SHAH ALAM - Malaysian television personality Daphne Iking opens up about her family taking up scuba diving despite knowing the uncertainty and the risk posed by the extreme sport.
In an Instagram post today, she revealed that before she and her husband, Azmi Abdul Rahman decided to enrol their children in diving courses, they had discussed in length whether exposing their children to the sport would be safe.
She also shared her experience of struggling underwater despite being an experienced diver.
"Azmi and I were having our pillow talk about this.
"There have been times where we both struggled underwater under extreme conditions.
"Once, I lost control of my breathing when my mask came off and I was disoriented and made an emergency ascend. I had clocked in more than 100 dives then and yet? I lost track of what to do next,” she wrote on her Instagram.
This, she said, resulted in her losing her self-esteem and confidence but she knew better than to give up on diving.
Daphne's comments came after the tragic news of Dutch teenage diver Nathen Renze Chesters, 14, who was presumed dead after he and three other divers went missing near Pulau Tokong Sanggol in Mersing, Johor, last Wednesday.
Nathan's father, Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, had told this to Malaysian authorities when he was rescued yesterday.
Adrian was found together with French woman Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18 while Norwegian diving coach Kristine Grodem, 35, was first to be found safe last Thursday.
On her Instagram, Daphne further wrote that the news of Nathan's demise has caused her to ponder on the risk of doing scuba diving liveaboards (LOB) with her family.
"But this is a timely reminder to be mindful to never slack on the safety checks and to be respectful to our surroundings.
"My prayers to the family and to all the diving community who is probably shaken by this news too,” she wrote.
In her Instagram post, she said her youngest child, Iman Daniella just recently completed her Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Junior Open Water in December of last year meanwhile her sister, Isobel Daniella has taken up the course five years ago.
"Iman just completed her PADI Junior Open Water in December. Her older sister completed hers 5 years ago.
"Reading this and having dived together as a family, I know the uncertainties and risks of extreme sports and Azmi and I thought long and hard before agreeing to them taking the course,” she wrote.
However, she also mentioned that choosing a skilful diving instructor and diving centre also plays a crucial role in ensuring safety.
"Choosing the right diving instructor and centre is so crucial,'' she adds.