How much does (my) scuba diving REALLY costs?

Hobbies are never cheap, right? 

Some hobbies costs money - some more than others. 

But I can tell you, diving is NOT cheap! But the experience -- priceless! 

Let me briefly calculate what I have spent roughly since I started diving in 2019. 

Certifications
Open Water certification approx RM1,300 including accommodation 
Advanced Open Water certification approx RM1,200 including accommodation
Nitrox certification approx RM500
EFR & Rescue Diver certification approx RM2,000 including accommodation
Wreck Diver & Deep Diver certification approx RM1500 including accommodation
Equipment Specialist certification RM750

Equipment & Gears
Aqualung i300C dive computer approx RM1000 with shipping
Mares Avanti Quattro+ Fins approx RM400
Mares mask & snorkel approx RM120
Booties, water socks, water shoes approx RM200
GOPRO Hero 7 Black approx RM1800 at launch
GOPRO housing, batteries and accessories approx RM300
Wetsuit long 3mm (no brand) approx RM200
Replacement spare parts for Mares fins RM180
DSMB & spool approx RM150
Accessories (clips, D-rings, O-rings, grease, pointers etc) approx RM100
Supe torchlight RM260
Seac dive mesh bag RM90

Travel
Fun dive Tioman x 2 trips..approx RM2000
Fun dive Phuket x 1 trip.. approx RM2000
Fun dive Bali x 1 trip.. approx RM1500
Fun dive KK x 1 trip.. approx RM650
Tioman ferry trips x 6 trips (3 certifications, 3 fun dive).. RM560
Tioman Marine Park fees x 6 trips.. RM30
Parking at Tg Gemuk x 3 trips.. RM120
Parking at Mersing x 1 trip.. RM30
Toll & petrol x 6 trips.. approx RM1000
Bus tickets KL-Tg Gemuk / KL-Mersing x 2 trips.. RM160
Flight & accommodation (Phuket) x 1 trip.. approx RM1000
Flight & accommodation (Bali) x 1 trip.. approx RM1500
Flight & accommodation (KK) x 1 trip.. approx RM650

[Update 9 May]
1 more Tioman trip, flight RM407.50

Grand total? 
About RM23,250 excluding upcoming trips about RM450 with food.

And considering I have and want to go diving so much more... and get a full gear (BCD+Reg approx RM4000), and probably take up DM (RM3500)... yeah it all adds up...

So why take up diving? 

Because life is short.. if not now then when? 

Spreading the LOVE for diving

How do you feel each time jumping into the water?

Honestly? I still get nervous everytime I jump into the water, mainly because I have experienced equipment failure before apart from difficulties in getting down as every dive is different, and as the saying goes, anything that can go wrong, can go wrong. And it's always better to have things go wrong at the surface than when you are 90ft under. 

At the recently concluded MIDE (Malaysia International Dive Expo) held over the weekend in WTC Kuala Lumpur, I had the opportunity to catch up with old friends and met new ones.. 

MIDE was supposed to be "international" but because our borders aren't open yet, there's no overseas exhibitors this time around.. Many local dive centers also opt to stay away - I wonder why - maybe because it's the year end? 

But isn't now the best time to capture the 2022 dive season? 

Whatever, I would say I did have a good time, just catching up with people I've not seen for a while, dive instructors, dive crew etc.. 

As always, my first stop was to B & J Dive Centre booth, to say hi to everyone there.. B&J was my dive center where I took my Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Nitrox, Emergency First Responder (EFR) and Rescue Diver courses.. 

Everytime I am in Tioman, I feel at ease because I know everyone and everyone knows me.. Even the restaurant next door to the dive centre knows me as well - it's because of this level of keluarganess that I kept going back to B&J each time.. 

And I always bring new divers and accoompany them on their courses.. 

This time around was my "biggest haul".. managed to get 4 new divers-to-be to take up Open Water, and at the same time, I go for my fun dives.. I am not taking up any courses for time being, because all I wanted to do is dive and dive.. 

I have a few specialities I want to take up, such as cave diving, wreck diving, deep dive, drift dive, but all these can be taken any time - or even if and when I eventually take up PADI Divemaster.. 

So for 2022, I have 2 trips booked with B&J already, one for 3D2N (as always I will surely extend), and another 4D3N to coincide with my friends taking their OW.. 

B&J recently won the world's top 5 best dive center in the recent 2021 Dive Travel Awards, placing 5th while Scuba Junkie Sipadan won 3rd place! Congrats guys!

I also stopped by at Scuba Dobedo Divers, another dive centre whom I've gotten to know so well during the MCOs as they kept us divers sane with all the webinars and education talks, and with an extensive shop stocking up just about anything imaginable, I've spent some money with them as well, stocking up on dive equipment.. At MIDE, I bought a mesh bag as well as a torch..

Can you guess which colour I bought?

Scuba Dobedo Divers is based in Cheras and they very, very recently, like a few weeks ago, was upgraded to a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center meaning they can now train instructors!

Also in recent weeks, I have since open up Twitter Space to talk exclusively on diving and on anything related to diving.. I find my followers on Twitter, many are interested or keen about diving, but there's no one to talk to, I myself have not found anyone until I began to talk about diving on other people's Space, and eventually hosted my own.. 

I have came in touch with other divers and non-divers, one in particular a teacher, whom we discussed about the possibility of me speaking about diving, ocean conservation, marine life to schoolchildren.. We haven't iron out any details as yet, as the school year will only begin in March/April.. 

That is something I find very interesting and takes me on my diving knowledge to another level, something I have always wanted to do, to spread the love for the ocean, for diving and for conservation.. 

Although I am no expert, but when others dive, they dive.. when I dive, I try to learn so much more about diving.. the more I dive, the more I wanted to know more.. 

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If you have any question about diving but feel want to remain anonymous to ask, feel free to comment or leave me email/message, I will try my best to get it answered. 

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Some photos of MIDE >

L to R: myself (and welcome drink courtesy of B&J), Diki - branch manager & instructor, Ben (big boss), Danny - my Nitrox instructor, Martin (big boss)

Consulting on behalf of my friends

She's petite but she's powerful! 
She's the lady of the reception and every thing you need while staying/diving at B&J!
Hello to Yati!

Last but not least, I've come to know Byron - the latest addition to the B&J crew. 
Byron just passed his Divemaster last month!

If anyone is keen for any dive course/fun dives packages, MIDE2021 rates are valid until end December for travel till December 2022... actually travel dates are flexible because of all the uncertainties in the last 2 years, and B&J has been so kind enough to make exceptions to travel dates... and if you book quoting my name, I'm pretty sure the bosses will hear of it and perhaps, they will remember you better, and tell me about it the next time I see them!

:)

 

Escape to Kota Kinabalu

Over Deepavali weekend, I went to Kota Kinabalu.. It was my first time to Sabah, and my first stop logically is Kota Kinabalu..

I actually just want to take the weekend off, after being so hectic busy at work.. 

But since I'm in KK, I might as well go diving for 2 days out of the 4 days.. 

Before depart, it is compulsory to do a RTK/PCR test, only negative result can board the plane.. So at KLIA, there was multiple checks, first one before you join the check-in queue, second time at the check-in counter, third time entering the departure area, fourth time entering the boarding gate, fifth time boarding the plane and last time is upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu International Airport.. 

Each check will check for negative result and MySejahtera.. 

I think that should be the way, more stringent checks must be in place and not to be complacent..

Anyway, as soon as I touched down in KK, before even exiting the airport, JR (a friend in Twitter) already texted me and asked me where my whereabouts, because he was to meet me later in the afternoon after I'm all checked in and settled down, but as he could make it earlier, so he came earlier to find me, for lunch.. 

JR waited for me at the Imago Shopping Mall entrance since I was just staying in KK Times Square, and while I was queueing up to enter, I can see him grinning away shyly.. damn he has very nice legs and he purposely wore shorts to flaunt it.. hahaha damn love his legs.. 

This is the legs that made him stole my heart

Below are photos from my trip:

Health declaration form to fill in before check in

Even on leave also have to work... new thing is WFA - Work From Airport

Hygiene kit - consisting of 2 face mask and hand sanitizer

So what does it feel like back on the plane? 

Brunch on MH2710 Kuala Lumpur - Kota Kinabalu
Chicken curry with rice. 
The chef-on-call, offered in this flight, is a scam. No such thing as pre-order meals, as they will still serve you chicken or fish. AND not what you pre-ordered. 

I was told this Starbucks was new.. but an outdoor Starbucks? 
Damn it's not even condusive.

Triple-bunk bed in the hostel. 
Due to SOP, the middle layer and top layer wasn't used. And the room had another person staying for the long-term but he wasn't around for the weekend, so I get the entire room by myself. 

Sutera Marina.. departing for dive day 1

I booked my dive trips with Dive Downbelow Borneo, a PADI 5-star IDC
together on this weekend dives are some rescue divers candidates taking their exams. 
Makes me remember my rescue diver exam time!

Lovely sun indeed!

Gaya Island - Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, where Dive Downbelow's DC is located at.

What a view!

Dive briefing

Screengrab showing the super crystal clear waters on dive day 2.
The depth here is about 5 metres.

You know it's a super clear water when you can see all the fish

My fin strap actually broke before even going diving on day 1..
Bugger replacement part costs RM200 for a pair, almost half as much as the price of the fins itself..

I'll always enjoy a glass of long island tea on the last day of diving

Diving burns about 600 calories each time, so gotta load it up with food
@ Shoney's Restaurant & Bar

I also get to try out some local stuffs - triple layer fruit juice (dragon fruit, mango, avocado), together it taste just as good as separately, and finish it off with satay and chicken wings!

When in KK, one must eat seafood, and the seafood so fresh and cheap!!!

This is Frankie, a resident wild boar.. 
Loves to rummage through bags.. So never keep food in your bag here!!

MH2631 Kota Kinabalu - Kuala Lumpur dinner
Chicken briyani... Again I don't want to comment on the chef-on-call service.. 

And the pics from the dives, despite TAR National Park, in my opinion is below my expectations.. Will I dive there again? Yes, but perhaps different dive sites.. Of the 6 dives, I prefer Sulug Island more..