Tioman : Part 4 - My First Open Water Dive

After the first knowledge dive review that ended about 1pm, our dive instructor told us to take a rest, because we were exhausted from the drive the night before. She told us to read on the remaining 3 chapters i.e. the knowledge review sections before our first dive at 4pm. Here is me reading because I can't sleep. I was overwhelmed by too many diving terminology. So confusing.

At 4pm, we went to the dive center which was about 30 seconds from our chalet. There are no photos at the dive center on my first dive. None of us brought a camera. The one who did brought a GoPro (a camera used for sports) and did lots of videoing. The dive instructor gave us the tank and told us to fix it ourselves. The tank was so heavy, I am so sure my scoliosis will worsened. The first dive was a shore dive. We walked from the dive centre to the beach, and continued to walk into the waters. Without the tank, it would have been a 1 minute walk, but with the tank, it was about 5 minutes. In the waters, I temporarily forgot what I learnt in my confined water dive. I was trying to float on my back as I swam backwards, and I did not fully inflate my jacket. So I was swallowing a lot of salt water. Fail. 

In the waters, we deflated our jacket and sank in. I could only capture one photo from the video my friend took in his GoPro camera. I was shivering in the waters just 15 minutes after going in. I thought by wearing all covered up, I will not be so cold, but bad decision because the attire I am wearing is not swimming suit material, but trekking material i.e. it absorbs moisture (sweat). What a laugh! I tried to ignore my chill. I saw everyone was doing fine. But the dive instructor could see I was shaking in the waters. I was shaking really badly after about close to an hour. Thankfully, it was time to go up. Lesson learnt - get a wetsuit from the dive center. 

At night, we were to continue with our second knowledge review. I got a beautiful sunset view by the jetty with the boats in the waters. The island in the photo is Soyak Island where we will do our final dive. After dinner, we were headed to the dive center and continued with our lessons. The dive instructor was explaining to us on how to use the dive table. We finished close to midnight, and were so exhausted.

Tomorrow, our dive starts at 10am. I am not that scared anymore. Yay!