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| Coral Bay on Perenthian Islands- Small Island. Most of these boats are used by dive centers, but also for fishing, taxi's and recreational uses. It's a small beach, the photo covers about half of it. :) ** |
Spotted with bright blue paint, I lay back on the porch of the dive centre, satisfied and fulfilled with a days work. Cushioned by my tribal shoulder bag and content with my sand covered toes, I sit back and watch the locals casually close up the dive shop.
Rambo dumps a bucket of sand onto the porch, and sweeps it into the floorboard gaps to level the porch, while the last boat arrives with John, an English dive instructor and two students. The crew pull their gear out of the salty ocean and walk past the newly painted shop and begin to take apart their gear as the sun slowly sets upon the horizon. It sounds like a dream, but it’s real. Well I pinched myself, and it hurt. It’s finally cooling off. I can tell because sweat is now just a fine shimmer on my golden skin, rather than tears falling down my back.
I spent the day painting the front of the shop and underwater blue, and studying from a decaying rescue diver course book. I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to afford the course, so I’ve asked to borrow one of the old books to have a look. Of course I’ve been absorbing every last bit of information I can, reading from cover to... index (back cover and pages are missing). Just two weeks ago I made my first dive, and it’s definitely set into a lifestyle. The instructors think I myself could be a pretty good instructor and have been encouraging me since my course. I’m excited and proud to finally find something that comes second nature to me. I was actually rather upset after I graduated from the first course, cause it was over.
The dive team here at Steffens Sea Sports are like family, they’re like that with all people who come and dive, the longer you stay, the more you become part it. I can’t wait to show you photos, but I’m making a piece of art out of old shoes that I’ve found on the island. Just borrowed paint and found some old boards tonight, it’s going to be an attraction to bring people to the scuba school. It’s called “Home of the Lost Souls”. I’ll tell you more about it soon!
This island has become my Malaysian home, and I’ve never been more content and satisfied. Perhaps someday I’ll come back to live, and work as a Dive Instructor.
** Photos "borrowed" from Google image search- authors unknown
