After years of procrastination, i took the plunge (pun intended!) and signed-up for my PADI Open Water certification. Two weekends of class and pool training, then off to the deep blue sea!
I've attended guided dives in recent years, off the Great Barrier Reef, Australia and to the USS Liberty, off the coast of Bali. What's always struck me as amazing and wonderful is the ability to do something completely unnatural, and feel completely at home doing it.
Human beings were not meant to breathe underwater, but being able to do so, is spellbinding. Its a whole new world down there, and once i've had a chance to see it, i'm itching to get back.
I was told that scuba as a recreational sport has really picked up in Malaysia, on average a dozen new sign-ups a week from the shop in One Utama i visited. Considering the cost of the sport (and the burning new hole in my wallet), thats a very very brisk business. Weekend trips to Pulau Tenggol, Perhentian, Redang, Sipadan, etc costs RM800-RM2k per person, and its a continuously repeating business.
Economics aside, with a surge of new divers, i wonder whether conservation programs have been put in place by local authorities to safeguard our national underwater treasures? Looks like i'll find out soon enough.
I've attended guided dives in recent years, off the Great Barrier Reef, Australia and to the USS Liberty, off the coast of Bali. What's always struck me as amazing and wonderful is the ability to do something completely unnatural, and feel completely at home doing it.
Human beings were not meant to breathe underwater, but being able to do so, is spellbinding. Its a whole new world down there, and once i've had a chance to see it, i'm itching to get back.
I was told that scuba as a recreational sport has really picked up in Malaysia, on average a dozen new sign-ups a week from the shop in One Utama i visited. Considering the cost of the sport (and the burning new hole in my wallet), thats a very very brisk business. Weekend trips to Pulau Tenggol, Perhentian, Redang, Sipadan, etc costs RM800-RM2k per person, and its a continuously repeating business.
Economics aside, with a surge of new divers, i wonder whether conservation programs have been put in place by local authorities to safeguard our national underwater treasures? Looks like i'll find out soon enough.
