More of underwater Brunei...

Dive Date: 6th April 2008
Dive Sites: Cement Wreck & Pelong Rock
Boat Captain: Azli, Hj Kula, Edward
Dive Buddies: TOO MANY!

There were over 20 dive buddies and all I can remember about these dives was... BACK-BREAKING...! I carried so much tanks, gearing up-down-left-right, finning up-down-left-right assisting open water students including Ping Ping my housemate, Reuben and the cutest of all.. Boon who panic like a lost baboon! Hee hee... but still the cutest oo.. so boonie keep it up..!

Here are some pictures taken by my buddies.



My favourite picture:

For more pictures, see Andrew's flickr.


Dive Date: 13th April 2008
Dive Sites: Aruns Wreck & Hornets Reef
Boat Captain: Azli, Man
Dive Buddies: Andrew, Steven, Joseph, Uwais, Rozi, Natasha, Anny, Helmy, Edi, Fanni

It's been a while since we last dive off Jerudong. This time round I was very excited to dive in Aruns Wreck again. The last time I dived there, I saw pipefish and Yellow + Black goby sharing the same "home"! I want to take more pictures...!

The first to descent, I went to secure the anchor line and was soon joined by dive buddies Joseph and Steven. Waiting for Andrew, who I usually tailed like a remora fish, I can't wait for him to spot more goodies to show us. Engrossed by the school of catfishes, I was trying hard to get a good shot but I still need to learn how to work my strobes! ARGHHH...! When I spotted Andrew, I am only left with 10minutes bottom time. Boo-hoo...! True enough, he spotted lots of goodies - Sawblade shrimp and pikachu nudibranch! *CRY* 10 minutes is not enough for me when I still struggle to position the strobe and playing with the settings. :((

During surface interval, I asked all that I can to learn how to position my strobe. Andrew gave me a few tips and tricks. *Splashhh* After descent, I went straight to the sawblade shrimp. Guess what? MY STROBE decided to die on me! *CRY OUT LOUDER* sighhhhh.... the focus light works but the flash just won't go... Why Why WHY AR...??

Anyways, I am still glad that I managed to see all these goodies. Besides, my pictures can't beat Andrew's pictures. :( DSLR kali ahhh.... Asian Diver also take his pictures for their latest issue kali ahhh... hee hee....

Here are some of his photos:


My favourites for this collections are the black & white background effect:

Australian Wreck, American Wreck & Pelong Rock - 25th March 2007

Sad to say that I do not have any pictures for these 3 beautiful dives. It was definitely dives to remember and filled with mesmerising memories. Although it was not captured by camera (sob sob, missing my camera) , the photos are printed in my mind and most importantly heart. (But I've curi some photos from my buddy Tat's camera... HoHohO..!)

A few important things that I've noted in these dives. Buddies briefing are really important. Sometimes we got so comfortable with our buddies that when we have new dive buddies joining, things may get disoriented. Buddies went separate ways or ascent without the knowledge of others. "For those without a dive computer, please watch your time!" A note from a retired DI who felt responsible to look after Esjay and myself, since both of us has got no dive computer.

Beautiful "photos" captured from this dive:
1. Esjay the sea-snail - PUKE-NO-MORE... i am proud of you! She did 2 deep wreck dives and she's loving it! We definitely love to have you with us in our future dive trips :). Well done!

happy esjay

2. Beautiful and i mean, absolutely BEAUTIFUL jelly fish with little fishes around it who are immune to its stings. EXCELLENT

3. Lobsters - one huge lobster about 1.5 feet long who defended itself when we try to get close - a bit scarie la...

4. Lots of snappers, yellow-tail barracudas and giant barracudas

5. OK, maybe this one is a not-so-nice memory, but it is definitely worth-sharing.
"When we were at Pelong, Tat, Han Pern and I were showing each other "jewels" of the sea.. such as nudibranches. And, as I was diving, i felt someone pulling my fins. Excited, i tot somebody must have spotted more "goodies", I turned back and quickly follow Tat who is the one that pulled my fins. I have got a smile on my face until i notice the "jewel" that he was pointing out for me is actually a piece of Sh*t!!!! Excuse me, but i mean it and it is literally a piece of LONGGGGGGG brownie Sh*T!!! NO KIDDING! I have to scream out of disgust underwater and i am very sure Tat heard me screaming. I did ask him to take a photo of it and he actually took a MACRO shot of the sh*t! It was too late by the time he realised that he was so close to it. Haha..!"

Check out the poo! Who did this??? :P

Pictures:

1. Elvin holding bullets - who loves exploring historical wrecks

2. Flabellina nudibranch

Pelong Rock Sunset & Night Dive - 21st July 2006

It has been our long awaited event... to start the Manta's Dive Marathon again...! Our very own "Fit Manta" (hhmm... alsoknown as the Humsup Manta) haha... is back! Great to see you again Sau Wei!!

Anyway, we were supposed to have lotssssssssss of dives... but I was recovering from my flu and cough and Eric just got sick, Rachel was coughing for a bit and Sau Wei came to brunei with fever. Goshness.... anyway, we decided to do sunset and night dive so that it is not too hot and more relaxing.

We planned to have our sunset dive at Bolkiah wreck and then night dive at Abana. It took us abt 20 mins and we only arrived at Pelong Rock. The ride was really choppy, so choppy that Azli said it will take us more than 1 hr to reach Bolkiah Wreck. He advised us to dive at Pelong instead. We were sad as we've been diving at Pelong for so many times and there is nothing much to see. Azli told us not to worry and he knows where to look for "stuff". This kept our spirit high and we were excited and curious on what are those "stuff".
Upon descent for sunset dive, we saw schools of fishes all returning to their "claimed" corals as their home. It was a beautiful! Reminds me of how we behave on land. Upon sunset, the school bells rang, adults finishes at work and everyone returns to home. As for night dive, we moved over to another site at Pelong. Again, Azli told us we will be seeing different things. And Yes he was right!

This trip, we saw school of juvenile catfish, school of big catfish (superb!), blue spotted sting ray, sleeping coral catshark, parrotfish, lobstersssss (one purple in colour, one GIANT in size), beautiful white stonefish (that Elvin thinks is a frog fish eventhou we told him it is not and now he has decided to name it as a new species and called it a "moon-fish"), glass shrimps and more...! Yapppp! All these at pelong rock...! Surprise Surprise!

Next on our list... BLUE WATER WRECK...!