Its that time of year when we all start to make some New Years resolutions of things we want to achieve, weight we want to lose and how we’re going to get into shape. We thought that here at southeast Asia diving we would make some New Years resolutions of our own but completely focused around scuba diving and the ocean. Its just a bit of fun and maybe, if we remember we’ll check back at the end of 2021 to see how we have done.

1. Get PADI Master Scuba Diver Certification

   So far my scuba diving journey has taken place over quite a number of years and taken me from Open Water through to Rescue Diver. Last year I started to take some off the speciality courses such as enriched air, PPB and underwater photography. In 2021 i’d really like to complete my Master Scuba Diver cert - although its not really a certification in the way that Advanced Open Water, or Rescue Diver is it still appeals to me. To obtain it you need to be a rescue diver and have five specialities, currently I have three specialities and am planning to complete the Deep Diver and Drift Diver specialities soon.

2. Get to Over 300 Logged Dives

   With the current state of the world and limited options for travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic this one may be a little bit optimistic! Still, currently we have two dive trips planned for the year already, one to Sipadan and hopefully another to Layang-Layang both located in Malaysia. We’ll see if it is possible to get to these beautiful destinations and hopefully we’ll be able to write a review of our diving there soon. But, would be nice to end the year with 300+ dives in the logbook, it doesn’t really mean much but it always nice to keep the log ticking over and practise those skills.

3. Photograph a Hammerhead Shark

   If you ask someone what their favourite sea creature is, or what they’d most like to see there is a pretty good chance they’ll say a hammerhead shark. I have been lucky enough to see one once whilst diving at Sipadan in 2019, unfortunately it was a fleeting encounter and I wasn’t able to get my camera into position to get a couple of shots off. This year I’d really love to get that elusive picture of a hammerhead shark and if travel plans work out there is a good chance I will have an opportunity. Layang-Layang is famous for schooling hammerhead sharks during mating season so with a bit of luck maybe this is the year to get the picture and fingers crossed its a good one!

4. Learn to Properly Deploy my Safety Sausage

   It may sound like a silly, almost trivial resolution especially as I am a rescue diver but it is an important skill to learn and maintain. As I do most of my diving with a guide who knows the area they take and deploy their SMB on the dives, although I do own an SMB I have gotten lazy and don’t always take it with me and not sure the last time I deployed it myself. Its an important piece of safety equipment in case you get separated from a dive group or there is a lot of boat traffic overhead. I’m going to take the time this year to ensure I practise the skill at least once per dive trip that I take so that it becomes easy and second nature.

5. Go to Five New Dive Sites

   This may be another difficult one to achieve with the current set of COVID related restrictions and international travel being nearly impossible. However, even within Malaysia I would love to get to some dives sites that I haven’t been to before to keep things interesting. Still plenty y of options with the likes of Layang-Layang, Pulau Aur and Sandakan. Let’s see how we get on but this may be a tough one to complete.

6. Get my Scuba Gear Serviced

   This may sound like another obvious one, but its essential that scuba diving equipment is kept in good order and is well maintained - it is after all life support equipment. I’m normally very good at remembering to do it, certainly with the obvious items such as regulators. However, I always forget to get my BCD serviced which is important as well so this year I’m not only going to get my regulators serviced, but my BCD as well!

7. Help Plant Some Coral

   It’s hardly a secret that the beautiful coral reefs around the world are in danger and need our help. From global warming to careless tourists stepping on them, corals are taking a real battering currently. It’s been a wish of mine to be able to get involved in some coral planting as a way of helping to preserve the glory of the oceans for future generations.

8. Adopt a Turtle Nest

   If you have read our previous post on turtles and the challenges that they face then you’ll know that at southeast Asia diving we are passionate about helping to protect turtles. One thing that we plan to do is adopt a turtle nest with one of the fantastic charities that support them here in Malaysia.

9. Live More Sustainably - Help the Ocean

   We all talk about wanting to live more sustainably and help the environment, but what does this mean? I used to always think that this meant dutifully taking out my recycling once per week - however, I was shocked to find out that most of what we put for recycling never actually gets recycled due to the tremduous energy cost to do so. To live sustainably goes beyond recycling, its about using what we need and no more, cutting out the excess. This year, although I’m not yet ready to go vegan I need to cut down on my red meat consumption to reduce the carbon being put out into the atmosphere, although I adore sea food I also adore the ocean so I’m not going to eat fish or shell fish as much anymore. The way that shell fish especially is harvested destroys marine habitats by dredging along the bottom of the ocean floor. I’m also going to champion energy reduction through my work and make sure I use packaging free supermarkets more and more.

10. Spread the Word

    As the great Jacques Cousteau said people protect what they care about. Well, I care about he ocean and all that lives within it and therefore I want to help protect it. I need to get the word out about the damage we do unwittingly, no one deliberately sets out to damage the environment to pollute the oceans, we do it because we don’t know. This website is a step in the right direction, trying to publicise the oceans and the beauty that lies beneath the surface, so hopefully you’ll be hearing a lot more from southeast Asia diving over the coming 12 months!

So there you have it, out new years scuba diving resolutions here at Southeast Asia diving, we’d love to hear what your are too - why don’t you leave us a comment at our facebook page or on Instagram. We’ll do a follow up piece later this year to see how we did. Good luck with yours!