For the most outrageous sea monsters dive stories he ever told, you’ll want to chat about scuba diving with Michael Tham as he reminisces.
Am I sure you’ve heard stories of scuba diving and meeting sea monsters?
I assure you after diving for 30 odd years; I have yet to see a sea monster.
Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving in which a scuba diver uses a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus to breathe underwater. Hence the acronym for SCUBA.
The aluminium tank on the diver’s back is filled with compressed air and not oxygen!
Oxygen at a depth of 30 feet becomes toxic.
If you have never dived before…
A prerequisite assessment is required before a student is allowed to enrol for a scuba course to be sure he is comfortable in the water.
• Swim 200 meters non-stop
• Tread water for 15minutes without holding onto the poolside.
The First or entry Level is the Open Water Diver Course (OWD).
The student needs to go through theory and practice in confined water training, normally a pool before he is allowed to go for theory and open water (going out to sea) assessment.
What scuba gear to use?
In the Open Water Diver course, you learn to use basic scuba gear, including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device, and a tank.
You learn to don their equipment both on land and in the water if your mask or regulator if it is dislodged during the dive.
You also learn the different ways of water entry from the boat and how to board the boat after the dive.
Upon passing the OWD course the student will be issued an OWD Certification Card and a Log Book.
The OWD card is akin to a scuba divers passport is to be carried to all dive sites. The Log Book is the student’s resume to log in to his experience.
The Dive Holiday
Now for the excitement of a whole new underwater world awaits! A rookie scuba diver will be in awe of seeing the wonders of underwater terrains and marine life.
At any dive resort, the Dive Operation will request the Diver’s Certification card and Logbook for verification.
Before a dive, the Dive Master or Instructor will take note of how the diver assembles his gear.
There is a short dive briefing to offer a sample of the marine life in the dive sire to help the drivers navigate.
For example, the Dive Master may share about the resident moray eel, where to spot the blacktip shark, and so on.
A mandatory practise is for Dive Operators to conduct what’s known as a Check out Dive before the Dive Tour commences.
This is to access the competency of the scuba diver and if he remembers what he has been taught during the OWD course.
Divers are reminded to carry out a 6m meters Safety Decompression stop for 3 minutes.
A mandatory reminder is not to remove any corals or trophies from the seabed!! No Fish hunting or spearing, the only shooting allowed is photography video.
No wonder he smiles when asked about the most outrageous Sea Monsters dive Stories he ever told!
Chef and Barista at large at Big Beans. Michael rules the roast and the deep blue where he met Dory. Sometimes Mike cycles instead of diving.
