International Creative Network

Comments on Diving

May 07, 2008

• Black says
  Hi,
  
  I am thinking of going to Vietnam in June, for holiday and would like to know if anybody knows if there are good diving places there.
  Currently I am not informed about Vietnam at all as this is my very first holiday in Asia since I am living in Tokyo only since a couple of months yet.
  
  Thanks
  Black

Dec 31, 2007

• oki81 says: Diving cert upgraded!
  I have just received confirmation from PADI that I am now a certified Master Scuba Diver Trainer! A great way to end the year :)

Aug 05, 2007

• oki81 says: Closeup cuttlefish
  
  Managed to get so close to a cuttlefish (less than 30cm) for this macro shot.
• oki81 says: Timid pufferfish
  
  Not the best attempt at blending into its surroundings, but very cute nevertheless.

Jul 20, 2007

• awh says: Diving Izu
  Hi all!
  
  I was certified in Boracay, and besides that I've only ever dived in Cebu, so I am really only experienced in warm tropical water. I recently bought a used set of diving gear from some guy on Yahoo Auctions.. The BCD is quite small (well, realistically, I'm quite big...) but I can strap it on, at least. I'm wondering about diving in Tokyo and had a few questions:
  
  1) What sort of exposure protection is needed around Tokyo (Izu etc.) this time of year? All I have is a 3mm shorty (remember, Cebu...); assume I will have to at least pick up a 3mm full or so...
  
  2) Is there a dive pool or something where I could rent tanks and weights, and try out my new gear? Would rather try it out in a pool than out in the open, since I bought it used. And it has a regulator integrated with the BCD which I need to practice using, and an integrated weight system, which I need practice with. Essentially I want to spend a tank in a pool going through all that stuff that we did in our open water course, just to get used to the new equipment.
  
  3) Probably want to do a regulator overhaul; not sure I trust how this guy stored his equipment -- it may have been left with salt water on it for a while. Can anyone recommend a good shop for that?
  
  4) Actual diving. I guess I will likely need to buy a tank? In Cebu, you just rent them from the dive shops, who just put a bunch of filled tanks on the boats when they're going out. I have absolutely no idea how this would work as far as beach dives go; I have only ever done boat dives.
  
  Any clues would be great,
  
  - awh
  

Jul 15, 2007

• oki81 says: How to get more girls into diving???
  

Jun 15, 2007

• nekoyuu says
  any divers going to Bali this August for mola mola fish?

Jun 14, 2007

• junkdopera says: groupe de plongeurs françis a Tokyo
  Tags: CMAS
  http://tokyoeuropeandivers.over-blog.com /

Jun 13, 2007

• oki81 says: More certified divers!
  Tags: Open Water, PADI, dive course
  
  I certified 4 more Open Water divers last Sunday, after we were finally graced with clear skies and flat waters.
  
  I think they all enjoyed it and I hope to see them under the waves soon!

May 28, 2007

• nekoyuu says: 7 Skies - Bulk Carrier Wreck in South China Sea
  i'll post my dive trip to the Similans in another day, however, just came back from Black Manta liveboard trip to the 7 Skies wreck and it was quite an amazing experience.
  
  The 98,000 ton Swiss Carrier ship sunk in 1969, in the South China Sea, east of Pulau Aur off the south east coast of the Malay Peninsula, after an explosion due to fire sparks and gas fumes during a cleaning procedure on board. Another version was that it was hit by a US sub....lol
  
  There are lots of soft corals in large variety of colours, Bat fish, Travelley, Nudibranch, Tuna, Snapper, Manta Rays and the occasional Whale Shark. The wreck is sitting up right with bottom deep in 62m, funnel at shallow 22m and main deck at 45m.
  
  When our boat was there last weekend, we experienced very strong currents and was advised by the DMs to abort dive if we aren't comfortable. The bubbles of the DM surfaced 5m away when he was about 2m underneath the water to secure a mooring line. That was how strong the current on Saturday, 26 May.
  
  Our group of 3 decided to proceed with the dive and using enriched air mix at x30, we chose the wreck's Wheelhouse at 35m and not venture beyond our dive plan.
  
  Due to our buddy's leaking nitrox tank, we were the last group to gear up while waiting for another tank refill. When we were in the water, we made our fast descent immediately holding and pulling ourselves down on the mooring line to the wreck's funnel. There were divers aborting dives and moving up the line on our way down, the current was so strong that all divers were flailing wildly at horizontal level.
  
  Our group made the descent without any problems to the funnel at 22m, and half drifted to the Wheelhouse at 35m, riding on the strong current. Visibility was fine at 6m. Since our group were the only divers on nitrox, we had slightly more time to explore the wreck and my buddies took some funny photos posing in front of the wheel. Unfortunately we didn't spot any big pelagics but lots of fish and amazing colourful spread of soft corals. We couldn't see beyond the Wheelhouse, rest of this big wreck were shrouded in the deep blue sea, personally, I have no desire in exploring any deeper while physically challenged by the ocean dire conditions, safety first for more future good dives.
  
  The ascent was slow and easy, we did three safety stops at 15m for 1min, 10m for 3min, 5m for 5min. While hanging on my dear life on the line, waiting for safety countdown, I did a headcount on the divers holding on the line, 2 DMs, 1 DM's wife and just 3 of us. We looked like plastic dolls strung on a thin rope submerged in running water. In total, we had 34 mins of bottom time, however, it felt like seconds.
  
  Here's my dive log :
  
  Site : 7 Skies
  Air : Nitrox x30
  Air Bar start : 210 psi
  Air Bar end : 40psi
  Depth : 35m
  Bottom Time : 34mins
  Temp : 29 degrees celsius
  Gear : 3mm full wetsuit with fins and booties, no hood
  Visibility: 6m
  End ATA : 1.32
  FO2 : 30