By CHERYL LIM

MORE young professionals are taking part in novel courses, such as diving with sharks in Sentosa's Underwater World, water bellydancing in a pool and an anti-ageing forest retreat in Thailand, organised by the People's Association (PA).

The PA has been putting together more of such activities at locations outside community clubs and residents' committee centres - the usual venues for its courses - after they proved to be popular.

A few of such courses in special venues were first held to test the waters in 2007, and attracted hundreds of participants.

Last year, the number of participants in off-site courses rose to 4,600. The PA hopes to attract 20 per cent more people this year with 60 off-site courses.

Prices range from $5 for a rice-farming talk to $750 for a five-day forest retreat in Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

Such courses are growing more popular because they are more exciting than run-ofthe- mill ones and offer a more authentic experience, said Ms Jacinta Lim, director of the PA's lifeskills and lifestyle division.

For instance, learning to appreciate tea comes more naturally in a Chinese tea house.

Mr Daniel Chew, 26, an assistant manager who spent 45 minutes underwater diving with sharks last Sunday, said: 'I signed up so I could do something beyond watching movies and shopping with my girlfriend, Sheeena.

'The shark was about 1.4m long. Initially,my hand trembled and I felt afraid. After I touched it, I wasn't scared anymore. I went on to touch the shark nine more times! It was very cool and I'd do it again.'

The novel courses are part of a series called Modern Living, which is aimed at professionals, managers, executives and technicians.

They were started in 2004 and initially held only in community venues.

The PA decided to hold courses in other venues to meet rising demand for diverse experiences.

However, the association continues to hold more than 100 courses, including yoga, pilates, skin care and grooming workshops in traditional venues, as they are still popular, said Ms Lim.

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