Hello!
I recently took the plunge and learnt how to dive! Finished up my open water in Tioman and continued on to dive there for 2 more days – it was great fun! I’ve always wanted to be close to nature and marine life, this is something that captivated me since I was a kid watching Discovery Channel programs on TV12. Now with cable TV, I’ve progressed to Animal Planet, Dicovery Channel, Nat Geo Wild, History Channel etc. My facination with the world and it’s inhabitants and outer space always kept me wondering how all these things came about and adapted through time. (I’m a true Science student!) I guess if Singapore has Veterinary Studies as a degree I would’ve aimed to graduate in that field. But knowing that it is only available overseas and it will be a financial burden to my parents I never really toyed with that idea. Guess diving is a good alternative for me now!
I saw plenty of interesting life forms underwater like Nudibranch, weird looking sea cucumbers, broadclub cuttlefish (which are really big! about 50cm!), hawksbill turtle, black tip reef shark, pufferfish etc. Previously, I satisfied my curiousity for marine creatures through aquariums, but now I’m able to be “inside” a natural aquarium! And we have a whole ocean to explore it. I can’t wait to dive in other places but for now enjoy what I took underwater.
XOXO
Jessica
Pufferfish
Porcupine Fish
Green Sea Turtle
Sea Fan
Diving Thru a Cave
Looking for Fish!
Coral Fish
Cuttlefish
Flip Flops
Relaxing after diving
Dive Centre at Paya Beach Resort, Tioman
Our dive instructor – Funny. She’s a Japanese lady but she can speak Japanese, English, Cantonese, Malay very fluently! Simply amazing! I was shocked when she picked up her handphone and conversed in Cantonese throughout!
Jessica's Blog 
Hey Jess
The pics are great! What did u use?
Now I can’t wait for my trip in December where we will be trying to swim with dolphins in the open water.
But I can’t use my new cam.
How are things with u?
hey Alvin,
Used the G9 with underwater casing for the shots. Pity the colours were disappearing due to the depth of the water. Need those pro underwater flash to take nice colourful shots!
Where are U going to swim with the dolphins? I wanted to do that in Bali instead of diving, but because it was a last min trip the air tickets to Bali was sky high! So changed plans to learn diving instead.
Things are good! I’m enjoying the Durian season now! hee hee…
XOXO
Jess
Nice pictures of the fishes! My dad has always wanted to bring us to go Tioman for many years but somehow, we never went, and we still haven’t gone there! Anyway, you look like you had a lot of fun and you’re tempting me to go! Heh. Did you take a crash-course for diving or? 🙂
Btw, I sent you an email on something. Check it out? 🙂
Thanks! Yah, I took a crash course in diving – Sat did theory & test, Sun did the pool session & Mon early morning took the coach to Mersing for the Ferry to Tioman and finished up my open water there! Tioman’s a nice place for a short weekend trip as the water there is so clear for snorkelling and food’s really cheap! U should go there for a quick getaway!
Hey Jess
If u r going to go diving more often now, may want to invest in that flash.
Am going to New Zealand in December with my wife…it will be one filled with activities and one of the highlights will be the swim with the dolphins.
It is located at Tauranga, at the Bay of Plenty, about 2-3 hours drive from Auckland. We spend almost half a day on the boat and they can almost guarantee that the dolphins will appear. U can then either swim with the dolphins in the open water….(sheltered bay I think) or u can hang on to a bar behind the boat and be dragged by the boat while dolphins swim at speed around. Will post pics!
BTW, are you a Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia fan?
Cheerio!
Wow!
Sounds like an exciting trip! Envious!
I’m a LOTR fan! 🙂
Hi Jessica,
What camera did u use? haha! And how much did u spend in total because i planned to go on year end and i need to sort my finaces first! hahaha!
Thank you so much!!
Great Love,
Lylamay:D
hi Lylamay,
I used the Canon G9 for the pics. As I split the theory & pool separately from the Tioman trip, it’s slightly more ex. Paid $350 for theory lessons, test & swimming pool session to be done locally & RM600 for the open water course in Tioman excluding hotel stay. In total for the 5D4N in Tioman & course fees spent around $900. However that’s excluding my own purchase of equipment etc. If u’re on a tight budget, just do the weekend course most dive schools offer. I did mine at Deep Blue Scuba at Hong Kong St. It costs $590 for Thoery, pool & weekend trip(leave Fri night come back on Sun) at Pulau Au or Tioman. And U don’t need to spend much on your own equipment yet unless U really like it n intend to do it in the long run. U can just get mask, snorkel & fins which will cost around $300 depending on what U want. But even that is not necessary cos U can get all on rental.
Hope this helps!
XOXO
Jessica
Hi Jess
Am bringing my wife to see the Hobbiton movie set…where some of the houses that the Hobbits lived in remain. Also bringing her to see a site where a scene from the Chronicles of Narnia was filmed.
I can’t wait for Dec to come and wish it would come sooner.
Will share pics with u.
Regards.
Alvin
Wah…
Your Dec trip sounds packed with fun! I’m sure U & ur wife will have a great time! I want to go back to NZ one day & drive around! Last time I was there, went driving up to Hanmer Springs from Christchurch & stayed in a B&B place… it was really beautiful!!! I’m sure U’ll take plenty of beautiful pics there!
XOXO
Jessica
Hi Jessica!!
Funny was my diving instructor too!
She was really good and careful with my group.
Just so you know, she used to be a reporter in hk that is why she could speak canto! 😀
im sure u did enjoy diving like i did! :))
hope to see more diving pics of yours!
hi Keshia!
Yup, Funny’s a good instructor – very conscientious & professional about things. She told us she stayed in HK as a reporter too, and when we did our last dive with her, it was her 6500th dive! OMIGOD! 😮
I’ll be going to Redang in Sept over the long weekend so hope to see & take more nice pics then! Will post em up then!
XOXO
Jessica
Hi Jessica!
Thank you for the information!! It did helped! And anyway Redang is fun fun fun too! I wen there for snokerling years back! Try walking through a small jungle u will come out at Laguna or Lagoon (cant rem the name) but u will end up in some huge happening night life place! It is filled with lots of ang mohs, trans and full of music and dancing! Its like a night life party there! Do go there if u can! :D:D
Great Love,
Lylamay:D:D
Hey Lylamay!
I’ll go ask my dive shop pple abt it! They might know as they’ve been to Redang quite a few times. 🙂 U’re welcome! If U wanna know more abt diving, I can try to help U out with some questions, tho’ I’m not the most experienced yet! But I’m so enthusiastic abt it that I’m asking all my friends to dive! 😛 let me know when U take the plunge!
XOXO
Jessica
Hi Jessica!
I couldnt help but notice your HOT pink gul wetsuit!
i think its awessome and its so pretty! 🙂
how much and where did you get it?!
THANKS ALOT 🙂
Hi FY!
I LOVE my wetsuit!!! Bought it for below $400 (can’t tell U exact price cos we got it at a “package” price as we bought almost all of our equipment from them) from Deep Blue Scuba at Hong Kong St. Look for Ricky, he’s the boss.
They brought in quite a lot of pink stuff recently cos of crazy girls like me always pestering for pink diving gear! Hahah… When U look for him, tell him I recommended U the place. 🙂 That’s also the school where I learn to dive. They’re the most reasonable shop around in terms of prices and very responsible people. 🙂
Address:
74 South Bridge Road,#03-01
Singapore 058704
Tel : 65 6557 2705
Email : info@scuba.com.sg
Hey Jess
Will definitely take heaps of pics……will tell u when i get back and then u can check out my FB page.