snorkeling this Thursday. I know there's a mask called Powered Mask for people who wear glass.

Where can I buy the Power Mask... is it expensive?

it is called mask with prescription lense.. i'm using it for my dive...

yes.. it is quite expensive and not all mask can use the prescription lense.. u can try see at the dive shop in 1 utama..

oh thanks. prescription lense..? can I get on the spot ? may I know how much..?

Mask RM160 + Lens RM100..total =RM260.00 just bought at Plaza Berjaya at 3rd Floor.

yes, u get it on the spot but it depends whether the shop have the lense power that you wear.. you can use the lense power lower than the normal power that you use because the image bias inside water.. like me, my spec power 325 but i use 300 for the mask lense..

i'm not sure the price at the dive shop in 1 Utama.. i bought mine during the dive expo, quite cheap because got discount..

Easiest method is to actually use contacts. That's what I do when diving.

Yes i thought that too... but must clean the contact lens asap right..?

I went to MidValley 3rd floor got dive shop... ask them power mask... they got brand BUBU.. RM200 + RM150 for lens. = RM350 quite expensive.

Midvalley quite expensive if no sale going on. try look at Rainbow Runner Jln Ampang.

I use daily lenses so no issues with keeping them. Wear in the morning by evening throw away. No issues even if I flood my whole mask, still can blink underwater.

All the best! Most importantly, have fun!

There are many dive centers in the city and on island. I'm guessing you wanna do the whole course on the island? If that's the case, then most of the popular dive islands in malaysia have them. Redang, Perhentian, Tioman, are cheaper choices. While Mabul might be slightly more expensive. From what I've gathered, west Malaysia is still the cheapest place to dive. But you'll get VIP treatment if you're diving in Bali or Thailand.

You can get those mask with power at any dive shops.
I got mine when I first started diving, about 5 years ago, at a dive shop in Sunway Mentari for about RM300.

It depends on how high your power is and how common it is. If the dive shop have ready stock then you can get it on the spot. If not, they will have to order and wait for it to come.

However, I still prefer to wear contacts.
Not really need to clean them right after. But it's better and it's recommended la.
Most of the time I'll just get dailies and wear it for one whole day doing 3 or 4 dives. I also remember to always have eye drops with me and my specs and prescription mask just in case I've having trouble with my contacts.

Wow. Really? I thought we can't open our eyes underwater when we are wearing contacts.
And it really hurts when sea water gets in the eye with contacts on. What dailies do you use?

sea water is considered sterile... actually you can open your eyes underwater with contact lens. there's nothing wrong... i remember during my mask recovery lesson, the instructor just snatched my mask and left me with no mask for couple of mins. it stink for a couple of seconds then it's back to normal

some instructors will tell you not to wear anything because when you are underwater, objects tend to be 33% bigger in size

I see. I'll try it next time.
I didn't dare to open eyes when wearing contacts cause my instructor told me before not to.
Without contacts on, I can't see anything when I open my eyes. Everything is just very blur.

I'm currently using B&L SoftLens which are with astig corrections, not much choices for dailies with astig. Previously used FreshKon. Worst is Ciba Vision, that one someone else used, can really float away from eye if exposed to water.

actually i tried once without contacts too and it was really not fun at all... imagine you need to walk from dc to boat, get onto the boat clumsily, slip on your fins, back roll, look for your buddy on surface, decent making sure everyone is there... damn hard to see... and you are right... cant see a thing at all and its worst when the visibility is poor.

i hate poor visibilities especially when theres trigger fish

I see. Anyone tried with Acuvue before?
Have never used Ciba ones. That's what I heard about contacts underwater, it will drop off from the eyes if we open our eyes.

Trigger fish - very scary. My sister got attacked by it before. It bit her ankle, thru her booties and wetsuit. Then she took her fin and whack that fella kao kao.

I used to dive without contacts, so I only had clear vision when I'm diving cause got power mask on. Bringing specs along can be quite annoying cause scare it will break la, dunno where to put la, break edi then even worst, cannot see for the whole trip. =.= So now I stick to wearing contacts. Can't wait to try opening my eyes with contacts underwater. Swimming pool can ar?

Trigger fish - very scary. My sister got attacked by it before. It bit her ankle, thru her booties and wetsuit. Then she took her fin and whack that fella kao kao.

That's because you went too near their nest. They attack when they are nesting.

Probably she didn't notice their nesting area that time. According to her, they were already on the surface waiting for the boat to arrive after the dive.

Thank God I haven't encounter any trigger fish experience.

any penang diver right here?
was thinking to get my OWD course during sept of this year~

which shop is reliable in penang? and where should i take the course?straight take the course in pulau ? pulau payar? pulau tioman?
or separate(half learn in pool at penang, then only go to island)

and estimate how much to take a OWD course? got student price?

which should i take? padi ?naui ? etc?

thank in advance

This post has been edited by busyman: May 1 2011, 05:35 PM