June last year, we went to Tioman Island for our Open Water License diving course cum holiday. I thought I would enjoy it. But it turn out to be something I never expected.
If you have not experience scuba diving before, you probably will not understand what I am going to share with you. Or, probably you could understand what I mean, but you won’t be able to feel what I felt.
It was a holiday we had planned for sometime and I finally decided to place a booking and go for it. Getting a PADI open water license has always been in my bucket list for many years. Finally, in June 23 2018, we did it.
It was a 5D4N short trip. We went to Tioman Island Resort B&J Diving Center. (By the way, I highly recommend this Dive Center).
Objective is to enjoy ourselves and at the same time, get a PADI open water license. I thought it would not be difficult. Ahem..I was wrong.
To tell you the true, I did not enjoy the first 2 day of the training lesson at all ! The instructor was really tough on me ! Together with me was another lady from Amsterdam, she seemed to be able to do all the steps so easily inside the swimming pool.
For once, I thought I was stupid !
I remembered there was one exercise that my instructor has to make me do at least 20 times. Yes. 20 times. (or I lost count). I almost wanted to give up.
It was the buoyancy exercise, whereby I have to achieve a consistent buoyancy within the water. That means, if I breath out too much air, I will sink. If I hold on too much air, I will float to the surface.
In the beginning, I don’t get it. But my buddy did it with, I think only 2 attempt. No doubt my instructor is seriously patient with me, but I do felt stupid after trying for so many times, and yet I can’t do it. I guess, at one point, my instructor wanted to give up on me too 🙁
Then, after so many attempt. I finally made it. It was really not easy for me. I was told to take a break after that. Probably my instructor wanted to take a break as well…
This is not all.
Then, come the day where we have to go out to the open sea and do the actual dive. There was one exercise, again, I felt so difficult.
I have to remove the BCD (Buoyancy Control Device – the vest scuba diver wear to control our buoyancy in the water) at the sea. Fighting with the waves and struggling to remove it and put it back on. I find it so difficult, because my right hand could not reach the BCD and slot through it.
Again, the instructor demanded me to do it over and over again until I get it right and perfect. I almost want to scold the instructor for being so strict.
After that experience, I was asking myself, I thought scuba diving suppose to be fun and interesting. How come I never enjoy it at all ? What’s wrong with me.
While I was still struggling with that thought, my instructor came to me. We spoke and what he told me changed my perspectives altogether.
“I hope you don’t mind me being exceptional strict on you”, he said.
“ok la..” pretending everything is ok.
“I am strict with you because out there, is a matter of life and death. That’s why I must make sure you understand and able to do what is necessary.”
I looked at him for a moment, I was stunned by what he just said.
How true is that.
If there are any lessons I learnt during my interesting scuba diving experience, here they are:
Lesson #1
While at the pool, make all the mistakes you need in order to learn how to do it the right way.
Translation : In life, as long as it is not fatal, make all kind of mistakes you can, so that you can learn what is needed to prepare you for the real world out there.
Lesson #2
Practice, practice and practice
Translation : In order to achieve excellence or perfect a skill, practice until you are so tired and almost you want to give up, practice some more to make it seamless.
Lesson #3
You can only truly enjoy scuba diving when you are familiar with the technicality and observe all the safety rules. But to enjoy it, you must first do the hard work.
Translation: To reap the reward in life, one must willing to commit and work hard towards it. Nothing worthwhile is achievable without hard work and dedication.
Overall, the trip ended up well, and I finally passed the exam and achieve my PADI Open Water License ! The last few dives was a really a great experience for me. I saw turtle, all kind of fishes and corals.. but I have no idea what they are called.
Will I go back to scuba diving ? Yes of course ! But most likely I need to take a refresher course again since then, it is already more than 6 months, I have not done any diving… LOL… thought of it, stress again.
Below are some memorable pictures to share.
