Trip to Bali, Indonesia (Sept 23 - 30, 2007)

I had a most enjoyable week in Bali. The trip was 8 days long and we had 6 days of diving, which included 16 day dives and 1 night dive. We spent the first 5 days and the last day in Sanur, while the 6th and 7th days were spent in Tulamben. The highlights of the trip were mola molas, mantas, sharks, and a wreck. Mola molas are most easily sighted around full moons and in deep, cold waters at below -30m and around 22C. We had successful sightings of a few mola molas and mantas. But our dive for the sharks was unsuccessful because the current down under was simply too strong. We would've used up all our air finning aginst the current, and not everybody was able to go against the strong current in the first place.

I remember on the first diving day I was thinking scuba diving really wasn't for me. I thought I probably wouldn't go for another diving trip for a long, long time. I didn't take my motion sickness pill on the first day. I felt awful and I threw up after my second dive. I even skipped the third dive which turned out to be an amazing dive for the others because they saw a huge mola mola and a stack of around 8 stingrays. But that's how unenthusiastic I was. I mean, those who know me well enough would know that I'd do anything regardless of my physical state if I was really into something.

But starting the second day, I took my motion sickness pill and I felt so good ever since. I didn't feel cold even though I wore much less than the others and they were still complaining about the cold. Some felt sick; some got sick. I couldn't feel better in that chill. My buoyancy had improved so much I felt I was nearly under full control underwater. I simply felt like a fish. Most people tried to look for interesting things to see. I just felt totally free hovering at -20m. I flipped around, dipped down, finned up, swam along with the fish. The experience was simply indescribable. It was euphoric. It was a very different experience from my last diving trip to the Philippines because this time I was able to attain neutral buoyancy. It was a completely different experience this time. Every movement was slow, delayed, and relaxed. It was like moving in space. The couple of dives we had at the 60m dropoff was so free, so good.

I'm now looking forward to more diving trips. I don't think I'll dive much in HK anymore. But I also don't think I'll go for another diving trip till at least 2008. Perhaps I'll join their Palau trip in 2009. We'll see. But now that I've hovered underwater, I have an ever stronger urge to soar in the sky! I'm really looking forward to doing some hanggliding or paragliding...

(For a more detailed account of the trip, see my friend's blog here.)