Scuba Diving in my backyard - Kota Kinabalu

Frogfish

I get questioned a lot about which is better to dive. East coast or West coast (of Sabah). East Coast, the Great Sipadan was made famous by Jacques Yves Costeau. He is hands down, the Godfather of the Underwater.


While I haven't had the chance to dive Sipadan, before I was even a diver I had heard the great story of it. I've watched videos and it never failed to put me in awe. Seeing divers in the deep blue - nothing but just water was amazing. I remember thinking it must be like flying..


Since, I have only heard how people would say diving in Kota Kinabalu is nothing compared to Sipadan. That created the mindset that diving within the West Coast is dull. As a TARP born diver, I wish to change that.

A Dry January

"People protect what they love."

Jacques Yves Cousteau 

While I may have been dry, the Dream Team are getting some serious underwater action going on. The whole January, from day one of the year have seen some fantastic diving. Along the way meeting great people all over coming down to dive or take a course with us.


I get all tingly knowing someone enjoyed their course and wants to continue diving. Maybe because I believe when someone dives, they will protect the ocean too. Ahh..to dream.


Most of you don't know that I love Nudiebranch and Frogfish. Sometimes I'll sneak in my song and do a little jig underwater when I spot them but of course only when no one is watching. While I do love them, am not going to try and beat Neville Coleman trying to identify them. Anyway, when I see these photos taken by one of the crew, it just makes me itch and anxious to get into waters again asap. 


Once the holidays is done, I'll be sure to re-enter and make friends with some good looking critters underwater. 

Diving with Homer Simpson

Homer acting like a big celebrity that he is. NO PHOTO PLS!

Most would say, a picture tells a thousand words.

A diver would say, Picture or it didn't happen! ;)


Lo' and behold, my first underwater photos. Must be the most interesting diving experience yet. I was diving with our divemaster intern, Jiline. It was just me and Jiline - both very much strangers to the underwater world ;). 


Props to all the underwater photographers out there. After 2 dives, my photos came out mostly blurred and let's not get started on the angles. I snap whatever I could and no amount of Photoshop will give it justice. My photos of nudiebranch turn out looking like a flat worm. A porcupine fish looks very much like a flounder. And everything else underwater seems to be in a rough current. Panning maybe? 


The morning started with plenty of hot chocs and coffee and munching on biscuits (thats me). Billy the Kid gave me a crash course on compact camera underwater use. 


*HMM*


I can handle it on land no problem but underwater, tricky tricky.

Borneo Dream 3 departing Sutera Marina

A fish tale

A lot of people attack the sea, I make love to it. - Jacques-Yves Cousteau

And so the amazing journey, so far have gotten more interesting as its no longer viewed from a keyhole but from behind the door itself. As the bar hits 50 - I take another longing look underneath me. Until next time.

My underwater journey started with a huge splash, followed by thunders of stomach grunting laughs. Well, that was what I can make out as I surfaced out of the water. I was sitting by the jetty of a dive center, prepping for my first real snorkeling session. Real would be as I wanted to snorkel not dragged out to do it. As my then colleagues thought it was funny to kick me into the water, only then they realized I'm a no swimmer. I can't even float...