Diver’s log

1. Monday – Overheard that my friend have sign-up for the open water course with another friend who is dive instructor. They have completed the theory test last weekend. I wanted to dive long time ago but could not find chance to do it. I don’t need to hestate and make up my mind to go for it. I called the instructor to indicate my intention, there is still possible to do it.
2. Tuesday - Apply leave to go on theory test and pool session. My boss not really want to let me go. I have to ensure that I’ll handle all the stuff before I leave. After work I go to look for my friend who have completed theory test, she hand over the open water book and VCD to me. She is kind enough to go through the dive plan calculation. Learn the technique of using RPT table. I left the book aside after coming home.
3. Wednesday - Talked to my boss again regarding leave for Thursday and Friday. He seams like convince to allow me to take a break. Completed the shipment for the new customer and went to town to buy stuff for the diving trip. Start the reading and VCD after reached home. I only managed to complete first 2 chapters and fall in sleep during VCD#3.
4. Thursday – Woke up early in the complete to watch the VCD#3 again. Speed up the reading book to chapter 3. Only worked for half day but still need to handle request to demostrate that the system solution is working as I claimed. Still get into my boss’s office to give him briefing. On the way back to my home town. I continue the readings of chapter 3,4,5 and knowledge review in the car. In the evening start the knowledge review with instructor and completed quiz and exam with score of 90%. Choose the equipments for the pool session.
5. Friday – Started the pool session a bit late in the morning. We have learned many useful skill under water. Unfortunately we did not complete all the skills for confine water. After shower in my friend’s home. We started the journey to the boat. We have to drive 6 hours to reached jetty, on the way I manage to handle 2 calls for support from my office. Finally board the dive boat around 2pm.
6. Saturday – Started the open water dive in the morning. After the breifing by instructor and start to jump in the sea. However due to my nerves and holding on the breath, as a results I fail to descent to where we should do the underwater skills. At the second dive site, with the help of string attach to the bottom of the sea, we managed to descent successfully to the fasinating under water world. I follow my intructor closer to get to see all kind of colorful corals and aquatic life. After this dive, I said to myself that it already worth all efforts after seeing the under water. Third dive is the dive focus on the open water skills, we get to experience the surge at the bottom of the see to complete mask clearing, free flow regulator and buouancy control. Follow by the next dive at evening time, the light is low and visibility is bad. Experience the descent like free fall together with buddy. Instructor manage to get us to pump in low presure air to BCD. The most exciting is yet to come at the night dive. My instructor choose not to go and pass his torch light to me. He give me simple briefing on the night dive. I still not knowing what to expect in the night dive. At first I still have difficulty to descent successful. I have to ascent back and make up my mind to ascent to the group to light at the bottom. Finally I make it to the bottom and meet up with the group. The first stop at the parrot fish hideout under a coral. The fish is sleeping very deep and allow use to take very close look. After we left the parrot fish, I noticed my torch light is out of order..! I still stay very calm and not panic at all, I still breath normally and control my buoyancy perfectly to stay close to the people with bigger light. I have change my buddy and at the same time take a very close look at the night coral and crabs. At one point, everyone switch of the torch light and use hand to wave in the water and amzingly I notice all the small phatom actully light up in the dark. Very interesting experience. I don’t have any fear at all, until I noticed my air level is below red. I ignore the safety stop rules and ascent with another instructor’s alternate air supply. This day is end with very unique and exciting dive. Later the boat is on dock at Tioman Island, we spent 1 hour to do shopping and photo taking on the land.
7. Sunday – We started the last day early in the morning for the first dive at 7am. In this dive we managed to complete most of the under water skill required as the water is very calm in the morning. Later the boat started to set off to the dive site with wreck diving. However we still have skill to complete hence we have to stay and complete the remaining skills. And finally we are certify as open water diver after the CESA.. yeah… yes..  I was so exciting for this accomplishment. The next dive is for the deep dive, my instructor agree to be my buddy. We were to slow to catch up with the group, mainly due to strong current at shallow water that carry us away from the dive site. I experience the feel of lost in the water where you not able to identify the way as all you see in the surounding is the same. My instructor buddy using his compass to navigate to the correct direction. We end the dive without actually see any coral or aquatic life. We started to shower without knowing that we have another dive to go. Once get shower, we are too tired to change and dive again. This end the journey of myself to become a diver in a week.

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