The Colin's

Suunto Stinger Titanium

2013-10-15T12:55:00.001+08:00

Extremely rare piece of jewel, Suunto Stinger Titanium. This dive computer was discontinued few years back and now had become a collectors item. Somehow I mange to get 1 or myself. It's normal watch size can be used as a daily watch and of course the full features of Air, EAN, and Free dive mode during diving.

My very first Suunto Zoop had served me several years and it is now for her to sit at reserve bench. Gonna start my new teaching career with this Stinger Titanium.

Open Water Scuba Instructor

2013-10-13T18:08:00.001+08:00

After months of hard works, from IDC (Instructor Development Course) until the day of Instructor Exam, it is finally payoff. Although it was a busy schedule during the IDC periods, but i do enjoy the bitter sweet of it. Imagine the theory parts talking all about the physics, physiology, skills and environment, RDP, and equipment, then the PADI standards and procedures. After so many years leaving school and now have to study all over again. Well i'll say it was definitely worth it with the knowledge learned.

For the skills learned all the way from OWDC until the current level, i have to thanked my instructors, my buddies and the special someone my mentor Uncle Boon. Again gotta thanked my course director Richard Mei for selfless teaching and all the information given to succeed in this exam.

All right, for all my friends out there, do join me to experience the amazing and mysterious underwater world one day. Thank you!

Bandar Aceh & Pulau Weh

2012-11-30T02:47:00.000+08:00

This gonna be the last dive trip for year 2012. The whole trip was planned during the 2012 MIDE because of this irresistible dive package, less than a grand for 5 days 4 nights but already bear in mind not the luxury type of the dive resort.

Trip started with the early flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bandar Aceh which took us about 1 hour and 25 minutes flight time. However ferry was scheduled depart from Bandar Aceh to Pulau Weh or Sabang as known by local at 4pm. So we got some spare times before departure.

As this was my first time here at Bandar Aceh, I can see the rebirth of this city after the Tsutnami hit in year 2004. Not to forget visiting those memorial place like the fisherman boat on the roof of inhabitants house.

The barge in the picture was swept away by the astonishing wave of the Tsutnami 6 km away front the sea and finally landed at the mainland of this Banda Aceh. I can't imagine how scary is the impact of this Tsutnami disaster. Anyway the local people was thankful and having a great promise for the future after the clean swept of this Tsutnami because it's gonna be a new chapter or beginning of their story to be tell.

Ok back to the Pulau Weh diving story. I was staying at this Stefan Sea Sport which is about 30 minutes ride from the pier. Nice and cosy resort and served only small pax of divers about 10 divers each time.

Our lodge

Following the 4 days were just another nice and easy dives. I got to say Pulau Weh dive sites were totally different from those located east coast of Malaysia. Most of the dive sites here you can easily descend below 25 meters, this gonna shorten your bottom time. I was mostly staying on top and enjoy shooting with my Canon S90.

There was this group of diver using HD Hero 2 sport camera for underwater video, I was really impressed with the footage from this tiny little compact camera. Well gonna target this in the near future and hope to share some underwater video during my next update of my dive blog.

Koh Lipe Getaway

2012-09-13T01:52:00.001+08:00

This is the last minute plan to this "Maldives of Thailand" Koh Lipe island by bunch of my wife best friends. I have heard about this island for quite sometime and finally I'm here. Sorry son, daddy will take you here in the near future.

Day 1

Leaving Alor Star town early in the morning at 6 o'clock and the journey took us about 3 and half hours to reach the Pakbara pier. And from the pier to the island took about 1hour and 15 minutes to reach the island by using 4 x 200 engine speed boat. Long tail or fishing boat definitely can't make it in this short time.

We were staying at this Mountain Resort, generally I'll rate this a quite decent resort to stay but sadly there was no door front beach side, you gotta walk for 5- 10 minutes to the beach. Resort services was good, they got this buggy car on standby to take you out of the resort to the nearby restaurant or any water sports activities centre.

I was so excited as this is my first time diving overseas but plan to dive in this very first day in the island but somehow due to the weathers........ first day dive had to be called off. I pray to the God will be a sunny day the next day. An advice here never come to the island during low season except you are going to stay for a week or two and bet for the good weather.

Day 2

Thank you God for answering my prayer, it was a sunny day today. Took our breakfast at Satun Diving Centre, a little pricey breakfast with 2 slices of bread and 2 fried eggs cost 140 bahts by Mr Bank, the chef. Following with the day trip boat diving to 3 dive sites named Stonehenge, Koh Hinru and Jabang. I was hoping to see some big stuff like manta ray and whale shark for this trip. But seems like I have to keep on diving and looking for them. Still no chances spotting them open water.

Polyceridae (pikachu)

Flabellinidae

I had never spotted these 2 nudibranches before in east coast Malaysia, these are new in my personal portfolio. Besides this lion fish are everywhere, like a permanent residents in this lovely island. My first time spotted a seahorse also at this island. There are so many macro life here but with limited bottom time looking for them. Won't missed out the turtle too.

Lion fish

Seahorse

Soft corals

Stone fish

Finished our second dive at Koh Hinru, Joan and me was brought to a seems like a private beach to have our lunch and surface interval. Lunch on this private beach without anyone around was like living famous, like you owned the beach, that was cool.

Private beach front

Taking lunch

Surface view of Koh Hinru dive site

After lunch

Our last dive was at Jabang. This site was full of soft corals, those corals are so color rich and healthy. Not forget an very obedient cuttlefish was there posing for me to shoot. I was so excited as this is also my first time seeing cuttlefish underwater.

Soft corals

Day 3

I'm gonna say this indeed an awesome trip but too bad we were only staying 3 days 2 nights. We're leaving early at 9.30 morning back to Pakbara pier. I promise myself will definitely come back again. Just wait for the Koh Lipe part 2.

Apple TV 3rd generation

2012-08-23T03:03:00.001+08:00

A long awaited Apple TV finally officially released in Malaysia. What is so cool and good about this small little black box? First of all I was so curious about this device, i thought it was just like a common media player that sold over the market. But this device can do a little more which Apple claim it "AirPlay". Connect it with your HDTV, you can stream wirelessly almost any media from your iPad or iPhone even my Android phone media to the HDTV.

You can immediately watch 1080p movie of course with supported movie format. I got to say it is another cash machine for Apple Inc. you got to purchase or rent movie from iTunes store. However you can't denied they indeed give you good quality movie playback.

Read from some forums those genius are working hard on jail breaking this Apple TV, I'm here giving my full moral support to them. I can't wait for some free movie in any time soon.

Baskin Robbins Gratitude

2012-08-09T01:33:00.002+08:00

Beside the month with day 31st, what else can make the public to line up for this well known Baskin Robin ice cream. This is the compliment to our national hero, Dato' Lee Chong Wei who was recently won the silver medal from the London Olympic 2012.

Baskin Robbins was at first promised to share the joy to all Malaysians by giving one scoop of free ice cream if Dato' Lee Chong Wei won the first ever Olympic gold medal for Malaysia. However the reality was cruel, He won the silver medal.

A quote from an ESPN commentator: "LCW is such a great guy, but Lin Dan is a bit arrogant. Skills win you medals, but attitude wins hearts." I personally think that because of his humble and great attitude, Baskin Robbins Malaysia was showing their appreciation and respect to Dato LCW, that's why Malaysians still enjoy the free scoop of ice cream.

I would like to say Dato' LCW, You make us so proud of you, although you didn't bring back a gold medal for us, but i believe you are still the winner in every Malaysian's heart. Wish you luck in coming 2016 Olympic game.

EFR & Rescue Diver

2012-07-30T17:29:00.001+08:00

After so many years of being AOWD, I had finally decided to go one step further for this EFR & rescue diver. This as well as taking me one step closer to my goal or my pure personal achievement to the instructor level, hopefully I can achieve that.

So for the rescue part, you have to do about 10 rescue skill. With my experienced instructor, I had done it within a 2 hours dive at the shallow water about 5 meters depth to finish all the skills needed by PADI. There was this unresponsive diver rescue which I found mostly come into situation if there is any emergency happened underwater. Next thing will be panic diver, tired diver and lots of rescue skills to be learned. My instructor had pointed out some skill teached on the PADI which is not really convenient or come handy while doing rescue, but we discussed and add on with some of his real scenario experience such as diver tow method. Anyway I still learned lot of knowledge during this rescue course.

Next part, EFR (Emergency First Response). This particularly important and very good for everyone. Well equipt with this EFR knowledge, you are not only gaining the knowledge but you are helping your surrounding people, old folks,toddlers at home if in case emergency happened while waiting for the emergency medical service.

5 important steps from my instructor which is A=checking airway, B=breathing, C=chest compression, D=difibrillation, and S=serious bleeding. Beside this, CPR also one of the core skill from the EFR. I did some CPR practice on the mannequin.

Well all of this are mainly for safety precaution, we all do not want any accident happen while diving or out on the land. Just prepare yourself and dive safe to avoid any careless or human nenegligence incident happen.

St Anne's Festival

2012-07-28T02:29:00.000+08:00

This is the second time we attended this holy ceremony of St Anne's Festival. Micah was now 15 months older from his first coming to this St. Anne's Festival at Bukit Mertajam. 3 months old Micah back then was still in the carrying stage.

3 months old

15 months old

Micah with Grandma

Micah was following us to the top of the hill to say the prayer and lighting up the candles.

Thank you God for all the blessings!

Micah's First Step

2012-07-07T02:09:00.001+08:00

A very special day to remember 29/06/2012, that was the day my son started to walk on his own. You know it was just excited to see my son started walking at his 14 months and 6 days. It was so sudden that we didn't actually spotted any sign of getting start to walk, like holding at the couch or any supporting edge trying to walk.

Seeing my son started walking, i can only said that time passes like flying. I must cherish those childhood quality time with him.

Steamboat Gathering

2012-06-30T14:22:00.001+08:00

I barely remember when is my last steamboat meal, this time courtesy to my buddies for setting up this steamboat gathering. Nothing much to share but just wanna say do gather with your friends more often, as a good friendship wasn't easy to acquire and learn to appreciate it.

Busy Preparing

Enjoying the food

Friendship forever!!!

Super Star Virgo

2012-06-29T19:40:00.001+08:00

Star Cruise Virgo from the coach window

Well this time I got the luxury from my supplier for this cruise ship trip. This was my first time sailing a cruise and the experience was fun but still not up to maximum fun. Every single thing was transacted in Singapore dollars. So you pay for the alcohol, casinos, shows, foods and beverages are all in Singapore dollars. I got to pay more than double as I'm earning RM.

Anyway I still manage to have fun during this 4 days 3 nights trip. The trip route is actually departed from Harbour Front , Singapore about 5 pm in the evening, arriving Phuket 6 pm the next day. Passengers got 6 hours off from the cruise taking some Phuket tour, or you can just stay. Leaving Phuket about 2 am in the morning, and then arriving Langkawi about 10 am. Another ground tour for the passengers. Right after Lamgkawi, then it will be heading back to Singapore and estimated arrival in the evening the next day.

Cruise Card

This is the card you'll be using for the whole trip for your room access, your expenses at the restaurants, and bars. Each card was preset with the spending limit of SGD1000. What if you had finished spending before the trip end, simple just go to the reception, clear up your outstanding, then you got another grand limit. It is so convenient, but the limit with this card is not eligible with chips at casino. Means you got to play exchange with real cash at the casino.

My Cabin

Yea, that's our window.

Library... Amazing?

Control Room

Main Lobby

Above are just some of the facilities I managed to snap. I was busy with my alcohol and casino, just want to relax myself . Not to forget a great wine and cigar during our spare time in the evening time.

Cigar

Arrival at Phuket

Gotta say, overall experience for this trip was fun, and for me alone to come again, no..... Next time will be me and my family on board. See you again Super Star Virgo.

ipod? iwatch?

2012-05-27T03:31:00.001+08:00

So it's an iPod or iwatch or whatever, I got to say this is really a piece of art to fit an iPod nano into any third party watch strap which design for it. I was eyeing on the Luna Tik or Luna Tok but the price frightened me away and finally got my self this icoat from Ozaki. The built quality was not bad, the cover was chrome feel but made of plastic and the strap was made from kinda high quality of silicone or rubber stuff. (I personally feel it).

From now playing music on the go much easier, never worry using my mobile as a music player, save lots of my precious mobile storage. Noticed a NIKE + icon call fitness. Just figured it out what it's for, some kind of workout device to calculate your running calorie burn and distance u have ran. I think it's time to get my butt out of the couch and do some workout tomorrow.

Hey Jerg, finally I got a piece of this too.

Diving Tioman Island

2012-05-19T20:36:00.001+08:00

This is my first dive trip in year 2012. I was so glad as my wife and one of my buddy Jarvis had finally certified as advance open water diver. As an advance open water dive doesn't mean that you can dive deeper and deeper but to sharpen your scuba diving skill such as your buoyancy, underwater navigation. If you really into diving, underwater navigation skill sure come in handy when you are lost, else you must be familiar with certain dive sites you going in.

I was playing leisure diver this time and of course doing my favorite underwater photography. Didn't take much pictures this time as couldn't find those uncommon underwater creatures. So I was practicing, trial and error for underwater photography. This time I managed to find the error of my camera malfunctioning underwater, i experienced this issues from my previous dives which the buttons pressed are not functioning. At first I was thinking pressure issue with my ikelite underwater housing, or problem with camera itself. Well, what a careless mistake I had made. Fo those divers who using Canon S90, make sure the left and right zooming dial are place back to the center or else others button won't functioning as you press on it.

Healthy rich colors coral

Here gonna thanks to Xiao Meng from the dive centre who tell me the possibilities of camera malfunctioning issues. Bryan who share lots of underwater photography technique with me. I was glad I met 2 more new friends Thomas and Desmond. Looking forward to dive with you guys again.

Training...

Narcosis test......

Happy Diver

Scubapro MK25/S600

2012-05-19T02:18:00.001+08:00

Do some cleaning on my mobile gallery and saw this picture. This is the legendary Scubapro first stage and second stage regulator. Together with the regulator is the Air 2 Octopus act as the inflator attached to the BCD ( Buoyancy Control Device) and Suunto Zoop dive computer. Sad to say this regulator isn't mine. I was helping my friend to buy it as I found this set of regulator was a little bit

too luxury for me. Well I will definitely set the regulator as my next target.

The New iPad

2012-04-29T21:51:00.002+08:00

Finally got my new iPad, million thanks to my lovely wife for buying me this gadget as my birthday gift. Well this is my first iPad and i gotta said the retina display is really stunning. Although there is not much different compare to the previous iPad 2on the external, but this time Apple had totally emphasize on the graphic processing, camera quality and the network 4G connection.

I personally was amazed by the newly developed iphoto app for the iPad. You can edit the pictures taken on the go, creating journal and share it to public. This is extremely useful while going on vacation. Besides this i loved the iwork apps like numbers, pages, and keynote. I can now creating my documents with my new iPad.

Frequent Diarrhea

2012-04-15T01:32:00.001+08:00

It's been three days for his non stopping diarrhea, we know we can't wait no more and we have to bring him to doctor immediately. Diagnosis wasn't able to determine the causes but the doc said it was kinda severe as his frequent diarrhea was more than 10 times on the third day. I was advice for two options which was taking some medication or send him to hospital for drips.

I was thinking since the doctor said it's kinda serious so without second thought i know i have to send him to the hospital. Joan was so worried, tears dropped uncontrollably. Without any idea what kind of disease or sick he suffered, it was sad and anxious at that particular moment.

Well results came out and our little Micah was not infected by the horrible Rotavirus but still infected by some unknown viruses. Micah had to admitted to hospital for observation and i was praying hard for my poor little boy recovery as soon as possible.

31/03/2012

2012-04-08T02:49:00.001+08:00

It's been 29 years since i was born and i can't believe it i'm going to touch 30 next year. Time do past really fast, anyway i wanna thank my wife for celebrating my birthday every year since we are together. This time she got me a Baskin Robin ice cream cake ( she got me the same cake every year), and a very nice steak .

Wisdom Tooth Extraction

2012-03-23T15:06:00.001+08:00

This is second extraction of my wisdom tooth and the procedure was far complicated compare to the first time, said the dentist. Sounds scary but i still have to go through it, or else let it keep making me uneasy.

Anesthetic injection ease the pain during extraction. I dare to say the pain was only felt during the injection and you feel nothing during the minor surgery.

Hopefully it will recover as soosn as possible, no serious swelling and pain.