PADI-Certified, Finally

Its been many years since I wanted to get certified as a Diver. I always hesitated because was afraid that my sinus will be a problem.

Then, finally, a friend whom wanted to do is also having the same problem. So, oh well.... at least there will be someone of the similar situation be there.

I did this with another 3 friends... or rather 4 friends for theory and 3 friends for practical.

Oh well, CY... we still thinks you didn't take the practical because of JN.... not because of your mum. *wink*wink*

Anyway, we passed our theory, after studying like crazy.... 5 chapters, its not easy.

Then, we proceeded to do our practical last week. From July 3rd till 6th.

Every divers that I spoke to before I went for the practical told me that its easy and just enjoy it.

Trust me, its not as easy as we anticipated. Its challenging, because we are practically learning a new set of skills on how to "stay-alive" underwater.

My most challenging skill to conquered was related to mask. The task requires us to take out the mask underwater, then hold on to it for a while, then wear it back and clear the mask.

All of my friends do it effortlessly. Except for me. I guess I was scared to open my eyes in water. Its like you are dependent on your mask to give you visibility underwater, then suddenly you need to take it out and you became "blind".

I almost gave up. But I am thankful to my instructor, for not giving up on me on this. He insisted I keep doing it till I show no fear and do it with confident. Of coz, I made everyone proud. As what my friends called me, I graduate with Honours, because I did at least 100 times. Finally, I got it right and got it confidently.

We were worried after we were done with our first few confined water dives, learning our skills. It seemed so challenging that we started to doubt ourselves.

But everything were perfect the next day. We were all very good and smart. We surpass our Instructor's expectation, I guess.

And now, I can proudly pronounce that I am a PADI-Certified Diver. And I can dive anywhere, not more than 18-meters depth.

And, shall be taking my advance soon, in oder to dive in deeper water such as Sipadan. Cause there is the place my dive-buddy wanted to go, even before she gotten her PADI.

I want to thanks my friends for accompanying me to take this test... and I am really glad that I did it.

Another one-to-do-list for year 2009 is down.

Me with the super heavy tank. It weighs about 14.5kg on the land, but weightless in water. Amazing, innit? I almost fell when I took it up the first time.

Me with my friends and our instructor, Eugene Ng, the habitual-persona. (there is a reason why we called him that....)