Why? Because I can’t swim, maybe I can float for a few minutes but I’m not a good swimmer at all! So I didn’t think I can do it until I registered for the course. And my logic was “If a ten year old kid can do it, I can do it too!”
Finally, I found that diving is fun and adds adventure in my life. Especially if you have someone that can dive with you. It will be an adventure that you can do together as soon as you can take vacations!!!
Also, Thailand beaches have many choices for diving. So I couldn’t wait to take the course and it’s called “OPEN WATER”…
Let’s start with simply questions: where, how much, and how long?
I took my training with Planet Scuba located at the Phrom Pong BTS Station, Bangkok. This was recommended by a friend of mine who had gotten certified from this school.
PADI Open Water Diver is the most widely recognized and respected scuba diving rating in the world. The course cost me 15,800 baht ($527), took 1.5 days in class, 1/2 day in a pool and 2 days in Pattaya diving.
It was hard for me when I had to learn English – Thai Version!!! This is an international course (that’s why it’s too expensive for me!), the instructor was nice! He tried to explain me in both Thai and English. But it turned me even more confused when some words were kind of lost in translation and when all the examinations are in English!!!
Throughout the class, you’ll learn fundamentals of scuba diving, including dive equipment and techniques. The instructor will let you watch video’s from PADI and then he will provide a summary all about it.
And at the end for each section, he will let everyone do the self-assessment. There will be the big test at the end, and it’s required that you score more than 24 from 30. And I did… but it was close!!!
After the class, we are about ready to go diving in the pool, this is my first time so the instructor was helping me set up all the gear.
Assembling the scuba Equipment is not EASY. It’s hard to move when you have everything on the body from head to toes! What a heavy tank on my back (GOSH!!! it hurt my back in the other days!)
This time you will learn to adjust your mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, scuba and weights. I swear I couldn’t remember all that equipment at once!
But that might not be a good reason to NOT jump! Because I was freaking out and I took a really long time to think about jumping in the pool.
Maybe it’s not a good idea to make the instructor too mad. So I finally I jumped!!! Remember you gotta step one leg forward to prevent your Oxygen tank from hitting the edge.
I know I didn’t look right or good at all but at least I jumped! Well, don’t forget this DIVER IS IN TRANING!!!
Okay! this is it! I’m about to go under. But first we have to learn about hand signals as it’s the only way to talk under the water!
There are lots more hand signals, and it’s important to remember its meaning.
The most important rule of scuba diving is, ALWAYS BREATHE SLOWYLY, DEEPLY AND CONTINUOUSLY– never hold your breath!
And when you are comfortable with breathing underwater, the instructor will teach you how to clear the regulator, recovery (when you drop it from your mouth!), and mask clearing as well as swimming underwater and exiting the water.
The hardest one for me was when you gotta clear your mask by taking it off and putting it back on! I can’t control my nerves and it took me almost 10 times to pass just this test!!!
I made it that day but I was scared to make it for next 2 days trip in Pattaya. So I went to practice a lot at the swimming pool by myself. And here once I got it, I made it quickly and easily!
Some ideas for the day trip to the OPEN WATER training in Pattaya (we will do everything the same like we did in the pool).
The meeting point is at Bali Hai pier (South Pattaya, it’s close with Walking street). It’s only a few of us with our instructor, and we joined the boat name “Saifon”. All the equipment was ready on the boat, we only took our diving suits and our own equipment (snorkel, fins).
I got a short briefing on the boat and the facilities on-board by our instructor, there was some freshly prepared snacks prepared by the boat crew.
Then we all get all our equipment ready – the boat is kind of moving around – you may get seasick. So take the medicine before!
And now we get dressed up but guess what? I’m never feel real ready!!!
My first dive took 50 mins at Koh Phai South. It was so quick and so scary.
After the first dive, we stopped for lunch but guess what? I wanted more food! I can’t believe that diving make me feel super hungry!
After the buffet lunch, it’s time for my second open water dive…
Done for the Day 1, and we continued day2 just like the day one with the final qualifying dive for the course.
I’m so glad that I took this course…and the best thing is that I had the best buddy 🙂
And I’m now certified! Do you know what that means? It means I have the freedom to dive with a buddy everywhere in the world!
Let’s start the next dive trip soon!
Note: 9 February 2014
