I normally dive with swimming trunks + beach pants underneath the suit. This is because after the dive, I'll jump out of my suit and walk around in the beach pants.
There's absolutely no unnatural bulk at all (unless your package is THAT big la ), but since I dive with a short suit, the ends of the beach pants tends to stick out of the suit and some people might not like how it looks.

Don't suggest to go commando under the suit for both genders. Wetsuit material can be pretty rough/abrasive, not good for the delicates

And btw, you suit up in a public area. Nobody go toilet and suit up one la haha.

Just chill and enjoy the experience. Drift diving (in mild-ish currents) is a really great feeling
And please please please respect the oceans and marine life. Don't simply touch and mess up reefs, respect the fishes and turtles.
We are, after all, intruding their territory, and the least we can do is be nice.

I think this is a very important precedent to set for a new diver like yourself (and hopefully rub some off to your dive buddies as well!).

P/s do also be aware of your surroundings. I've seen one too many divers who didn't clip their SPG/octo properly and it just gets dragged over any and everything. Not to mention finning on marine life after they're done looking at it.

This post has been edited by Chinoz: Feb 25 2012, 07:26 PM

Typically, ~RM1.5k would be the price to expect for "confined water in KL, open water in island". I believe you can get below RM1k if you opt for the "do everything on the island" approach, although you might not be comfortable with rushing through the course.

Personally think that the difference of few hundred ringgit is worth paying for you to master the basics in the pool before heading out to the ocean.

Haha I assure you, there will be no wow in the first dive if you're struggling with buoyancy/equalizing. I had to abort one of my first few boat dives because I wasn't able to descend, and I think this will be a real issue if you haven't had sufficient practice in the pool.
Most importantly is for you to be comfortable in the water, and I think only you are able to gauge that comfort level.

Lastly, your first dive is likely gonna be a shore dive. Nothing fancy to see one

As for costs, if that's the case, then I stand corrected. It's just that I recall seeing signboards in Samui/Redang advertising OWD certification below RM1k. Been some months though, maybe things have changed heh.

FUUUU 4 Sipadan days?? I was there recently on 5D4N with SWV (~RM2.5k), only 1 Sipadan day
Around which time of the year did you go? I'm just wondering if there is a low-ish season whereby there aren't that many tourists.

Haha didn't think anyone could ever have too much of Sipadan. I went early Feb.
There was another group doing 6D/5N and they got 2-3 Sipadan days. Maybe next time should just do 6/5 or 7/6.

I got a full Seapro 3mm wetsuit from Scuba Dynamics at Hartamas (above J&R) some weeks ago. They were having 50% off, RM299 only
Dunno still got stocks now or not la.

Looks something like this.

Dunno how it's like for girls, coz you traditionally pee while seated. I just let it go and enjoy the new-found warmth within my wetsuit
Overcoming the initial pressure takes some getting used to though.

However, I don't think it is something anyone can teach you to do. Imagine if a guy came up to you and asked you how to pee on land. How would you explain it? You just go la lol.

Hi guys, heading over to Phuket sometime next month for a holiday and gonna try to sneak in some dives. Does anyone have recommendations for any dive centre/operator and also divesites over there?

Still thinking if I should bring my full set of gear or not, since I suppose our hotel will be quite some distance away from wherever we're diving, and I'm not entirely keen on lugging all that bulk around.

Just came back from Phuket.
Signed up for 3 dives in Racha Islands and another 3 dives in Phi Phi.

Weather was abysmal, rained a lot and saw very little sun. On the boatride to/from Racha Islands, we were greeted by 3-4m high waves, caused the boat to tilt so much our lunch rolled off the table.

We only managed 2 dives in Racha Noi, our last dive in Racha Yai was cancelled coz they were worried the weather would get worse and we wouldn't be able to get back to Phuket. Boatride was also slow - we took 1.5-2hrs to get to Racha Islands!

Diving itself was good. Waters were warm and currents were very gentle. Was told that now is low-ish season so not that many people around.

However, the rough and slow boatride caused me to cancel my Phi Phi dive. Not willing to endure an even longer journey there with such a seastate.

Mabul/Sipadan/Kapalai can have very generous amounts of current, not sure if I would say that it is better for beginner...
Superb vis is no doubt though

This post has been edited by Chinoz: Jun 14 2012, 09:29 AM

Just did my AOWD in Redang over the weekend. Jellyfish very kuat

Like!

EvanSoon,

My only advice against going on a nice trip so soon after getting your OWD is because of inadequate skills (although that differs from individual to individual).
When I went to Sipadan earlier this year, I've only logged 15 dives and my technique+buoyancy is really only about 5/10 at best.
I did struggle a little bit with current and also hovering, and that did take some enjoyment out of the dive.

As for getting bored of normal places, that didn't really happen to me (or maybe not yet la haha). I still enjoy diving Redang, and am looking forward to diving Perhentian next year.

TAGreptiles,

Quiver Lumut operates at Marina Island Pangkor, and is the only dive centre there IIRC.
Expensive or not, it is probably the most convenient option for KL-ites to get their compressed air fix during the monsoon months la

This post has been edited by Chinoz: Oct 10 2012, 04:54 PM

RM50/dive at Redang was for shore dive (or at least that's what I paid for my shore dive at Redang Bay earlier this year). Boat dives go for RM70/dive. Prices are without equipment.

When I was at Phuket, I was quoted about a little over 3k baht for 3 dives with equipment, though I'm guessing the place will be nicer than Lumut/Sembilan la haha.

TAGreptiles,

Phuket/Similan season coming already

I did 5D/4N in Anilao a few months back and stayed with Balai Resort.
When I was there, the conditions were super calm, most of our sites had almost no currents.
Lots of small stuff to see, very very colorful down there.
IMO, good place to learn for newbies. But not sure if they do certification dives there or not.

---

For you folks that have your own equipment, where and how often do you send it in for service?
I got most of my stuff new last year straight and I understand that it should be serviced every 2 years or so, but not quite sure where to send it in to.

Also, apart from the BCD and regulator, anything else needs to be serviced regularly?
How much should I expect to fork out for servicing?

Pulau Sembilan (off Lumut) is still open for OWD. My cousin just did his OWD there with Quiver not too many weeks ago. Said he bought some voucher off Groupon.

IMO, the stuff I would get first are:

Masks (RM200-500 for non-power mask).
Fins + booties (RM400-500).
Wetsuit (the full one) if you cannot tahan cold, coz dive centers normally only rent shorties (RM300-600).

BC and regulator can wait until you've done a few dives and you're certain that you're into this hobby for the long haul, coz they're fairly pricey and can be a chore to lug around, especially if you're planning to fly to your dive destinations.

BC is about RM1000-2000
Regulator with SPG and octo, north of RM2k perhaps?

Might also want to consider getting a dive com before the BC. I got a Suunto Zoop for about RM750, good enough for most recreational divers I'd say.

Prices are based on my own experience and window shopping. Your mileage may vary!

I was there last July and the water was consistently warm (some say about 29C). Quite a number of divers went in with just a rash guard and board shorts so I think it is very much doable. We even had a girl go down in her bikini bottom, though I wouldn't recommend that (scratches etc.).

Most of the dive sites in Anilao are on the shallow side (10-15m) so the water doesn't get too cold. I'd rate it to be even warmer than Redang.

One of the pygmy sites is about 32-34m, so if she plans on lingering around there for long, she might want to put on a suit for that site.

That's for July la. Can't say for sure if the same applies for April

I would say first item - mask. Don't wanna be caught with a rental mask that doesn't fit your face properly and have flooding or equalizing problems down there.

Second item - booties (and as an extension, fins, since not many DCs offer open heel fins for rental). Supremely useful to prevent slipping and falling in the (usually) wet dive center with your tank on. Also helps grip the ladder better when you're climbing back onto the boat after a dive.

Third item - full-length wetsuit, although this is just in my case. Shorties don't keep me warm enough. Also helps if you encounter an unexpected swarm of jellyfishes during a dive.

A pointer will also come in very handy to signal/alert people around you, although I would not suggest for a totally new diver to get one. They tend to poke and prod with reckless abandon, not being able to differentiate between what's pokable and what's not.

Also, if you plan to stick to scuba in the long-haul, consider getting a dive computer early on. I feel that frequent, proper use of a dive comp inculcates good scuba habits. Don't have to go OTT for one - my Zoop cost me RM7**, and it's plenty good enough for me.



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I think that only happens if you keep it under sunlight frequently. Rubber tends to have that habit. Same applies to the rubber seals and wipers on your car. Dive equipment should be stored in a cool, dry area away from sunlight when not in use.