Choosing a Dive Operator In Tioman

[teoorion]

Hi,

I am quite new to diving as i just obtained my cert in 2007 and has only <10 dives under my belt... I will be staying in Berjaya this coming April and will like to ask the experts here for their review on Tioman Dive Centre (TDC) and Tioman Reef Diver (TRD). Safety is my major concern so just wondering which dive operator i should choose. Also I will like to ask all dive should be led by a divemaster right? Because i saw quotation (for beach dive) which says that it is not dive master led.. so i am quite curious as i will be doing boat dives and I won't know the underwater current and environment well. I do not need to pay extra for a dive led by divemaster right? Also what is a good ratio for divers to divemaster?

Appreciate your feedback on these 2 dive operators if you have any.

Thanks!

 

[MartianBeerPig]

I'll recomend TDC. They are safety conscious and will take an interest in your skills. They won't take you to a site beyond your skill set. Don't forget; if you're uncomfortable for any reason, you can call the dive. There's always a dive master on their group dives which is built into the price. Experienced divers may swim off without a dive master, but for you with less than ten dives, I don't think they would allow that.

I have never dived with TRD.

 

[teoorion]

ok thanks!

Just wondering if anyone knows the dive operator that was involved in the accident at tioman few days back when a japanese was killed. Hmmm how can i avoid it?

 

[gee13]

Id say make sure you can swim first before diving? Im shocked to hear of the number of o/seas divers who are granted a ticket without having to prove they have basic swimming skills. Does not compute. Here in Aus we have to pass a thread water for 10 min test followed immediately with a 200 m swim. Sometimes its not just the dive operators fault, even though they are responsible for making sure safety is paramount. Im surprised at the number of japanese divers on tour here who can't swim in a pool, and they want to dive challenging sites?

On topic though, I was going to head out to Tioman this year, but decided for Sipadan. The research I did was for Salang beach, theres a good dive operator there called B&J I think?

 

[alc16]

ok thanks!

Just wondering if anyone knows the dive operator that was involved in the accident at tioman few days back when a japanese was killed. Hmmm how can i avoid it?

Suggest you advise the boat captain & dive lead of your where-abouts, especially if you're getting back in the water. Whilst not necessarily related to the incident you have quoted, I don't trust the behaviours of some boat crews etc and safety has to be number 1 priority. Do you own risk assessment and if you're not sure, don't do it full stop.

Gee - that was a strange outburst given it was well Off-topic. I presume the word Japanese led to a 'generalisation' about swimming, the accident and god knows what else. I'd look at the dive agencies and training (lack of) for certing people given those skills you mentioned are compulsory globally.

I'd actually like to know the facts first given the victim is my friend's pal. He's devastated as you can appreciate.

 

[gee13]

Gee - that was a strange outburst given it was well Off-topic. I presume the word Japanese led to a 'generalisation' about swimming, the accident and god knows what else. I'd look at the dive agencies and training (lack of) for certing people given those skills you mentioned are compulsory globally.

I'd actually like to know the facts first given the victim is my friend's pal. He's devastated as you can appreciate.

Alc
Not intended to direct anything toward japanese divers, Im sure many are more than competent swimmers. I didn't intend to generalise, just made the comment based on a very small and admittedly limited sample experience.

I don't claim to know the facts of what happened and I did make a wrong assumption. I have found out that it was actually more of a boating accident correct?

What I do know is that there are many divers that some agencies certify are not able to swim well, which becomes a significant risk factor when diving is involved. That's what I get incensed about, not that those divers cannot swim well, its just that this isn't a requirement of some certifications.

It is always not nice when a dive accident occurs and yes I can appreciate the loss.