Following our previous coworkers' instructions, we decided to contact Zol, a diving instructor to take the PADI diving license. The license is used worldwide and does not expire, which means once you get it, you are allowed to dive worldwide as long as you want, even after retiring.
So we decided to apply for it: first we had training and theory lessons, and after passing exams we went to Tioman which is an island 7 hours far from Kuala Lumpur to practice the real diving.
The island was quite pretty, even we could not enjoy swimming in the beach since we had 4 dives in one day and half! It was busy :-)
We took a small boat and went deep into the sea to dive, wearing the suits and oxygen bottles. Feeling nervous already, even the views seem really nice and the wind comes across your face, so healing and friendly. We (Sergio, Emily, Miguel and I) used to call each others "The snorkels" team, as if we were kids going to snorkel!!!
Once you carry on the suit, weights and oxygen bottle, you would certainly think you would sink in the sea quickly as you probably increase your weight in around 20 kgs; however once you are under water it doesnt feel heavy at all. More than that: you feel like floating. No gravity at all.
The first impression as you go down while breathing through the respirator in your mouth is quite surprising. Firstly, because breathing through your mouth is not something we really do everyday. As long as you try breathing from your nose and inhale, it certainly never works since the oxygen comes out from the respirator.
When you start going down like just one or two meters, all you can feel is you are floating and all you can see is one colour: light blue. And some bubbles going up. You turn left and right, nothing around you... just blue. You think where am I? Where did they take me? Am I alive or in a dream? This is totally a new world for me, and the feeling of the first impressions still remains very clear in my mind. Feels like you're nowhere, no noise, no view, no weight. But light blue.
You face down and luckily you can see some buddy who descended before you. You turn up and see clearly how the sunglight comes across the sea. You keep descending holding the rope, a few meters more while you are still amazed about the first sights.
Welcome to the new world!
Once you reach the bottom, around 10 meters this time, you feel relieved. Probably you would keep breathing still briefly and intense, but as soon as you calm down, your breathe becomes deep and slow, in a easy way, like it should be. Its the time to enjoy then!
The views in Tioman were quite beautiful. You feel exploring a new world, new species that you have only seen in aquariums before. You see them moving freely, in their own environment, so peacefully. There are no sounds, just your own breathing, an endless view and a perfect matching of harmony and beautiful views.
Small fishes, turtles, no jaws this time (^v^), all them in a friendly way together moving around you, a very small human who is no longer the king of this world. The sea life is amazingly beautiful, fulled of pure colours, quietness and harmony. As you dive, you feel so free, the world is so big, and you feel unique to be seeing the species at their own moving around, at the same time you enjoy seeing the sunlight coming across the sea to light you.
Diving is certainly an activity worth to try, as these are things you cannot see in our "daily" life for most humans. I would certainly take my best friends to try it!! Gambatte ne!
I was very nervous before I tried diving, and during the training as well. When I see it now it doesnt seem its something difficult at all, but you just need to get used to breathe properly and equalize if you feel any pain in your head. Then the pain goes easily, and you can enjoy diving for 4o or 50 minutes at your own!This coming weekend we are going to Langkawi to dive again. I look forward to it!
I wish I had a water camera to take photos inside the sea... the closest views I have ever seen to diving is a 3D movie about jaws at Timesquare Imax theater in Bukit Bintang.
Since I dived and saw how beautiful is it, aquariums now dont seem so interesting to me... if you are an aquarium fan, diving is an experience you shouldnt miss!!
Finally we could rest easily in the beach for a while, got back to Kuala Lumpur and get our certification after a couple of days. So nice experience!!!
Keep in touch, more soon!
