Scuba diving is an adventure activity is either love or hate relations. Though I must say, more love than hate.
I have embarked on my journey of completing my Open Water diving course after a year's lapsed in Perhentian, only this time is not in Long Beach, but in Coral Bay. I have to forgo my opportunity to complete the practise then because my ears failed to equalize properly.
This time, I went to the Chinese traditional remedy to have ear candling to clear all my ear wax just a night before, and I truly hope that it will help me equalize much easier than the struggle I have to endure during my diving course. It was a painful experience to know that I cannot dive due to ear problem (which can be dangerous of ear-drum burst, consult doctors before trying).
To be frank, I am almost scared to death knowing the possibility that (a) I might have forgotten some of basic skills needed to dive; (b) I might have a reoccurring problem with my ears though the ear wax was cleared; (c) I have never dived under anywhere more than 10m deep. But I tried. The knowledge review dive is very useful to me. In fact, after a year of non-diving, I truly needed that. And it was great to know that my ears did equalize. I was so elated, until I know it was only short-lived.
My first and second dive were fun dives, involve practise on my skills, and I get to see corals, turn behind the rocks looking for exotic fishes - black huge stingrays, parrot fish, porcupine fish hidden under the corals, and of course dear friend Nemo (clown fish). It was exciting to know that when I am relaxed, I can just do about anything. No complication there, except vomiting on the boat where the sea was rough that day, effect from typhoon in Vietnam.
After completing these, well, congratulations to myself, as I am now a certified Open Water diving license holder.
So, I began to embark on the journey of Advanced Open Water diving course. I understand that I needed to do at least 5 dives to qualify. And on short notice, without exerting too much exhaustion on myself, I have managed two dives learning in details on Peak Performance Buoyancy and Navigation skills. These two skills proved helpful as I understand how divers maintain peak performance with efficient swim and navigate themselves underwater without getting lost. After reviewing my skills, I realized that I have been okay with the pivoting and hovering, but I was facing some difficulty when I am undergoing the weight shifting exercise which require me to inflate/deflate my BCD to maintain my neutral buoyancy. Tricky though, but guess more practise could do the trick.
My fourth and most important learning dives of all is the navigation skills, which required to use a compass to navigate oneself to the direction intended. Sadly, I did not manage well because I have lacked of confidence in my compass, and yet the first rule of using a compass is "Trust your compass", which I failed miserably. How ironic! What's Kay told me was right, I need to work on my trust on my own compass by practising on land. Maybe practise makes perfect.
The other problem I have faced beside that was I have encountered again my equalization problem but this time had something to do with my sinus - Welli told me blood flowing from my nose. This is not a good sign. He advised me to get a checkup at specialist center. I have endured a time where I have dizzy head, running nose, and drumming heartbeat heard in my blocked ears. I am definitely going to see the doctor on Monday.
On my third dive, I did not know why I can maintain calm when I feel an urge to throw up underwater. I stayed calm and vomited and could manage to put on my regulator for air. Amazing!
Though facing a little shortcomings, I have enjoyed myself very much. I hope my ears could be more cooperative for me to explore the beautiful underwater world again in the future.