End of 2009, Random photos & mumble jumble

One year on, after we finally registered Rumblefish Adventure with PADI, we surpassed our goal in bringing more focuses to our unique diving markets. With the end of the year, it was my first year without spending much time in the Similans (just 3 short days), teaching less beginner courses, and increased my time in diving and training younger divers (under 12 & over 50 :-).

With December came to a close, we were grateful to host Khatty's first organized dive group. Nine new divers and a few more certified advance, it was a great fun weekend of diving, cruising, and BBQ.

And of course to our friends at Gillmanoids KL, they were our inspiration for making the most fun out of dive planning, eating, and laughing. Can't wait to see where we go next!!!

Jr Advance Course: with My God Daughter

My oldest friends, Tin & Huong, dropped in for a visit again after a few years. Alison came back to finally gotten the chance to dive with me, or is it vice versa? I completed her Jr Advance Course, and marveled at how grown up she was now, and also one spectacular swimmer. Her Butterfly Strokes were 'symphony of graceful motions.' Her brother Ethan was then nine years old, so we took him for his first scuba experience, as a Bubblemaker. Needless to say, he refused to breath without a reg after the dive :-)

More photos of the kids are at my FB page and Picassa Album.

1st - 10th December IDC

Celebrating the end of 2009 with 8 new Instructors, GoPro Thailand & Pro Tech biggest and most successful class. With various backgrounds and unique personalities, the team achieved 100% success at the IE.

Congrats to Myk, Sarah, Nils, Matt B, Andy, Alan, Jessie and Ann-Katrin. Best of wishes and successes in your endeavored into the Dive Industry.

Our success was contributed greatly by our team: IDC Staff instructor Kevin Black, RFA Ops Manager Miz, Pro Tech Ops Manager Max.

View photos of the team in action at my FB page.

Barefoot Scuba IDC 2009, Andaman Islands India

25th November
Confined water at Elephant Beach, Havelock

Dive 117: the Wall
Max Depth: 21.6m ; Bottom time: 40 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 15-20m

26th November
Dive 118: Johnny's Gorge
Max Depth: 25.9m ; Bottom time: 47 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 20-30m

Dive 119: Jackson's Bar
Max Depth: 10.9m ; Bottom time: 73 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 20-30m

Comment: Supporting Barefoot Scuba in launching India's first ever PADI IDC in the Andaman Islands. Huge Congrats to the team at Barefoot for their 100% successful first PADI IDC and IE Program. More photos of the candidates (Manish, Romissa, Damien and Olivier) in action are at My Facebook Photos Album. Check them out.

King Cruiser & Shark Point, Training dives with Gavin

Dive 114: King Cruiser Wreck
Max Depth: 30.7m ; Bottom time: 44 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 115: Shark Point
Max Depth: 17.0m ; Bottom time: 55 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 116: Koh Doc Mai
Max Depth: 19.5m ; Bottom time: 47 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10-15m

Open Water Course with Nuj, Thanin & Daryl

14th November
Dive 110: Kata Reef
Max Depth: 9.1m ; Bottom time: 31 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 111: Kata Reef
Max Depth: 5.1m ; Bottom time: 17 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 10-15m

15th November
Dive 112: Raya Yai, Lucy's Reef
Max Depth: 17.9m ; Bottom time: 39 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 20m+


Dive 113: Raya Yai, Bay 2
Max Depth: 15.8m ; Bottom time: 47 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 20m+

Comment: My first PADI eLearning OW course with Nuj, her son Thanin and Daryl, all from Singapore. Keeping with my passion of teaching and molding kids to be future Padiwans, both kids were awesome in the water. Now, I'm looking forward to some fun dive trips with them in the future.

8th & 12th November IDC training dives

8th November
Dive 108: Kata Reef
Max Depth: 5.1m ; Bottom time: 70 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10-15m

12th November
Dive 109: Kata Reef
Max Depth: 5.1m ; Bottom time: 47 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 10-15m

Comment: A big congrats shout out to Kylea, Sergi, Mario and Gavin for successfully completed the IDC and Instructor Examination. A truly international program was assisted by Bibi (IDCS Grad of GoPro Cambodia 08) with his superb Spanish speaking skills. Also, coming through in the mix was Daryl, completing his IDC Staff Course. See some photos of the gang in action at my Facebook Photos Album.