Day three of diving, and feeling good. No post drinking illnesses, feeling fit and ready to rock. So we headed out on the boat and dived in near one of the tiny islands off Tioman. Beautiful warm clear waters, coral colourful fish and sea cucumbers. But no turtles and sharks - because we ran out of air and had to surface earlier than Jeff, who I was beginning to suspect of having Amphibious lineage. One of the exercises involved floating. Just floating, not moving, at the bottom of the sea. We all had problems, but Jeff just floated. No effort. It broke all convention and understanding with me, as I was buffeted from side to side and my bouyancy changed on breathing. Buy Jeff remained still - and was easily one of the most astonishing things I saw underwater. One of the excercises that we completed was a NO AIR rehearsal. It involved Jeff turning off our air, and hand signals saying "NO AIR", and then Jeff turning the air back on again. I was first. But I didn't understand what he was signalling prior to the excercise. So I simply ok'd back to him, expecting him to pick on someone else first, and I could copy. He disappeared from my sight, I sat (relatively) still, and waited. After a few seconds the air became thin. Then, quickly, NO AIR. AH!!!! Jeff was telling me that he was going to turn my air off. Ah!!! turn it on!!! And not a moment too soon - as I mellowed into a deep shade of blue. Hmm. I should really pay more attention next time.

The night finished with a jog to Berjaya Resort, up an annoyingly steep hill. Raw and I cut a deal. Exercise every day in Tioman, and we would be able to reward ourselves with a Chilli's (dripping greasy) burger. I can't wait.
- posted by Daniel @ Sunday, June 06, 2004