2 Expos in one week.

First, there was the Asia Dive Expo 2008 which is held every 3 years. So its really a not to be missed event if you really want to get your hands on good dive equip deals. Entrance fee was only 1 dollar for certified divers. Thankfully, Shao reminded me to bring my card.


It was overall, a really good experience. 2.5 hours just flew past while Shao, Jax, Fred and Youie and I were there. Loads of dive equip, familar faces from the dive community and diving instructors who suddenly turned into sales people at the expo. It is so weird to see my instructor Vincent all clothed up! Lol, too used to seeing him half-naked. =\ I kept him pretty busy asking him for help in choosing a suitable mask and fins (which I decided not to get in the end). Oh, and it was a nice surprise bumping into Yuying and her boyfriend at the expo as well. It seems like half the people I know are there at the dive expo which is really great.



Sadly, I only bought a snorkel plus mask, a pointer and a hand grip combo.





I didn't buy my fins and wet suit. I was really tempted to buy this pair of blood red stripes fins.








And Shao, you really shouldn't have sent me the reviews on those Atomic fins!! Now, I regret not buying those blood red striped split fins which would have looked super cool underwater. With that pair, I can say goodbye to black ugly fins from BBC (the only ones around which can fit my feet size).

Tadah, the fierce looking blood red Atomic split fins (the best performing type of fins, according to dive-tests)

Has got to do with the entire ergonomics stuff.

My instructor was like, "if you want to get this fins, you should get a red and black suit too. That way you can colour coordinate." Apparently, the jap divers are very into colour coordination when it comes to dive gear. Think pink mask, snorkel, suit, and fins. Haha overkill!

Question: Will sharks be attracted to red fins?

Atomic Aquatics Reef Red

This latest version of Atomic's sturdy SplitFin gets its name from the bright red flexible panels on its split blade. According to Atomic, the fin's base material is similar to last year's Liquid Blue, but has an added ingredient that increases elasticity over previous SplitFins. It's also lighter than its predecessors. Like earlier SplitFins, the Reef Red sports a longer-than-average blade--the longest split fin blade in this group. In spite of its length, the fin easily scoots around underwater corners. The tight turns of the slalom course were conquered just two seconds shy of the front-runner XT's best time, and the fin ran neck and neck with the XT on the efficiency course. On the speed course, the Reef Red heats up the water, regardless of fin kick, but it really showed its stuff on the ergo dives. It's powerful yet stable when streaking through blue water, and easy to control down among the corals. The Reef Red was rated Excellent for donning and doffing thanks to the EZ-Lok buckles. To detach, you simply squeeze both tabs and slip the buckle off the post. To attach, slide it onto the post where it clicks into place. For the past three years, the EZ-Lok has been rated the best buckle system by test divers.

Test Diver Comments "They're like Mercury's winged boots ... Nice-fitting foot pocket. Good all-around performance ... Best buckle of the group ... Everything I want--power, agility, speed. I just love these fins."

ah well. it was going at a price of 145 at the expo. Retail price was 200 plus close to 300. I missed a fairly good deal. It is alright, I will definitely get those fins sooner than later.

At the end of the day, Youie got the best deal. A full body Oceanic wet suit for 89 dollars.

Diving is such an expensive sport eh. But its worth it.

Anyway, Food and Hotel Asia story another day. Tired from standing and walking the entire day.

Till next time when I have better and more interesting stuff to talk about.