Diving in Komodo

By James Leo

Despite some initial airline related challenges, our group of 7 made it aboard the MV Black Manta in time for lunch and ready to start our holiday of a lifetime. After a welcome briefing and some fine local fare, we enjoyed an afternoon checkout dive, sharing the site with blue spotted rays, lion fish, pygmy seahorses and a cowfish.

Day 2 which also ended up being one of the best dives of the trip as well as being Charlene’s 300^th dive; our intrepid team of underwater explorers were rewarded with more manta rays than you could shake a stick at.

Day 3 started with a dive affectionately known as “Shotgun” because we were supposed to be fired upwards from 13 to 6 metres by a strong current. Unfortunately the current was still asleep, like some of the dive party, and Shotgun became Water Pistol. During the dive, we encountered a myriad of white tip sharks, as well as stingrays, turtles and even a baby manta swimming gracefully past. The second dive of the day at Crystal Rock was amazing. The fish action was truly stunning, complemented again my many, many sharks patrolling the site.

Day 4 had many highlights, starting with the superb Castle Rock where there were sharks - loads of them.  I think a rumour had been started that Steven Spielberg was in town auditioning for extras in Jaws 7. The challenging Batu Balong was Terry's 1000th dive, however the day ended with a very cold night dive which meant he was unable to properly celebrate his milestone for several hours until circulation was restored.

Day 5, the last day on our beloved Black Manta, the morning started with a heart stopping cold dive in Pantai Merah. A gentle dive with beautiful coral, plenty of fish life and the odd blue spotted ray swimming past. Unfortunately, the second visit to the dive site named, "Mantas on the Moon" morphed into simply, "On the Moon" as there  were no mantas to be found - clearly they had a better offer that morning. The afternoon was the highlight of our trip as we searched for the infamous ‘Komodo Dragon’ on nearby Rinca Island – we weren’t disappointed. From the start of our walk we warned about ‘drop dragons’ hiding in the trees, likely story, but we were fortunate enough to see a large, 2.5m, dragon hiding in the bushes.

Between dives, we invariably sat on the superb sun deck soaking up the equatorial sun rays while surveying the amazing islands in the Flores sea where clouds were scarcer than an Australian at a teetotal party. It was great diving with so many experienced divers in the group - one instructor, 3 dive masters, a tech diver and a rescue diver.  

I can highly recommend diving in Komodo on the Black Manta with a fantastic and helpful crew and with Freestyle Divers.  We disturbed nothing in Komodo, taking only photos and memories, except for one idiot who dropped a rock on a stingray to wake it up, ouch.

By James Leo

William Chew: Q & A

1.   Which parts of Canada do/did you call home?

I grew up in the Toronto area, with Scarborough being my childhood stomping grounds and most of my extended family still live in and around TO.  I do have some family in Victoria and my sister in Vancouver.  My youngest son is currently is doing his final year (I hope) at Carleton.

2.  How long have you carried your 'ex-pat' title?

I moved to Singapore in 1992 as part of a ‘short term career assignment’, but 22 years later I’m still here! I lived a true ‘ex-pat existence’ during the first 3 years, with the apartment, car, club, home leave package, but ‘went local’ in 1995 when it became clear that I was going to stay indefinitely. I do not really consider myself to be an “ex-pat” any more, but I do not feel ‘local’ either since my accent and cultural value-system remain heavily Canadian.  

3.   Tell us your profession and what you do all day.

I am a Telecom professional-cum-serial entrepreneur - having started several infocom-based companies over my 30+year career.  I currently run a young (what else?) start-up company in Singapore called “myHealth Sentinel Pte Ltd”.  It is a ‘cloud-based’ Telehealth Service Provider, the first of its kind in the region.  Our mission is to empower caregivers (both medical and non-medical) with our simple-to-use telehealth service to remotely watch-over the health of their ageing parents and loved ones.

Our “TeleMetrix+” service can monitor, analyze uploaded vital signs such as blood pressure, blood glucose, heart rate, weight, temperature, activity, etc and alert caregivers when any abnormal conditions are detected.

As with any start-up, I’m involved in all aspects of the company’s activity e.g. Guiding the design of its features and functionality, meeting prospective customers, dreaming up marketing campaigns, managing staff and vendors, updating investors etc.

4. Two things that you would beg Singapore Customs to import from the GWN (Great White North)?

Only 2?!?! I would have to say: J. Peameal bacon, ‘real, fresh’ Montreal smoked-meat, “Swiss Chalet” restaurants, “Canadian Tire” stores….that’s all!

Learn more about this Canadian at: www.myhealthsentinel.com and www.TeleMetrix.com.sg

Husky Pride on the Rise!

Husky Pride at the Canadian International School (CIS) is set to soar this school year with the arrival of Jeff Martin, the Canadian International School’s new Head of Athletics and Activities. Jeff is a passionate Sports Director with a wealth of international school sports experience.

Most recently, Jeff spent 4 years in Shanghai as the Athletics Director at Shanghai Community International School. While at Shanghai Community International School, Jeff managed an ever-growing student population and the sporting and related policy needs that came with this growth. With the CIS population growing year on year, Jeff’s expertise in managing and scheduling multiple venues and providing needed guidance to CIS sports teams and coaches will prove invaluable. His energy and enthusiasm, and a commitment to showcasing CIS’ talent is contagious.

When asked about the strongest feature of the CIS Athletics programme, Jeff is quick to highlight “a dedicated and singled-minded group of adults focused on the best possible opportunities for kids and parents”. The school has an infectious energy and it is with enthusiasm that we face a new year of Singapore International Athletics Conference”. While the job of a Sports Director is not all fun and games, Jeff is very excited that his position and role allows him to bring some attention to the enthusiasm that resounds across the CIS campuses, and offer programmes that will enhance the opportunities for young athletes to excel on the playing field.

So the question to all Canucks out there is - who will you be rooting for on the sports field this year? We say, Go CIS Huskies!

How Important Is A Smile?

Contributed by Specialist Dental Group^® 

In many developed countries, braces are considered the normal ‘rite of passage’ for adolescents. But is there a way to straighten your teeth without the awkward few years of growing up with a metal mouth? 

If you haven’t heard, Invisalign is the new “it” in orthodontics. It is a series of clear removable aligners and an alternative to traditional metal dental braces.

Here are some of the benefits of Invisalign (clear invisible braces):

• Invisible - Teeth can be straightened invisibly. Like “contact lens” but for the teeth, these aligners are specifically customized so every aligner you get is made-to-measure.
• Removable - Invisalign aligners are removable. This means that you can carry on with your normal routine and you can eat and drink with no dietary restrictions.
• Comfortable - Unlike traditional metal braces, these sets of clear aligners do not have wire brackets which create friction in the mouth. This means that you will not have ulcers or abrasions.

As an addition bonus, many people find themselves snacking substantially less due to the inconvenience of having to brush their teeth and putting the aligners back on every time they snack. So you can lose weight and achieve aesthetic results at the same time!

What is holding back your smile? Specialist Dental Group’s orthodontics team is Invisalign-accredited. We are happy to help you achieve your dream smile.

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Specialist Dental Group^® is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services. For details, send an enquiry via www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call +65 6733 7883.