And I'm back into the real world, for the most part. For the last 3 1/2 weeks I have been doing what I have always dreamed of, diving the Great Barrier Reef. It was everything I could ask for and then some. I will say the trip there was a bit rough. Before I left, the house threw me a "going away" party (with tacos!) and things got a bit wild. So needless to say waking up at 4am to catch a flight was a bit rough. After two flights, I finally made it to Gladstone, Queensland to catch the boat to Heron Island. I had heard about the rough ride, but wasnt concerned, and fell asleep about 15 minutes after i got on board. About 45 minutes into the trip, I was awoken from rough ... read more

It's been a busy few weeks here out in Australia and I'm finding myself more tired as the days pass. It seems that the diving is really running a toll on me, more then I was expecting. I haven't had a day off in about 2 weeks, and when your doing 2-3 dives a day, and then come home to do studying/homework, I get excited if I can get to bed by 10. At this point in my internship, I can officially say that I have passed my advanced open water, search and recovery, navigation, nitrox, deep waters, emergency frist responce, and rescue course. I am currently working on my divemaster program and have been in the shop from about 7:30am-5:30pm, and as I said, I'm exhausted. Since I've been spending so much of my time ... read more

So my first few days in Sydney have passed, and I can't say I hate it. Starting off my week here in the land down unda, diving has proven to be a very tiring activity none the less. I average about two dives a day, sometimes three, and it ends up being about 8-5 everyday, by the time I clean my gear and leave the shop. Being used to diving off boats, diving off the shore is proving to be a daily thing. A bit more difficult having to haul all of my gear about half a mile from the car to the shore in 80+ degree weather, and then returning to get a new tank before my second dive. The marine life is so alive here, so plentiful. Rays of all sorts and huge schools ... read more