Your Opinion Does Not Matter
In 11 days, I’ll be on the MV Kaleebso en route to Pulau Jarak. I did a dive plan and reckon I can do about 9 dives over the two-night trip. I’ve never dived there, nor have I dived at Pulau Sembilan or One Fathom Bank…and I shouldn’t keep my hopes up high as the viz may not be as pretty as it is over on the east coast, but a dive is a dive nontheless.
I wish they have something more than EAN21 for my use.
Ever since I used the INSPIRATION CCR, I’ve been dreaming of doing an actual CCR course, and purchasing my own CCR. I am torn between buying a breand new Sports KISS CCR, or a second-hand INSPIRATION CCR. I wish Erik or Xavier can help me out here.
Financing such an equipment is another issue. If my brand new KISS or second hand INSPIRATION is gonna cost me RM18,000.00, I’d better have the same amount to keep the wife happy.
During my last trip to Tioman, on my penultimate dive, I accidentaly brushed against a crimson soft coral (I was wearing a singlet that time). It went on defensive and injected me with its toxins. I tried brushing it off but it got worse. I told my mind to forget the pain and irritation as I continued my dive.
After the last dive, I poured lots of vinegar on the affected area trying to stop it from injecting more toxin; applied an antiseptic cream on it and continued on living the day.
A whole lot of rash appeared the next day followed by some swelling. Then the skin ruptured, and itched like hell. So I’ve been applying 10%hydrocortisone on it, downing antihistamines at the same time to fight the itchiness.
Last Sunday, a week after being stung, a friend reminded me of an old remedy which is sulphur mixed with water. I bought some yellow sulphur from the local Indian groceries and did what was told.
After 4 days, everything’s now drying up, the itchiness have all but gone…but the scars are horrendous that I’ve gone back to wearing long-sleeved shirts to work.
Next time, I’ll just wear my wetsuit when I dive.
I’ve posted some pics on my gallery.
Last week, members of the Malaysia Diving Community organised an underwater wedding for two of its members who married each other. It was a moving experience for the bride, Kit (handle: csi) that she shed tears of happiness. 30 members were there altogether. The groom, Mervyn (handle: hilk) was his usual cool self.
I dived the Inspiration CCR last weekend….cool! Had to learn scuba diving all over again.
The photo above was taken the first time I went back to Tioman after 22 years. It was taken just before my last dive for that trip at Batu Malang (Malang Rock).
This is the paradise that takes me back to sanity. Christopher Cross’s Sailing describes my feelings of Tioman aptly. Tioman, the paradise as I knew it, and as I still know it:
It’s not far down to paradise
At least it’s not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me
It’s not far to never never land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy
Of innocence again
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me
Sailing
Takes me away
To where I’ve always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free
Fantasy
It gets the best of me
When I’m sailing
All caught up in the reverie
Every word is a symphony
Won’t you believe me
It’s not far back to sanity
At least it’s not for me
And when the wind is right you can sail away
And find serenity
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me
Until next season…
Tonight I should be winging my way to Tioman…perhaps for the final time before the season is out. I have my storyboard ready for my video shots. Hope to have a final Tioman video compilation before next week’s out. I just cannot find a way to host it on this site though.
Hmm..interesting.
ITI Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Scuba Diving International (SDI), Technical Diving International (TDI) and Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI), has sues Professional Scuba Association International (PSAI), Professional Scuba Association, Inc., (PSA), and all its officers worldwide.
Read more about it at CDNN.
SeaDemon Says 
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