Hello from Hong Kong!

[Shoobie Doo]

Hi everyone,

I just came home from 2 weeks away, one week of which was spent scuba-diving in Costa Rica with the help and professionalism of Herradura Divers in Playa Herradura.

I hadn't swam since high school so was a little apprehensive at first - especially knowing there were going to be sharks around! I'm told they're the friendly kind but a shark is a shark is a shark right? And if I'm not such a strong swimmer...

Anyway, fast forward 4 dives and I'm now a certified open water diver and I hadn't had so much fun in my life before! I was made to swim 300 metres and I did that too!!
Was exhausted but I did it - all thanks to Leo and the team at Herradura Divers!

I'm back home now and have fantastic memories of a good time diving in CR so if anyone is wondering whether to dive there, I say go for it - and get in touch with Herradura Divers asap!

Shoobie Doo

 

[ScubaSam]

Welcome to ScubaBoard, Shoobie Doo.

Congratulations on your recent certification. Yes, diving is FUN!!

I was in Costa Rica in July getting my AOW. Did you see any sharks or rays? I love seeing sharks and rays during my dives. We saw bull sharks and white tips.

 

[Shoobie Doo]

The first day of the course, I couldn't equalise but that was the day the white tip sharks were around (so probably a good thing I couldn't do it huh?!) Very fearful of sharks...

However, on my second and successful attempt at descending, we spotted a 15ft Mantaray and as I was having some trouble with my buoyancy, I was so afraid of knocking right up into it's belly! I kept thinking of a fate similar to Steve Irwin's and was panicking alot...she went away after a while but seeing that was quite spectacular.

Visibility wasn't so great though...

 

[Shoobie Doo]

Thanks though! I would also like to do my AOW there again...how was it?

 

[ScubaSam]

The first day of the course, I couldn't equalise but that was the day the white tip sharks were around (so probably a good thing I couldn't do it huh?!) Very fearful of sharks...

However, on my second and successful attempt at descending, we spotted a 15ft Mantaray and as I was having some trouble with my buoyancy, I was so afraid of knocking right up into it's belly! I kept thinking of a fate similar to Steve Irwin's and was panicking alot...she went away after a while but seeing that was quite spectacular.

Visibility wasn't so great though...

It sounds like you did great job regardless of your fear of sharks and your buoyancy. You go, girl! You're learning and it's all part of the experience. Yes, visibility was not good, lotsa plankton in the water but it forced me to use my gauges to navigate.

My most memorable safety stop in Costa Rica was at Catalina Island, a HUGE manta ray swam beneath us, it was so big, I stretched out my arms, as it passed beneath me, cause I wanted to gauge its wingspan but it was too massive.

Thanks though! I would also like to do my AOW there again...how was it?

I want to dive the Galapagos next year so thought doing AOW in Costa Rica would be a great experience in dealing with currents and surges and Costa Rica did not disappoint. It was thrilling, and scary at times, but am happy to have the experience.

 

[Shoobie Doo]

Oh that sounds really amazing! Yup, I got better and better with each dive but my biggest achievement is swimming 300 mtrs at the end to pass the course (with fins and snorkel). I don't swim and haven't done so since I was 13 years old and I was so scared I was going to sink! Was so exhausted halfway, I sobbed the rest of the way back to the shore and dear boyfriend watched me battling with not-so-choppy waves when he COULD have told me I was already only in knee-deep waters!

We can laugh about it now but for next time, hopefully I'll be a much stronger swimmer!

I'm going to look up diving in Bora Bora - some of my friends have been to Boracay and Cebu too. Maldives I heard was good but I would also like to ensure I'm back in Costa Rica for any of the courses since Leo was really good for me at the first one.

Maybe we'll see you there?!

 

[ScubaSam]

So proud of you for overcoming your fear and swimming nonetheless!!!

You will loved Bora Bora. I did my OW referral dives with Top Dive, saw lemon sharks, black-tip sharks and all kinds of ray. I stayed at the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort.

Be mindful that maximum bag weight requirements for inter-island flights is less than those for the international flights. Otherwise you will end up paying for overweight bags during your inter-island flight.

Definitely let me know when you go back to Costa Rica.

 

[Shoobie Doo]

Cool, thanks for the tip - the concept of packing light is alien to me according to boyfriend. Maybe he's right!

Will def let you know when I'm next in CR!

If you find yourself in HK, email me.
Ciao for now!
Shoobie

 

[ScubaSam]

Cool, thanks for the tip - the concept of packing light is alien to me according to boyfriend. Maybe he's right!

Will def let you know when I'm next in CR!

If you find yourself in HK, email me.
Ciao for now!
Shoobie

Boyfriends (and husbands) always believe their GFs and wives overpack, it's part of the Y-chromosome wiring.

Haven't been to HK since the Handover in '97, but I will def let ya know when I'm in HK next. Let me know when you are in NYC.

We'll chat later.
Sam

 

[Sam Miller III]

Hong Kong! What a delightful city! Once again I was also last there for new years right after the hand over.

Suggest that you Bunn's diver shop in HK & NT. It is owned and operated by the Lui brothers; Kit, Billy and Bunn. They are the pioneer divers of HG and have the best operation (and prices) in that area.

Welcome to the UW world,
SDM