Odysseys of George

From Part 1 - Redang Island Trip

The trip has appeared to leave fond memories in all of our minds. Maybe it was because this would be the last dive for the year in East Coast due to monsoon season and rough seas. The next few months till March next year would usually be our hibernating months unless finances permit then dive trips to Thailand, Sipadan, Manado, Mataking or even Raja Ampat becomes favourite dive
sites. One day maybe!.

The Redang September Dive Group

The Last Nite

Circle the Coral

Against the Current

Enjoy

These are pictures of my guru Mr AB Lee. Just to demonstrate the beauty of the seas. He has more amazing pictures.

Colours of Redang

Mermaid on a Horse

Enjoy.

Wow! What can I say? I should say this was one of the best trips. The company was great!
Well, all thanks to Aaron Tan, our chief organiser under the MDC (Malaysian Diving Community) tagline brought about a weekend getaway for underwater photography enthusiast.

I met up with Aaron on Thursday after midnite at his condo. This is the second time I am meeting him after an underwater photography shootout competition a few months ago. We met up with another 2 Singaporeans, Anandh and Sofyan who left their workplace at 7pm and were stuck at the Causeway.

Diving Buddies

As I said, everything thereafter was fabulous. It has been a long time since I laughed a lot. They, Anandh and Sufyan were therapeutic. Though plenty goes censored, but at least this could be shared:
At about 6.30am just minutes before sunrise, with Aaron on the wheels and I beside and the other two tired and confused Singaporeans behind, Aaron remarks ” Oh no! the light is on!” Anandh worried and confused as we were driving his new Nissan Latio, sprung up to the front and said ” the sunglasses are on top” Quirked and surprised, Aaron repeated his statement hoping that Anandh remember the earlier conversation about petrol. Again, Anandh confidently repeated ” it on the top”. “No, not the sun, the petrol light is on” Aaron says. “Umph,Oh!Oh!Hmm… then switch off the engine!!” — Anandh, my dive buddy.

The diving was great, lots of fun. With my new Suunto D6, the dive was more confident and comfortable. Lots of pictures. And again my buddy made me laugh while ascending together and little did he realise that his legs surface before him!!! Sorry Buddy!!

Geometry of Life

The last day was picture competition day and we all submitted 3 pictures each — the organisers were nice to give me something for all three pictures. Maybe they were still trying to sell me the judge’s camera which is on sale for RM13k. No greens at present!

The pictures will tell how beautiful the trip was .. and how I fell in love with diving

The Hingebeak Shrimps

Awaiting the next trip – hopefully the same or better company.

Thanks everyone – for a wonderful trip.Till the next time.

Click below:

Garden of Eden

Continue at Redang Trip Part 2

Why dive? The ocean holds the largest area in the world. If the earth (land) can be so beautiful what more the untouched oceans — the deep secrets filled with stories just waiting for one to learn and understand the complexity of life. Its the best destressor and a healthy recreational activity. It suits all ages.

Alone

It can be dangerous and not everybody can dive thus the need for a license. However, once one has experienced the sensations and the peacefulness, there is no turning back.Then there is more to do than just diving. The specialities present makes diving not just challenging but fascinating. To name some are like deep diving, wreck and cavern diving, technical diving, underwater photography and videopgraphy, underwater naturalist and night diver. You can even make a living out of diving by becoming instructors or divemasters.

The world of geometry

You also begin to meet people from different walks of life. Is it expensive? Well, again one can tailor it to their finance. Don’t invest into the gears so early because you may not be suitable to dive or you may not know what to choose from the many brands available. Well, at the end of the day, most are one off buys which can last for a long time and the cost for the gears can reach an estimate of RM1000 (booties/fins/mask/wetsuit) to about RM 6000 (fins/ mask/snorkel/BCD/Regulator/wetsuit/booties/dive watch with minimal important accessories). If you buy over a period of time you would not only buy the better set and the cost will not kill you. Even then, the beauty and the peace of the underwater world is worth every cent.

Sweet Lips

Did you know more and more people are taking up diving even the celebrities? Well, that maybe for the next time…