First Diving Experience in Perhentian Kecil Island

Well, I never knew this would happen, the start of my exciting adventure. I always just follow my parents around and enjoy the vacations, all relaxing and chill activities. Although I do enjoy having a relaxing trip to just walk around sightseeing, drink nice coffees, swim in a pool and sunbathing, well not doing any high adrenaline activities. However, I also wished to have an adventure trip at least once in my lifetime, doing all the exciting activities, stay in low-cost guesthouse than just walking around sightseeing while figure everything all by myself than just relax luxury to spoil myself. And there it was, my first adventure - Scuba Diving.

  
It all came true when my cousin sisters invited me to join them on PADI Open Water Diver course at Perhentian Kecil Island. One of my cousin sisters told me about a promotion that got us some discount, so the package cost was RM1000 (include return boat transfer, full set equipment rental, course manual, diver logbook, instructor fees, free 2 fun dives, 4D3N twin sharing fan room). Our trip was on Jun 10-13, we took a domestic flight AirAsia, from Klia 2 to Kota Bharu, and then from there, we took an uber to Kuala Besut jetty to take a boat to the island. The boat ride was about 30 minutes.  

There are Perhentian Besar Island and Perhentian Kecil Island. Although two of these islands are next to each other, the difference was quite distinct. Perhentian Besar was more family orientated 'children proof' with nice luxury hotels and chalets, However, Perhentian Kecil was more likely a backpacker fun zone, you can enjoy the beach night party all night long, hang out with the friendly locals. The night is still young to die there, isn't it?  But don't expect too much on the luxury commercialize convenient there, I will recommend having your own toiletries, clothes, medicine packed well because you can't exactly get what you want and need there. According to my stay experience in Perhentian Kecil, the place was quite calm and relaxing as it wasn't as business commercialize as Perhentian Besar, there wasn't much choice on food, the instructors from the dive centre claimed their only nearest 'food luxury' was KFC and they had to take at least half an hour to an hour of boat ride to reach the mainland (Kuala Terrengganu)! Not to mention poor cellular signal reception, I don't even get a bar on my phone and sometimes the power goes off as the island relies on an old traditional electric generator. So don't expect too much with the accomodations .

Despite all the inconvenient, it's a beautiful island, the beach was clean, the sand was fine and white. Not to mention, the water clear, so it was worth.  I mean seriously the water visibility was about 5 m when I was there, very ideal for scuba diving. Unfortunately, I did not own any camera or action camera to vlog the place. 

The dive centre I went was Sea Voice Diver. The instructors are always ready to teach you everything they know and they are also very passionate. The first day, we were asked by our instructor Ms Adlin to watch some learning videos to understand the skills theoretically before we start our practical class under the sea.

The first time when I carried that heavy gas tank with my BCD (buoyant control device) to the boat. Many thoughts crossed my mind that made me felt sick like will I drown? Will I passed due to lack of oxygen because I can't get used to breathing through my mouth relying on the gas tank? Will I panic because I had no idea what was going on? Will I feel sick due to the pressure different? All these overthink doubts were killing me. But in life there are many challenges to face, being a quitter shouldn't be considered. The feeling of not knowing what in-store for us is scary because we had no idea and so lost, afraid of changes because we fear of unknown. But the shadow of fear will always be there unless we push ourselves to take a bold step to light up the darkness, only then the shadow will be gone.

After the dive, it did not feel that bad anymore, I don't just conquered the fear of unknown and put myself out from my comfort zone. I also saw another world in this existing world (if that sounded right because it just felt like that). Seeing the underwater world in the sea is so much different from seeing it from any underwater aquariums, everything was so surreal. I always wondered why in the movie, the fishes and animals wanted to escape back to nature. Even though people decorate to modify the zoo and aquarium to look like nature and ocean and feed them in regular time. But nature is still different from the men-made effort. The sanctuaries are like jails to animals and fishes, only back to nature and oceans are where they truly belong to be free and unlimited.
 

I enjoyed the carefreeness there, it made me felt free like I am floating in paradise without a weigh on my shoulders. During my stay there, it felt like everything was back to simple, no internet, no drama conflict, no judgements. I wasn't a student with studies responsibilities, I wasn't the person everyone expected me to be, I don't have to try hard to fit in to impress anyone, I am just me a simple carefree girl who starting to love diving, who loves to try new things and a great adventure. I do not need to worry to find my place in the world because I learnt the possibility that I could be everywhere and be whoever I wanted to be.