TIOMAN GROUP'S PHOTOS 09

From Left to right : Roy, Eric(ah lau), Norman(Divemaster), Jianhui, Jason, Royston, Eric(cousin) Louis(Instructor)
Front row : Nanami, Szeling and Angie



From Left to right: Louis, Lup Cheong, Maurice, Nanami, Jianhui, Ah shen, Eric(Ah Lau)



From Left to right : Maurice, Lup Cheong, Valerie, Nanami and Tomoko



Clockwise : Diana, Lup Cheong, Shin, Joseph, Beth Ryan, Johan, Alex, louis and Eric(Ah lau)

DIVE TRAINING

Losing a bet can be quite painful.. The penalty will be just bottoms up a barrel of mineral water :)


I must have regretted what i had done....??? Did i feel remorseful ??


Ooops..i did not feel remorseful at all, i regretted instead, i should have made him drank a few more barrels..Sigh !! There is always another time ! Keke

I shall increase the odds next time.. :)

NAUTICA DIVE TEAM - T SHIRT

Check out the dive t shirt from Nautica Dive Team...:) You have not see the front yet kinda of fusion design...:)Kekeke

Mayumi Sato, 13 to 14 Dec 08, Singapore

Mayumi, is from Osaka, she had just completed her four years uni programme in Japan. Taking a break after her examination, she travelled to Phuket, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur during the holidays. She did leisure dives in Phi Phi island when she was in Phuket during her holidays before visiting Singapore for 2 nights stay. She is an Advanced Open Water Diver.

Nanami's Birthday Party at Loof 08

Was one of the crazy boozing sessions we had for this year, nanami invited some of the divers she knew during her Phuket LOB and Tioman dive trip for her birthday celebration at Loof. During the night of endless alcohol at Loof, we took some photos together. Some of us ended up having supper at the Victoria food court, as usual Nanami will have her "Bak Kut Teh" despite intoxicated with countless of alcohol :) kekeke... Kudos !! Unfortunately, i will like to post more photos of the others, but that is what i have :( Look at Nanami's head, that is a japanese kani, she worn it through out the night...

Our accommodation in Bali 08

Nirwana Resort, during the day time. Typical baliness theme. Very cosy enviroment, and it is located next to the sea facing Nusa Penida. You can enjoy the sea breeze, anytime of the day. The resort begin to operate fully only in May 08. If you want to get away from those partying and noisy area, you can consider to stay in this resort during your next vacation :)

Departing for our dives, Padang Bai.

Top photo: Leaving from Padang Bai Jetty, for 2nd day dives.

Bottom photo : Schools of giant trevally , forming up tornado formation underwater :)

Manta ray vs Mobula ray, Bali 08

Top photo: The photo was taken at manta point, nusa penida. Often divers mistaken it as a Manta ray, instead it is a Mobula ray, or another name will be devil ray. It looks quite similar to manta ray from far, but when you look at it closely, you will be able to know the differences. Almost every diver will have heard of manta ray, but not many are familiar with devil rays or rather mobula ray.

Like manta rays, devil rays are pelagic rays that feed on plankton. So what is the differences ?? Manta Ray tend to be larger than Mobulas, often reaching wingspans of 6-7 m, while mobulas usually reach maximum wingspan of 1-3 m. Also mantas and mobulas are easily distinguishable by the position of the mouth. Mantas have mouth that are located at the front of the head. Mobulas have mouth that are located underneath the head.

Bottom photo : Picture of Manta ray taken at Manta Point, Nusa Penida, Bali 08.

Ramayana and Nirwana Resort, Bali 08

We did a dive safaris from 17 to 22 of Aug, travelling around Kuta, Tulamben, Padang Bai as well as Nusa Penida for 12 dives. Day 1, we did shore dives from Tulamben, the surge was strong during our entry. Ghost pipefish, ribbon eel, and schools of giant trevally was sighted in tulamben, underwater as usual, the current is weak. Day 2, in Padang Bai, on the eastern part of bali, we dive the nearby islands, Gili Biaha and Tepekong, while transiting, the sea was not to kind to us, as we experienced rough sea. Sighted some tunas and white tip reef shark. Day 3, God is fair, you can't have the best of both world. We sighted 3 mantas and Mobula rays circling near the pinnacle in manta point, nusa penida. However, Mola Mola was not in sight, perhaps on duty off :) 1st photo from top left : Belle's husband, Belle, Yee Hsien, Louis, Russ Heng, Desmund and Xing En.

See you Manado 09

In Siladen Island, at 18m and 26.7m, there is 2 pygmy sea horse respectively. Look out for the pink gorgonian sea fan. Made sure you switch your camera to macro mode :)

Group photo at Manado Airport. From left: Val, Stone Jone, Yee hsien, Mac, Eric and Louis.

One of the talented divers during Manado 08

Guess how old is he ?? Hahaha. That is the wonder of SK2.

Honing his climbing skill on the dive boat. Great entertainer.

Well done. Stone Jone :) Ooops forgot to reward you with bananas :)

Frog Fish in Lembeh Straits

Can you tel the differences between the 2 frog fish ??? There is abundance of macro critters along lembeh straits. Was busy pondering to capture the shots at which angle :)

Going to Manado City

45 mins to Manado City, it seems very far. The picture explain how tiring the journey could be.

Poor Porcupine Fish was inflated...Guess who is the culprit ???? Take a look closely at the pointer behind and you will know the answer :)

Manado NDC Resort 2008

Beautiful wall diving in Bunaken island.
Divers with us : Yee hsien, Mac, Eric(Ah lau), Stone Jone, Valerie and of course me.

We also went to Lembeh Straits for a day dive, after much persuasion from Stone Jone - hunting for his hairy frog fish.

If you remember Wu Shuo Nan Yang..in the early 80s.. we are diving from that kind of boat when we were in Lembeh straits.

Overall 12 dives. Fun and memorable