Tabla de contenidos para Asian Diver - Vol. 169 en Scuba Diver/Asian Diver

Matching the Destination with Your Skill Level It also depends on the kind of encounter you want. Macro lovers will travel to destinations like the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia, Anilao or Puerto Galera in the Philippines, or Malaysia. This usually involves diving close to the substrate the critters live in. Your buoyancy really matters here. You want to avoid stirring up the sediment, or touching the rocks and corals when you get up close. Divers who like the big stuff usually have to contend with currents that can be quite challenging for the inexperienced. Go with a Group For a start, sign up for trips with a dive centre. They organise groups and itineraries that will include the highlights of that destination. Report your experience in advance, and the resorts…

FROM FASHION TO DIVING I’ve always had two dreams: becoming a fashion designer and living on a tropical island. Pursuing fashion was the obvious first step, so I dived into that industry. However, I soon realised it wasn’t for me. The practices and competition clashed with my beliefs. By the time I quit my job, I was already an advanced open water diver. Soon after, my scuba instructor suggested I become an instructor. The timing was perfect! Living on a tropical island, teaching diving – it sounded like the life I had envisioned. I spent months training and connecting with people in the diving world. In 2017, I saw a unique opportunity in the growing Chinese dive market. As a bilingual Chinese national, I had a clear advantage. I could…

1 GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK Miri serves as the main gateway to the world-famous Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As Sarawak’s largest national park, Mulu is renowned for its stunning limestone cave systems. The park’s main attractions include the Sarawak Chamber, Deer Cave, and Clearwater Cave, all easily accessible via wooden walkways and paths. Visitors can also take in breathtaking sights such as the bat observatory and the 480-metre rainforest canopy skywalk, the longest tree-based walkway in the world. For adventure seekers, Mulu offers opportunities to explore less accessible caves, tackle the challenging Mulu summit climb, and trek the spectacular pinnacles and historic headhunters trails. 2 MIRI HANDICRAFT CENTRE Miri Handicraft Centre, located on Jalan Brooke, features a myriad of stalls selling unique crafts handmade by the various…

BE A GREEN FINS DIVER To help you stay at the top of your game while protecting the ocean, the team behind Green Fins has developed the perfect course for recreational divers. In 2020, The Reef-World Foundation, in partnership with the UN Environment Programme, launched the Green Fins Diver e-Course. This course helps divers like you build on your existing scuba knowledge and stay up to date with the latest environmental best practices in the industry. Since 2004, the Green Fins initiative has equipped dive and snorkel operators to teach their guests how to be environmentally responsible divers. Now, the initiative can share these lessons directly with divers like you. Through the e-course, anyone, anywhere, can benefit from the collective experience of the Green Fins network. Why Take the Course?…

Image making underwater is not one of the easiest forms of photography; and like any artist, having the right tools makes the world of difference to your images. It is not only about having the right camera tailored to your shooting preferences, but also the right housing system. Those not familiar with underwater photography think your housing is just a box to keep your camera dry, but that is far from the truth. CONSIDERATIONS FOR AN UPGRADE Having shot using Nauticam housings for many years, the imminent upgrade of our camera from a Panasonic Lumix GH5 Micro Four Thirds camera to the latest full-frame Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera provided us the opportunity to consider other housing brands. Although we were very happy with our existing Nauticam ports and wet optics,…

A RIPPLE EFFECT Sharks are vulnerable to overfishing because they usually have few offspring and take a long time to mature. This becomes a ripple effect that disrupts the balance of marine ecosystems. Worldwide, there is a high and increasing demand for shark meat, fins and liver oil (squalene). In Asian markets, the demand for shark products mainly comes from shark fin soup, a popular dish at celebrations. In South America, the demand is driven by the consumption of shark meat. In addition, squalene is widely used in cosmetics. There is evidence it comes from threatened shark species, but the full scale of the liver oil trade is still unclear. AN IMPORTANT TOOL Shark DNA barcoding is a technique used to identify and differentiate shark species based on their genetic…

Dive Agencies There are so many to choose from and they basically teach the same skills. Try sticking with the same agency if you plan on continuing your dive education. That way, you’ll be able to find records of your certifications in one place. But you can always switch at any point, as the agencies will recognise your previous certifications. As you advance up the scuba diving ladder, you’ll discover and learn more skills to practise and master. However, don’t be in a rush to obtain the highest qualification possible. There are so many marine environments to experience and enjoy. Log those dives, hone those skills, meet other divers, try diving in muck, drifting with the current, and doing negative descents, among others. You’ll find your skills are constantly put…

ENHANCE THE NARRATIVE In underwater photography, adding a human element to your wide-angle images can significantly enhance the narrative and visual appeal. Indeed, it helps the viewer project themselves in the shot, making these images popular with divers and non-divers alike. However, working with models underwater presents unique challenges, and good photos with models rarely come by chance. I will share some essential tips to help you craft beautiful, natural-looking shots of people underwater. COMMUNICATION IS KEY Any scuba diver, freediver or snorkeller can be your model, but you’ve got better odds at getting a good photo if you can communicate with that person effectively. Whilst you may get lucky and have a passing diver fit perfectly in your composition, your dive buddy or private dive guide are the best…

I remembered one of the stories my grandmother used to tell me, about how women before them used the ocean as a cleansing ground, a space to release and rejuvenate. There was magic in those waters, a connection to the cycles of life that resonated deeply within her. A COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM Today was a new chapter of my life as the sun hung low over the horizon, casting a warm glow across the turquoise waters of Tioman Island in Malaysia: I was training to become a divemaster. I was relieved about the menstrual cup nestled snugly inside me, a recent choice to symbolise a commitment to freedom from the burdens of single-use pads and tampons during my underwater adventures. The ocean had always been my sanctuary, and now it…

Of the 31 islands in the Derawan archipelago, centred two degrees north of the equator in the Sulawesi Sea, four are home to spectacular dive sites visited by the Raja Ampat Aggressor over the course of their sevenday adventures. Located near the left leg of the Coral Triangle, the Derawan archipelago exhibits exceptional biodiversity, boasting over 870 species of reef fish, 500 species of coral, countless invertebrates, including five giant clam species, two sea turtle species, and the land-based coconut crab. TRANSITION VOYAGE FROM LEMBEH TO DERAWAN We were aboard the Raja Ampat Aggressor’s transition voyage, from Lembeh Strait to Borneo, where the liveaboard would cruise for the next six weeks around the Derawan Islands. The afternoon before, we’d arrived at and dived the northwestern corner of Sulawesi Island. Now…

For children, particularly those as young as 10 years old, learning to scuba dive can be an exhilarating adventure that combines education, physical activity, and environmental awareness. While the prospect of diving at such a young age might seem daunting, with the right training and safety protocols, it can be a safe and immensely enjoyable experience. GATEWAY TO THE UNDERWATER WORLD Scuba diving offers a gateway to the enchanting underwater world, filled with vibrant marine life and mesmerising landscapes that capture the imagination of explorers both young and old. RAID CADET OPEN WATER PROGRAMME The RAID Cadet Open Water programme provides specialised training programmes for young divers. Their commitment to safety, education, and environmental stewardship makes it a suitable choice for young adventurers ready to take their first plunge into…

The ocean is the heart of our planet, providing the air we breathe, the water we drink, and food for millions. Sharks, having existed for over 450 million years, play a crucial role in maintaining the health of our oceans. However, their survival is under threat due to unsustainable fishing practices, habitat destruction, and the demand for shark products. The “911 Emergency Call to Save Our Sharks” campaign is a global initiative to raise awareness and drive action towards the conservation of sharks and rays. We aim to educate the public about the vital role these creatures play in our ecosystems and the urgent need to protect them. HOW YOU CAN HELP Take the Pledge Make a personal commitment to protect sharks and rays. Pledge to boycott products containing shark…

Masks The variety of masks on the market are almost as diverse as the fish you’ll find on a reef, and cater to different face shapes and sizes. There are many tips on the Internet about how to pick the correct mask, but I’m also very sure people at dive shops will be able to help with that. Take your time and explore the options you have, try the different brands and see which ones you are most comfortable with. It’s always best if you get to try it in the water first, but that is usually quite hard to accomplish because dive shops don’t offer that service. The best way is to make friends when you go diving, look at the equipment other divers have and ask (very nicely)…

The Underwater Club (www.theunderwaterclub.com) is the first online underwater photography school, with over 40 self-paced lessons and 15 Webinars, covering all beginner and advanced skillsets, created to make underwater photography easier to learn than ever before. One of the lessons is dedicated to working with a model, and explores the topic of this tutorial in more detail. The 25-minute video-based teaching covers the do’s and don’ts of including a model in your photos, using dozens of illustrative photos. This lesson and all our courses are broken down into bite-sized videos so you can learn something whenever you have a few minutes of free time. We also have private support forums and virtual coffee chats, where I answer members’ underwater photography questions live.…

A MELTING POT A coastal city in northeastern Sarawak on the island of Borneo, Miri is a melting pot of rich cultures, with influences from Chinese, Malay, and native communities like the Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, Kelabit, Lun Bawang, among others. As the second-largest city after the capital Kuching, Miri boasts a strategic location along the coast that has transformed this once quaint fishing village into a bustling town and a fascinating tourist destination for its diverse cultures, cuisines and activities for the adventurous traveller. STILL AS STUNNING Miri was only a short two-hour flight from Singapore, and from the moment we arrived, we felt the warmth of the locals, right down to the food vendors by our hotel. For Roy Legi, an underwater photo guide and photographer from Bali, this…

The DAN Emergency Hotline provides 24/7 emergency medical assistance to divers around the world, regardless of DAN membership status. This continuous service is made possible by DAN medics and physicians who work in shifts across different time zones, ensuring that a dive medical expert is always available on call. TRUE TO ITS MISSION Over the past 44 years, the DAN Emergency Hotline has stayed true to its original mission of helping divers in need. Initially staffed by a small group of nurses and medics supported by doctors on call, it has significantly transformed and expanded into a team of over 40 medics, nurses, and physicians. They are spread across four continents to provide assistance in five languages. To ensure optimal service to the English-speaking diving community across various time zones…

1 ORCATORCH D630 V2.0 Light your world This torch can be used continuously for up to five hours at its maximum 4,000 lumens, and the 7-degree, super-focused beam will light your way through caves and wrecks at depth. Singapore’s exclusive distributor, www.renscubaworx.com 2 AOI QUICK RELEASE SYSTEM (QRS) Ready for action This adapter provides a safe and speedy means of removing or installing the lenses on your action camera. The first of these adapters was designed to work with the original GoPro protective housing and AOI lenses, and proved to be a resounding success. Building on this success, AOI has begun shipping the QRS-02-MB3 for the DJI Osmo Action 4 or 3 and the QRS-02-MB4 for the Insta360 Ace or Ace Pro. Users of these cameras will now be able…