Chelonia mydas

In the end we did the TAR Park for two dives. Quite really when diving in the park I don’t expect much. Nonetheless I put down some 80 quid for a cheap underwater camera (really just a cheap camera with a case). It was so cheap it still uses negatives. I’ve yet to process the negatives, and in many ways afraid of processing them because they’ll show how I forgot how to use a manual film camera that requires winding after each shot.

Fuck it, I just wanna dive.

Plans can and do come out a wee bit premature. Who knew that renting a chalet on Manukan would cost RM770 at the bare minimum. Bugger that mate, next stop, wherever.

Managed to find someone willing to take us to Mengalum for RM380 with 2 dives sans lunch (or RM450 with 2 dives and lunch). Conveniently forgot to ask the other operator offering 2 dives for RM420 whether lunch is involved in that. As it is though, it is beginning to look more and more unlikely we’ll get this done since we need a minimum of 4 fuckers on this, and whilst me and Gan are good, Sanjit only comes back on the 24th/25th with no guarantee of getting his diving license in time and Raimi with no guarantee he’s not working. Fantastic.

I really just have this urge to let Gan handle planning from now on. What was clearly an ambitious project needs to be scaled down a bit and since I won’t be around in the lead up to the days to dive, someone else needs to plan it.

Plan isn’t crumbling yet, but it certainly isn’t as grandiose as I formerly planned it. Craving simple shore dive without the need to pay exorbitant amount of cash to people just to hold my hand and take me places underwater.

Mengalum/Manukan

Since I’m on a roll, I might as well explain the current plan. I’m planning on going diving with some others on the 30th of January. Thats what, the 5th day of Chinese New Year?

There should be 4 of us (any 5th or 6th person want in? Any random person that might be interested in diving with potential strangers? ) heading off to Pulau Mengalum for two dives. Should be fun stuff, place is relatively untouched.

After that, we’ll have them drop us off on Pulau Manukan and stay there for a night. You know, chalet, barbecue, the works. Assuming we rented our own equipment and tanks and the place even has a compressor or some shit, I feel like I might be up for a shore dive there. Admittedly I have no idea what to expect there and the thought of lugging around the dive tank, and fins, isn’t exactly the most fun bit with regards to shore dives. Touch and go that. All else fails it’s a morning of frolicking on the beach.  I’m happy with that.

Should note, it is tentative, as I don’t know how much it’d cost exactly for them to drop our asses off at Manukan for the night. For the divers, it’s RM420 for the two dives. I’m assuming inclusive of gear and transport and other misc shit.  From then on it should be like even more extra once we factor in the cost of renting the chalet, park entrance fee, etc. Hence why we have the other crew who can’t dive but want to go to the island go to the island frolick and play at Manukan while we dive at Mengalum. They will help alleviate some of the costs, and hopefully bring the BBQ shit.

Then we have fun, have some eating, and hopefully it becomes an awesome trip. Like cap off my stay in town with a fucking bang. Of course, again this is all like, still planning. If I find out tomorrow that it becomes prohibitively expensive then fuck it, I just wanna dive.

Return to sender.

So so so, my return to KK looks and feels like it’ll be a lot earlier than previous years. All goes well, I should be back within the first week of November. Fun stuff. It also means that should I need to go back by February I’ll have 3 months home, but if nothing bad happens I’ll only really need to go back in March, making my stay 4 whole months.

That means, I’ve got a bit of planning to do. I do plan on doing a bit of diving in Sipadan, but thats only if I can get a dive partner. And if weather permits.

Otherwise there’s the trip to KL. That’s a sure thing, it’s just a matter of when to go. There is also talk of visiting Penang this year. In all likeliness I’d have to shove that in with KL, and would require a whole lot more planning (if anyone else wants to tag along, how to get there, etc).

Sounds like fun. To think I’ll be back in under 3 months. Time flies rather quickly these years.

As far as meetings go.

The last UWC meeting didn’t seem particularly interesting. But at least I turned up this time instead if giving it a miss like last month.

But as far as meetings go, it appears I wasn’t missing out too much if I don’t show up. There was a new girl who turned up. Well, I assume she’s new. Didn’t really have much time to ask her before during or after since she was being taken care of by Marty.

But anyway. Sounds like there are plans for some freshwater diving to be done. Which sounds awesome in itself, but diving in ponds interconnected by streams to swim through? Sign me up.

There was also the point about dive torches we could potentially get for 11 bucks. Outrageously useful for sticking into dark holes where you’d rather not risk your finger, I could get two or possibly even 3. 1 main one in my hand, 1 spare tucked away somewhere on me, and the last one to throw into Beckie’s car for when more light is needed to hunt for that deviously hidden button under the seat to open up the gas cap. Well if it comes to fruition, I’ll pick up 2. At least. This house is actually fairly devoid of any torches.

That the meeting adjourned to the local pub once all matters were settled is always a plus in my book. Beer and dive stories, yes please.

The bluebottle.

I never really had much in the way of being stung by jellyfish. Or at least seeing one.

Missing out.

The dive club heads out to Flinders Pier on the 19th. I’d love to go, as they are saying there will be Weedy Sea Dragons to check out. Fuck I’d really love to go. A leisurely dive between 4 to 6 meters, a BBQ and then a pub. Sounds grand.

Seriously why am I giving this a miss. I’d love to fill my divelog a bit more. I definitely want to check out those Sea Dragons.

But I’ve had enough of paying for diving lately. And I bet the water is fucking cold.

But fuck, me not going is probably one of those decisions I’ll end up regretting for a long time.

Disappearing Act part 2.

Being back topside had a fair bit of amusement as well. My time wasn’t all spent underwater thats for sure. In all I added an additional 2 hours to my total bottom time, and hit a new low of 29 meters. Fun stuff.

Disappearing act.

It was a breath a fresh air, having to forego any form of telecommunications. Not having to tote around the phone or the laptop, or any form of electronics really.

Oh and if you reading this are a part of the RMIT UWC, this is me talking about the Eden 2008 trip. If you insist on reading it up and laughing at my experience as a total newbie during this trip, go right ahead. Feel welcome.