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Suddenly felt motivated to write here - I don't know where this adrenaline came from. Bali-bound in 2 weeks, I can't wait! It's going to be my first real solo travel - something I waited too long to do. I did travel solo once to Perth, but it was for a wedding and to meet other diving pals, so I effectively only had one day to myself. But this time, I'm going to have a solid 5-day stretch to myself! Woohoo I can't wait for all the diving and yoga. Lembongan has a special place in my heart, and will always be special to me.

Come to think about it, this is only my third dive trip this year, and I only did two trips as a DM. It's sad to see how I've shelved my passion aside for the entire year. I can't say I'm too caught up with myself - I didn't go diving not solely because I didn't want to. I wish everyone can understand better what diving is about. All the misconceptions about the hook-up culture, drink drank drunk, and unforgiving marine life has to stop. To me, diving is all about my passion - to show people what's beneath the earth we live, to see the world from another perspective, a continual exchange of knowledge, a fierce defense of the marine ecosystem. I've been diving for slightly more than 6 years now (I think?), no matter how tired and beaten up I feel after diving, there is always a sense of fulfillment after each trip, whether it's a teaching trip or my own leisure trip. Through these trips, I learn about myself as a diver, as a person; I help new divers overcome their fears; I play a part in bringing them to this other side of the world; I contribute to shaping a new diver. They may not end up falling in love with the underwater world as much as I do, but I am honoured to have played a part, albeit a tiny one, in their journey.

I've never succumbed to hook-ups throughout my years of diving - this is a principle I hold myself to during and outside of diving. Relationships, not just romantic relationships but human relationships in general, should not be built on superficial basis for personal gains. There should be a sense of realness and sincerity. When I know of real relationships which blossom out of diving, it makes me happier than ever. This shows that diving is not just about hooking-up and one-night stands, but also about meeting like-minded people. Real friendships have also been built through diving, bridging continents and distance. Divers all around the world speak one common language, have one common vision. If our sportsmen can travel around the world and meet other sportsmen, engage in friendly sparring, and lawyers and doctors can put themselves on international platforms for exchange of expertise, why can't divers? I wish the non-diving world can see this beauty of diving, and not just look at the bad rep that diving has been wrongly given. This just has to stop. Oh, how persecuted I feel now.

Often times, people think of diving as a convenient excuse to attract girls (or guys for that matter), but truth be told, real divers know better than to do something, for want of a better word, stupid. The diving community is small, is tightly-knit. You do something, we all know it, locally or outside, we hear things.

I really hope to go out there to do more trips as a DM, and hopefully as an instructor in time to come. I waste too much time sitting behind the computer screen looking at how all the instructors and DMs out there are making divers. Diving has always been a great part of me - it calms me down, it allows me to really relax and put my mind at ease and clears my mind, it brings me to another dimension I can't put the sense of tranquility I derive into words. I don't want to have to lose a part of myself just because I'm in a new chapter of my life.

How do I get through this dilemma?

MOALBOAL 2015

So Moalboal turned out to be less fun than I thought it would be. Unfortunately it's a pretty forgettable trip.

But I'll always be chasing sunsets on the other side.

Can't wait for The Yearly Pilgrimage to Bali (and hopefully #BelachanShore) next year!

Whaleshark

After 5-odd years of diving, I finally see you!

Back from Anambas! I'm grateful to be back alive.

My first trip to Anambas was truly a humbling one, and I'm grateful to be back alive.

Many dolphin sightings along the way to Anambas. Jumped out of bed and geared up within 5 minutes hoping to dive with dolphins, but missing a little luck. Took the dinghy out for rounding but the dolphins don't seem to be in the mood for play. Thankful for the endless blue waters with unlimited visibility - my playground.

Stormy night kept the boat and dive crew up all night. Winds were strong, waves were high and rain was relentless. Boat was rocking and customers puking. Got a little scare when we thought customers went missing. Thank god all was good. Everyone stayed together, prepared for the worst to happen. Thought of our escape plan, said a little prayer. Succumbed to motion sickness finally and I gave way.

Woke up in the morning with customers staring down at the crew. We all looked and felt like shit. Thankful we made it through the storm. Dive resumed with not too good visibility anymore, but we made it back home safely.

It was a truly humbling experience - we are so small in the face of nature. We may have the best crew put together, it may be our first trip, first year, or nth trip out, but there's just so much to learn and so many ways to improve on. Thankful for the boat crew who put up a strong fight, keeping vigil while we gave in to fatigue. Captain John mentioned this was his toughest trip throughout his years of sailing.

We survived to tell the tale.

OWD (Tioman): 12092014 - 14092014

SMU Back-To-School Dive 2014

Amazing divers, amazing weekend. Learnt so much from them. Had a guy in the group who had very bad reverse block (Eugene called him period face). He had blood running from his nose and eyes and had to clear the blood water from his mask each time we surfaced. Everyone had a great weekend, and the students were planning for their Advanced course already! Sweet!

Barely a week to #BelachanShore, HOW EXCITES!

Leisure Dive (Tioman): 30052014 - 01062014

One more criteria checked from my DM course! Led a bunch of 5 divers who joined us on a leisure trip. Was really stressed a first because (1) I have almost zero sense of direction; and (2) it's only going to get worse underwater. 

Fortunately for me, all the divers I had with me were pretty comfortable in the water and didn't have very major problems. I almost could just focus on navigating and looking for stuff! Navigating underwater didn't turn out as bad as I thought it would be, save for one dive site that had this really spooky vibe that didn't give me a good feeling. 

All in all, I think the divers enjoyed themselves and that's my only objective for this trip - to have my divers enjoy themselves.

Missing Japanese Divers

News about the missing Japanese divers in Bali have been spreading like wild fires. 

It makes me feel really scared. Scared of how transient and fragile life is. Scared of the day my time is up and I regret the things I never got around doing, the words I never managed to say, the people I failed to love.

So stay safe, and be very happy.

Achievement unlocked!

So, one (small) milestone in my diving journey - CLEARED MY DM THEORY AND POOL! That's not really a lot to be proud of, but... well I guess I can use a celebration anyway. 3.5years into diving, it sure took me long enough to finally get my ass down to doing my DM, after sitting on the idea for the past 1year+. Glad I made it to this point, the swim test was really... a wake up call that I'm deteriorating (aka getting old). 

So, YAY! Time for pool and OW assists! 

Celebration of Love

 

 

20 degree Celsius water is not meant for diving, even with 7mm wetsuit. I thought I was going to freeze. Missing everything about Perth already. Third time there and still in love.

It’s finally the Christmas week! So much love in the air!
xoxo.

Things that kill more people than sharks

so what should we be afraid of?

Your precious.

If only we could stop time from passing us by. If only we could freeze in the moment.

xoxo.