Meet Our Team
Kimi Lim
Co-Owner / PADI Instructor
👤 Name: Kimi Lim
💼 Title: Co-owner / PADI Instructor
🪪 PADI Number: #396871
📅 Joined Tioman Dive Buddy: 2010
🎓 Became Instructor: 2017
🤿 Kimi Lim is one of the founding members of Tioman Dive Buddy and a passionate PADI Instructor who has been sharing the beauty of Tioman’s underwater world since 2010. With a calm and encouraging teaching style, Kimi has guided countless students from their first bubbles to confident certified divers. 🐠 Always focused on safety and fun, he ensures every dive is a memorable experience for both beginners and experienced divers.
🌴 When he’s not diving, Kimi enjoys maintaining the dive center’s operations and exploring new dive sites around the island. 💬 His motto: “Dive safe, dive happy.”
KIM
👤 Name: Kim Cheong Chye
💼 Title: PADI Instructor
🪪 PADI Number: #271834
📅 Joined Tioman Dive Buddy: 2016
🎓 Became Instructor: 2016
🤿 Kim Cheong Chye joined Tioman Dive Buddy in 2016 and quickly turned his love for the ocean into a full-time profession. Honest and hardworking, his journey began with a simple goal — to make a living through something he truly enjoys. What started as necessity soon became passion. 🌊
🐠 Known for his friendly and straightforward personality, Kim brings humor and positivity to every dive trip. He believes that every challenge underwater — just like in life — can be overcome with patience and teamwork.
💬 His motto: “Work hard, dive harder.”
CHUA
👤 Name: CHUA SER THIAN
💼 Title: PADI Instructor
🪪 PADI Number: #391526
📅 Joined Tioman Dive Buddy: 2016
🎓 Became Instructor: 2017
🤿 From a passionate diver to a certified PADI Instructor, CHUA SER THIAN’s journey has been filled with challenges and rewarding moments. He truly enjoys the island lifestyle and the friendly working environment at Tioman Dive Buddy, where every dive brings a new story to tell. 🌊
🐠 What he loves most about teaching is watching students grow — from feeling nervous during their first dive to becoming confident and capable divers. Through diving, he has met countless amazing people from around the world and created lifelong friendships. 💬 His favorite saying: “Diving isn’t just a job — it’s a way of life.”
NICK
👤 Name: Nick Goh Yin Hou
💼 Title: PADI Instructor
🪪 PADI Number: #454121
📅 Joined Tioman Dive Buddy: 2019
🎓 Became Instructor: 2020
🤿 Nick Goh began his diving journey with Tioman Dive Buddy in 2019, driven by a strong curiosity for the ocean and the world beneath the waves. In just a year, his passion led him to become a certified PADI Instructor in 2020. 🌊
🙏 Throughout his journey in the diving industry, Nick expresses deep gratitude to his mentors, Chua and Kim, whose guidance and support have shaped his growth and success as a professional diver. 💬 “Grateful for every bubble, every dive, and every lesson learned along the way.”
JY
👤 Name: JY Tan
💼 Title: PADI Course Director
🪪 PADI Number: #494645
📅 Joined Tioman Dive Buddy: 2020
🎓 Became Instructor: 2020
🤿 JY Tan is a PADI Course Director from Malaysia with a deep passion for professional diver training and marine conservation. Fluent in English, Chinese, Malay, and Cantonese, JY is highly experienced in Instructor Development, Technical Diving, and Sidemount Diving as an Official Razor Instructor. 🌊
🐠 Since joining Tioman Dive Buddy in 2020, JY has mentored and inspired countless divers — guiding them from Open Water certification all the way to professional levels. His leadership and dedication continue to shape Tioman Dive Buddy’s vision toward becoming a premier PADI 5-Star IDC Center. 💪
💬 JY often shares his personal philosophy: “It’s easy to become an instructor, but it’s not easy to become a good instructor.”
Yeannis
👤 Name: Yeannis Leong Wei Yean
💼 Title: PADI IDC Staff Instructor
🪪 PADI Number: #530794
📅 Joined Tioman Dive Buddy: 2022
🎓 Became Instructor: 2022
🤿 My diving journey began with curiosity — a simple wish to understand the calm world beneath the waves. What started as an adventure soon became a lifelong passion and a profession I pour my heart into.
🌊 Over the years, I’ve logged more than 1,000 dives across Bali, Tioman, Tenggol, and Palau, each dive teaching me something new about patience, control, and respect for the ocean.
🏅 From being a beginner who simply loved the sea, I grew into a PADI IDC Staff Instructor and later received the PADI 200 Elite Instructor Award and the Certificate of Recognition for Excellence. Teaching others to breathe underwater and discover their own confidence has become the most meaningful part of my journey.
💬 To me, diving is not just about depth — it’s about growth, awareness, and connection. Every descent reminds me to stay calm in uncertainty, to adapt, and to rise stronger.
HOW
👤 Name: SOH SHEAR HOW (HOW)
💼 Title: PADI Instructor
🪪 PADI Number: #530789
📅 Joined Tioman Dive Buddy: 2022
🎓 Became Instructor: 2022
🤿 How is a passionate PADI Instructor who turned his love for the underwater world into a fulfilling career. Since joining Tioman Dive Buddy in 2022, he has dedicated himself to helping others discover the magic of scuba diving. 🌊
💪 Known for his calm personality and patience, How ensures every diver feels comfortable and confident in the water. He believes that diving isn’t just a sport — it’s a way of life that connects people to the ocean and to themselves. 💬 “Dive deep, stay humble, and keep learning.”
Leaf
PADI INSTRUCTOR
👤 Name: Leaf Yc
💼 Title: PADI Instructor
🪪 PADI Number: #546500
📅 Joined Tioman Dive Buddy: 2023
🎓 Became Instructor: 2025
🤿 Leaf Yc is one of Tioman Dive Buddy’s newest PADI Instructors — cheerful, eager, and full of enthusiasm for the ocean. As a newly certified instructor, Leaf brings fresh energy and excitement to every dive. 🌊
🐠 With a strong passion for learning and sharing, Leaf looks forward to gaining more experience, guiding new divers, and growing together with the TDB family. 💬 “A new journey begins — please take care of me!”
Qmi
PADI INSTRUCTOR
👤 Name: Qmi
💼 Title: PADI Instructor
🪪 PADI Number: #560068
📅 Joined Tioman Dive Buddy: 2024
🎓 Became Instructor: 2025
🤿 Qmi discovered a deep love for the underwater world after her first dive — captivated by the peace and freedom found beneath the waves. That passion soon grew into a calling to share the same feeling with others. 🌊
🐠 In 2025, she achieved her dream of becoming a PADI Instructor, determined to inspire more people to explore and appreciate the beauty of the ocean. With a friendly and patient personality, Qmi brings warmth and positivity to every dive she leads. 💙
💬 Her belief: “Fall in love with the sea, and you’ll find a whole new world of peace and wonder.”
Gok
TDB Boat 3 Captain
Amy
TDB Boat 2 Captain
Latip
TDB Boat 1 Captain