Dive safe always!

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

Field reports from Tioman says that the seas are very choppy currently with vis around 3m. It's been raining on the islands.

everyone is talking about diving. if i ask snorkeling question will ppl laugh at me?

hurt while going down is quite normal, and easily solved....

hurt while coming up is... a bit more problematic

dont ask, dont know...

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?

Hi all. Just want to share some infos about Tioman and if you do have any questions that you want to ask bout Tioman and to be specific bout Kampung Salang, please do so.

To get there from KL :
- via Berjaya Air - from SZB (Subang Airport) to Tekek, Tioman. flight will cost you around RM218 one way. Approximately 1 hour flight time. Boat transfer to other beaches is around RM10-RM40 per pax.
- by bus - TBS Bandar Tasik Selatan. Transnasional or Sepakat Liner. Personally recommend Sepakat Liner, bigger seat, cleaner interior, on time, faster, safer, take the NSE from Sg. Besi to Kluang and they will stop at the jetty. RM30 for Transnasional and RM35 for Sepakat Liner. Will take 5-6 hours
- driving - Depending on the road you will choose. If Kuala Pilah-Muadzam-Rompin-Mersing, you will only pay RM7.70 from Sg. Besi-Senawang exit and I'm not sure how much if you use LEKAS. When driving alone late at night, I manage to clock 2 hours 50minutes. Normal driving around 4 hours. If Sg. Besi-Kluang-Mersing, around RM32 for the toll. My record is 2hours 15minutes, due to long highway stretch. Normal driving 4hours. You need to pay RM7-RM10 per day for parking fees.

From Mersing to any beaches in Tioman (Genting, Paya, Tekek, ABC, Salang, Panuba) :
Two ferry company - Bluewater, more trips daily and XXX(I forgot it's name), one trip in and out daily but better seating inside. RM70 for return tix.

I can only give info bout Salang which is where I work now and specifically Azmi Dive Center (PADI Dive Resort) but I will still give info bout other dive center also.

Azmi Dive Center rates for PADI licenses and leisure dives :
Discover Scuba Diving - from RM150
Open Water - RM950 can be done in 3days 2 nights(you will get tired) but recommended 4days 3nights at least.
Advance Open Water - RM750 can be done in 2days 1night but better 3days 2nights
EFR - RM350 half day only
Rescue Diver - RM950 (take both EFR and rescue together for RM1200) can be done within 3-4 days.
Dive Master - RM3500 minimum 40dives to take up the course and 60 dives minimum to be certified. Duration 2weeks and perhaps longer. Other options can be given, please PM if interested.
Leisure/fun dives : RM110 for 1 boat dive, RM190 for 2 boat dives, RM535 for 6 boat dives and so on... More dives, cheaper price per dive. Inclusive of equipments, tanks, snacks on the boat and Divemaster. Our boat is the fastest but not the biggest in Salang. 200hp Yamaha 4 strokes twin engines. Quiet and smooth journey. Can accommodate up to 25 divers for 1 dives and can accommodate up to 15divers for 2-3 dives. DISCOUNT if you bring your own gear (BCD or reg, or both)

Price are almost the same for other dive centers. You need to ask them personally.

Other dive centers in Salang are :
Dive Asia - the biggest dive boat in Salang, the best compressor, located at the farthest left end of Salang.
Fisherman - located in front of Four S bar. Long walk for shore dives.
B & J : professionally setup dive shop/center. Their equipment room is behind Fisherman's, in front of Salang Indah mini market. long walk for shore dives.
Scubanaut - located right in front of Salang Pusaka Resort.

For chalets/rooms, expect price range from RM30 and above. Salang Pusaka, Salang Sayang and Salang Puteri(personally preferred) are 3 of the best and of course expensive.

Duty free liquor, chocolates and tobacco. RM7 for a pack of DUNHILL, Marlboro etc. RM10 for 3 can of beers.

Food and beverages. Cheaper and better than Perhentian. Cheapest price at Kompleks Salang. Nasi goreng for RM4.

Other activities. Snorkeling, canoeing, jungle trekking, skin dive, beach volleyball, etc.

Monsoon from November to March. But you can still come to Tioman. Not for diving but perhaps for surfing or just lazying around. BRING YOUR OWN FOODS!

What else you want to know about Salang? Or perhaps about Azmi Dive Center and the courses we offer? Please PM for any inquiries. Thank you. Happy bubbles!

Hope this will help.

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Added on August 31, 2011, 5:06 amThere's high possibilities that you won't get a room. Prepare sleeping bag, hammock or tent.

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Added on August 31, 2011, 5:16 amOh, most of the dive centers in Tioman only hired local Malaysian Divemasters and Instructors. Support Malaysian products, no? Lol.

This post has been edited by photopro: Aug 31 2011, 05:16 AM

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.

Fantastic! Book the room a.s.a.p. You are most welcome. Just sharing infos base on my experienced.

Salam Aidilfitri,
Sofian

confirm that. did only 2 dives on my trip there. Refused to do anything more. Viz was bad. We had like 3m at Marine park wreck, and 5m at renggis. current was strong as well.

Hi all, sorry to butt in, just wondering if anyone has dive in Myanmar / Mergui region, am planning a trip there next year (probably May - June) so I may head there for some dives.

Problem is that when I search the internet, all I see are liveabroads dive trips catered towards ang mohs that costs about 60k baht onwards for a 6 day trip. =___= Anyone has dived there which cost less, and within a shorter time frame, perhaps 2 days?

Thank you very much!! :3 Any help/tip/guidance will be much appreciated!!

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

sorry sorry, it means westerners!! XDDD


ADDED: Wanna know has anyone here had the chance to come in close contact with a whale shark? If yes, where and when? I heard that there's a chance to bumping into them at Lankayan and around Mergui.

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.

Currently making some inquiries with them for next year.

Anyone been to Sampourna, Sabah before? i saw a show on TLC yesterday, the one that Denise Keller hosted.

Macam best la that place. Reviews from those who've been there please.

PS: Is there any forums that i can look for 2nd hand dive gears?

This post has been edited by TAGreptiles: Sep 5 2011, 04:20 PM

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.

dude if you need room from 16-18 sept let me know i might have a fan room in ABC, one of my friends cxl last minute. we would be diving with B&J

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