Dive 1 - Off Pasir Panjang
This was a memorable one...we started with the certification night dive at 2100. Having left our gear on the boat, anchored about 100m offshore, we had to swim out to it. It was a dark moonless and starless night. Fortunately one of us had a torch and someone else had a light stick so we could follow the leader. Swimming in pitch black water isn't too bad if you don't look down into the inky blackness ! Interestingly, because of the darkness, the photo phosphorescence (is the spelling right ?) of some plankton was clearly visible. Eventually we did get geared up and into the water again, but it was a whole new experience now with all 10 of us toting torches. The scene underwater looked very much like a WWII night air raid scene with searchlights stabbing into the darkness ! A lot of staghorn coral about but not a lot of fish though. Water temperature was warm, about 30 Celsius and visibility (estimated with torch beam reach) was about 40 ft.
Dive 2 - Teluk Dalam
We did our multi-level certification dive here. Nothing really interesting except for messing about with the "wheel" prior to the dive....beats the heck out of using the damned tables !
Dive 3 - Off Pasir Panjang
Underwater navigation certification dive. Only thing we learnt is "Its almost impossible to measure distance with kick cycles" ! Yes, we got lost doing the 100m square pattern and had to surface twice to get our bearings.
Dive 4 - Off Pasir Panjang
Another night dive, for "fun" this time. I'm wondering why I do this ! Nothing interesting.
Dive 5 - Teluk Dalam
This was our certification deep dive at 1030. I lost my gloves here. Visibility was about 40ft and water temperature warm, probably around the high twenties Celsius. I discovered my mathematics abilities improved with nitrogen narcosis, I performed better at math at 90ft than on the surface ! Not much coral of fish in this rocky area.
Dive 6 - Ekor Tebu
Our certification drift dive. Guess what ? No drift ! Nothing really interesting either.
Dive 7 - Batu Bara sea mount
Another "for fun" dive, lots of little fish and various types of coral. I don't remember much else. Nothing noteworthy in my log book either.
My buddy Vic Cruz demonstrating a textbook giant stride entry (except for the free swinging console :), from a less than textbook model dive boat (converted fishing boat). Yeah, you may be wondering what I was doing taking photos when my buddy was already entering the water :)