Short Intro of Tioman Island life .

Tioman Island has a lot to offer if you are in adventure type. The island is full of fun outdoor activities. There any many waterfalls, hills to hike, long walk by the beach if you live in Tekek and much more. Tekek is the city of Tioman Island where the ATM machine is, clinic, veterinarian clinic and it is connected by a nice sea breeze jetty to ABC Village (Air Batang) ..

There is no nightlife if you are a person who into that. And im talking about bars and clubs. However the island is Duty Free. Cigarette, Chocolate and Alcohol are cheap here. You can pretty much walk around with beer in your hands in this island.

I love the life here. Chill, beautiful and yet not too crowded like some island. You can really experience nature here in Tioman. You just have to "click" with yourself to enjoy yourself here if you are a solo traveller as there is not so many places to hangout till late night to make friends.

After 12midnight, Tioman is pretty much quiet. Tioman Island is in Malaysia. Which is a muslim country, people dont really party here but they are friendly people. As for me, Im malaysian mixed with american.  I know the culture and I know not to walk around with bikini to shops or leave my beers/drinks at restaurant ( this for whoever reads this to think of work and live here). . Majority of shop here doesnt serve alcohol, but some restaurant allow you to bring your own alcohol into their shop, but please respect their place ( i would ask first before i get the drinks out ) to have with dinner what not. Also please dont leave your bottle of wine or beer cans for them to clear it for you after your meal. Depending on the server, but actually for them, touching a beer can for some of them its a sin.  So please clean after yourselves and throw them into the recycling bin when we see them. After all it is not their products from the stall, so dont fill up their trash bins with something that wasnt their. They will love you and appreciate you for sure if you do that :)

One thing about Tioman, it is definitely a great and organized island. Can drinks, bottles, plastic recycling bins are everywhere in the island. Thats definitely one of the reason why im so in love with this place. It is a perfect gem for me. I dont mind to live in the city or small place, but this place has a special place in my heart. Tekek, Tioman Island...

I really enjoy staying in this type of secluded place too as I dont mind if there is no night life because i dont need bar/clubs to have great time ... heheh just saying... if i want that.. i would find that in a city not in the island.. well i dont know thats just my preferences.
everyone is not the same. 

Tioman is a great place for me!! I love every moment of my breath here in this Island. I live and work here for 3 years and still counting...

Diving here is amazing too. I will write on that one seperately in later date,

Till then,
Love
Mel

Is Scuba Diving for you?

When you realised that you love water. You just want to play and work with water.

I moved away from a country full of opportunity having a great job and owned a company that pays me quite a lot to a simple island life.

Ive decided to change my career when i know my job need to be worldwide.
Travel and able to work, bring the knowledge wherever i want and i will be as a free spiritual person.  Afterall i hate to be tied to one place. I always feel i belong to the world and that my freedom is the number one priority..

Do I sound selfish? You might think that I am but deep in my heart, having a limitation to move around is a weakness for me. I would rather have a small portable company than owning a big mansion or a mall that located in a particular place.

As I get older, my circle of friends getting really small. I like quality friends over quantity. And this lockdown have made me come closer and knowing who are my true friends.

I grew up to dad's advices. I look up to him in many ways in life. He is my mentor. Very humble yet very powerful person. The way he looks at things in life, how he react to handle problem its just, i dont know if i can find a perfect word for my dad...

Im the type of daughter who lives away from family.. the reason i do that its because dad always want to help, not that i dont like it.... i just dont want him to always worry and its time for me to take care of him.

This scuba diving career has let me come back home to be near them. well sort of, Im in Tioman Island currently, and they are in Kuala Lumpur. But I'm in Malaysia, same country.

This career has let me be closer to my parents, no more long hours of flying time to get to them. :)
Scuba diving has open a new chapter to me but one set back is, If one day I get pregnant, i cant dive.
You know what... this lockdown t2020 for covid 19 as made me think of many ways how i can still continue what i love ( i wanted to give up in diving actually- again dad is the person who said mel... dont change, try to think of another way) and i did. Now here i am, writing here .. Im a blogger , a youtuber for a 32 days now. Im proud of where I am now that i still doing what i love.. Which is write and make videos on diving. I cant get in water at the moment, but i still do what i love , JUST in different ways.

Malaysia started lockdown march 18. and Today is may 13th. almost 2 months into lockdown... I might start a little late to jump start into this digital world at age 37 but i know now that it is definitely possible when you believe in yourself and set your mind to it. And of course not to forget to mention you have to have a person to look up too and motivate you. Dad believes in me so much that I dont want to disappoint him.

I talk about my dad alot huh... ??? I love him with every single breath i take. I also want to thank PADI padi.com for everything too,.. If you feel you want to do something like i do... Do reach out to me by email, comments, message.. anything can do.... I can teach you up to Dive Master level...

Let me take you through the steps and of course if you only want me too. And if you dont want to do what i do, you just want to conquer your fear of water, i can do teach you that too.

Do check out my youtube channel at Mel's Scuba World  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLem-UZGW2dnZ07Ekh11J0g to see if im the type of teacher for you. Mean time, practice at home for some of the skills before you start class with me directly.

Look forward to see you at my channel, feel free to comment on my video or email me at mel.scubaworld@gmail.com. I will reply to any questions or concerns, or perhaps maybe make a video just to answer them for you.

Till then,
much love- Mel

Staying fit is important for divers in any level

why I strongly believe having a good fitness is so important in diving.. Can you imagine if you have bad weather underwater. Underwater we could have storm too.. Do you know that? This is why its important because what if you need to fight the weather, will you be able to survive? it is not the same as on land(surface). on land, we have all the oxygen we need to run away from it.

can you imagine if you need to kick hard to get away from a washing machine current? down current... all that? We are not God to control the weather, we could plan not to do this and that but what if it just happen underwater? we want to be prepare for this weather... So STAY FIT

We have to have a solid body to get into the weather, we need to have a strong kicks to swim away. we need to have stamina to fight. If we dont we can get washed away. Water energy is strong yah by the way guys. Ive been in that type on weather, it is soooo important to stay fit. This is why i am the way i am...

I maybe dive in average about 2 dives a day. In a week lets say i have 1 day off in a week. 6 days x 2= 12 dives per week. 12 dives x 4 weeks = 48 dives in a month. 48 dives x 12 months = 576 dives in a year. Lets say about 8 years Ive been diving seriously in average. 576 dives x 8 = 4,608 dives ... 

Is that too much of math?.. but i do want to continue .. Lets say every each dive on average an hour per dive. that means my bottom time is 4,608 hours. that's about 192 days i live in the water.. Thats more than half a year... hehehe.. Do i deserve to be called mermaid yet ?

Im actually just doing this math while writing this blog. It surprised me that Im still alive.. Thank you God! You have no idea how i love to be in water. Either to fun dive or courses dive, I get really excited when i can enter the water. Im the type of person who would get in water as soon as in im in island before even checking in. I would totally leave my back pack at the reception, get in the water while waiting for check in.. :)

Diving keeps me fit especially I know what the weather can do to me and i stay fit for the students or customers. I want to make sure I can be at best to take care of myself and them when they need me.

I usually will do my workouts and exercise after work.. more likely like a walk or run .. because there is not so much workout you can do right after dives.. especially workout with weights it is definitely a NO NO. I dont exercise before work because i want to make sure i still have the energy to go in water to work. and you NEVER want to do any exercises or sports in between dives. It is because you need to release the nitrogen level in your body, not adding the numbers of nitrogen .. (if you are a diver, im reminding you, if you are not a diver, one day you will understand why there is surface interval time ) dont worry you will learn if you take diving license... . 

Majority of the time i either walk, run or cycling. Nothing too serious. But i like yoga and HIITS workout too. I do yoga or HIITS exercise as they are more intense when i maybe get out from the dives not too late in a day or maybe on my dry day(perhaps off day?). im not really a aport person but at time i miss the feeling of adrenaline rush. I miss the feeling if i dont do enough exercise. my bosy will automatically craving for it. exercise help me release my stress and unwind from hectic day at work, believe it or not.. heheh.... I feel so relax and complete when i sweat... i feel good and i feel loved :)

Now that we are all in lockdown 2020 because of COVID 19, the internet been so good to me,,, I still manage to do virtual yoga with my friends, I youtubed workout that require less jumping (as I have to stay indoor and respect the downstairs neighbour)...

Love yourself by staying fit, watch what you eat and what you put in your mouth. You are what you eat!

Stay healthy always and lets get out dream  COVID 19 BODY!! YeeHaaa 

Love,

Mel

How to improve your air consumption while diving

Diving Pictures

Meet Mr. Hawkbill Turtle

It is very common to find turtles here in Tioman Island. Do you know that turtles commit suicide if they are feeling stress? ... Stay tune for more info and pictures.. Maybe I will tell you more about Mr. HawkBill Turtles to you guys :)

Picture taken with GoPro Camera by me. I have GoPro 4 and GroPro 7, I can't actually remember which camera I take with me for this shot.. ( I love GoPro because it is meant to be for the adventurer like me!! Very durable , yet do all the job I need it to be... ) I dont like bulky camera with strobe, all that... totally NOT me. I'm a light traveller, I take my backpack everywhere I go so I like to have things that are compact... 

Get to know me :)

Name :
Melissa Ziegler

Date of Birth :
February 1st. I'm Aquarius baybeh... :)

Profession:
PADI Scuba Instructor
Emergency First Responder Instructor
Reef Check Eco Diver
Boat Captain Mate Domestic 500gt

Education:
Sunway College, Malaysia year 2000
Cenfad College, Malaysia  year 2001
Savannah College of Art and Design, USA year 2002-2005

Language:
English
Bahasa Malaysia
Bahasa Indonesia

I like to live at minimal, simple person. Love nature and animals A LOTT !!
I will be their voice if I need too, so you better watch out :)

Would I rather have a mansion house or a 4x4 truck with tiny house at the back?
My answer would be......  TINY HOUSE !!! Freedom is life for me, and able to explore? What who wouldn't want that? I guess it depends huh.. I'm not a lady who likes to have a lot of handbags, high heels.. A sport shoe, A waterproof beg, and A high heel will make me happy enough. Gotta have at least a high heel shoe, I'm still a lady and I like to wear nice dress for candlelight dinner under the sky in the tiny house.. lol I'm dreaming... yes I'm a dreamer and I will make my dream come true, ONE fine day...

and oh yah...I don't know if I like Jerry Springer show or Nat Geo documentary better.. :)


If you want to know more about me, you can ...
Facebook me : https://www.facebook.com/ziegler.melissa
Instagram me: https://www.instagram.com/ziegler_melissa/
YouTube me: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLem-UZGW2dnZ07Ekh11J0g
I will let the pictures and videos do the talking for me to get to know me better... :)

Till then
Learn, Laugh, Live, Love
I also still holding on my dad's advice since I was maybe like 10 years old?
Always TREAT people like you want to be TREATED
I LOVE YOU DAD


LOVE, MEL

How Do I get into Scuba Diving...

Im sure you all want to know the real story behind this right?

You can take this like you are lucky if you read this blog...  want to know why? because for once mel will tell the truth and only the truth....

There it goes... i want you to feel the moment with me..

Once a upon a time , when i had to leave The Great "United State of America", on the plane, alone... feeling scared,  tears running down on my cheek .. having butterflies in my stomach and feel vulnerable more like useless... I have to come back to Malaysia after living in USA for 10 years.

Don't get me wrong.. I love malaysia, because this place is where my loved ones live. My parents, my siblings.. They are my heartbeats. I love them so much that i feel when i get back home i will be a burden... so let me start with you my adventure here in Malaysia.

Ive known malaysia not like on tip of my fingers anymore. There are a lot of highways. layers and layers of roads on top of each other. Many intersections, OMG .. only God knows how difficult for me to just get back home, missing turns, intersections and signboards.. It was outrages and dad decided to get me a PAPAGO. this is before the time we have Waze, google maps...

To cut the story short, I knew i wasn't a city girl anymore... I live in Savannah Georgia for so long, the city is so laid back and they called it  "Paris of America". It is so rich with architecture buildings, beautiful monuments and  churches.  The city is just so romantic with many parks and fountains.... It is just like a heaven on earth. Thats how much i love Savannah....

After a year in Malaysia, try to build a construction business, get injured then again i feel vulnerable and down. It is when everything just went down. I had to leave my family house, i start to go on trips with friends. I go to Tioman Island to start my first scuba diving course. I was scared too death, i didn't want to continue. I slept the whole day on the day i suppose to start my day 2 of the course.. i gave up, i dint want to continue. but i know deep down i love water.. Im like a duck! There is no way i don't like this.. So anyway the story end here about that course.

I met a divemaster guy who i felt comfortable with. learn with him.. and at the end i got hooked! I know i LOVE it.... 

I've start hanging out with my steward and stewardess friends, i travel, i go scuba dive with them, i continue my education in diving and take Advance Course... i travel, i explore, i dive, dive and dive... and one day i decided to go on my own trip and ended up in Mabul Island. I've decided to take Rescue Course after diving so much and i have love my best friend that time who always depends on me and omg all the responsibility to take care of her, it is beyond your imagination. I felt i have to take Rescue ... and i did... i stayed in mabul for 6 months...

Supposed to finish my dive master there but i didn't because i get into trouble there that i feel its time i have to leave... So advice for you all, don't get involve so much with the locals when you go to the island. its nothing bad about them, i wanted to help the ones in need but other people around it dont like when i want to help. For my best interest, i leave the island...

After knowing a lot of divers and travel, I've become very protective about myself who i come across in diving.. i don't trust people, i have issues with people. I like to be alone and i stay being alone....

I do a lot of research before who and where i want to continue my education in Diving, until this one time i think i found a place and a paradise... small secluded island called Redang. The resort has it owns private beach. I knew i wanted to stay and learn there. There is only one dive centre there, and i fall in love with the hut concept. I was a bit skeptical who will teach me for my dive master because i want to learn diving and really learn. no hanky panky... there is a lot of divers out there you have to watch out for girls... I'm telling yah... I've seen them all.. lol...

so anyway... i managed to graduate as a dive master... love it.. help with many projects even the biggest banner underwater project for Guinness World Record... I was happy because my name in it but believe it or not i didn't really care.. the experiences was awesome thats all i care about... :)

After in diving for few months, since Im in a muslim country, A lot of female divers want me to always be their guardian angels.. at the time I've started working in diving industry... One of my boss name Amin asked me if i want to be an instructor, to teach to take higher responsibility.. i told him i need time, but he insisted. He said I'm a teacher type because I'm like a mother.. my motherhood really show he said to be exact.... He trusts me more than i trust myself at the time... He is really a Great boss.

One day, after ignoring him many times during my work hours, which is.. it is kind of impossible .. he said mel... there is one Course Director i like you to know,, and he introduced me to him... he said we have divemaster divers enquiry about instructor course, so if we have the class,, you will be joining it... at the moment my heart just drop because i know its expensive and i don't want to spend the money just yet... and the days goes by... day by day ..  day by day i see the course director in our office more oftenly.. Then my boss called me in ..into his office and say mel... i want you to be our instructor, we need one female instructor, i will pay for your instructor course and you will be tied in into contract this and that... i didn't want to disappoint a man who trust in me and he is not my dad. i was surprised and at the same time so happy... i was damn happy.. !!! there is such kind person in this world.. so i take the deal.. and wait for the contract...

December come... one class start for the instructor course, introduction day, i work as usually didnt attend the class, because my boss wasnt around. but the books, teaching materials are been hand out to me.. i didnt want to attend the class because my boss didnt come in.. 2nd day come,, i didnt want to go to work, i call in sick.. day 3 and 4 .. finally i think day 5, the course director said mel .. why dont you join the class, at that time i wasnt that busy, so i did... day 6 i think my boss come in, and i was in the class.. kind of my 2nd day, and say mel where is your study materials? i said in the car...and he say what? why?? why dont you bring the stuff out and attend class like a other?... in my mind, i didnt want to open the box because to be honest i know i cant afford to take this class and i dont want to touch or even think to open in case he changes his mind.. i was wrong... he didnt. so i went to the car, i took the box out... he took the box from my hand and say mel.. here , this is your christmas gift!! i was like WHATTTTTT?? but yes contract is still needed as he explained.. it was a crazyyy moment.. guess what i did after that.....?? OPEN The box and get my own book out instead of sharing with the other student.. heheheh... omg it was one of the best feeling i ever had in my life.

Why me...? why am i so special? alot of questions in my head...

That is how my diving career starts till today... it is still not the end of it even with this COVID 19

You never know who will come across your path in this life. stay positive, everything will be Alright... :)

LOVE, MEL