Open Water Diving in Jervis Bay

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Day One: Open water diving - it was in our pink book of things we have to do. Well since we are both over 40 the medical was severe but we passed!!! - so we winded down the coast in Peter's new blue ute ready to learn to dive. Huskinson at Jervis Bay is a beautiful village perched on the edge of where the river meets the sea. We stayed in a holiday house with our dear friends who were enjoying the local attractions. Our instructor was a serious young man from the UK who was very knowledgable and patient. We shared the class with Lisa, a keen RAAF person who was fun and committed to learning to dive. We were supposed to have completed volumes of study (well we did watch the video!!) so we were in trouble on day one. Despite this, our instructor powered through the theory in a dusty classroom above the dive shop and told us to finish our study that night or else!!! Then we geared up (read mask, snorkel, regulators, tanks, weight belt, dive computer, fins, wetsuit - this is, apparently, a "gear intensive" sport which means expensive!!) and off the the local swimming pool for quite a few hours underwater. Peter and I were "dive buddies" - serious stuff and we learned how to work together underwater and not drown or get the "bends" or panic or a million other things which can go wrong. Peter was "positively buoyant" about the whole experience. We spend the night studying and exhausted and happy.

Day Two: First open water beach dives and a sunny day. This was it!! We loaded up the dive bus and drove to beautiful sandy Murrays beach and geared up (heavy!!) and walked into the ocean. It was colder than the pool and we were grateful for hoods. On the ocean floor we repeated the exercises from the pool under our instructors watchful eyes. A crab attached Peter's foot and his fin floated away. Out instructor rescued it in a magnificent swim surrounded by dolphins. Another beach dive in the afternoon and this time less testing and some fun while we explored underwater. Exhausted we returned home via the local pub with the view of three whales (mum and babies) cavorting in the bay. We were supposed to study but out came the wine on the lawn and well the rest is rather vague.

Day Three: Last day - two boat dives over 10m deep. One into the Labrinyth, an underwater massive rock slab outside the bay at the foot of the cliffs. The second into the Slot Cave - and narrow underwater cave that opens up to the sea. This was serious with about 10 other divers on the boat. The first dive and the swell was happening out past the heads and our instructor was attentive to his three new divers. Poor Lisa lost breakfast and dinner but the fish were happy and she perserved regardless of how sick she felt. Down into deep dark blue that is the ocean. We repeated our exercises and did a small recreational swim - but will return for a better view of the Labrinyth. Chicken soup followed and we headed towards the Slot Cave. This was a calmer dive and we met Leo the blue groper who wanted to be scratched in the tummy over and over again. He was very cute and very funny and followed us everywhere. We never made it to the cave but will return. Then finally feeling like "real divers" (well OK only 5 dives but we had the gist!) we listened to stories from the others about diving in all sorts places all around the world. We headed back only to discover we had an exam (whoops - too much wine and no studying!!) which we all failed by about 2 marks. Our instructor smile and bought out a second test and we passed and that was that. Lisa bought some new gear and we winded our way back to Silverdale. That night we watched "Open Water" and scared ourselves senseless but it was fun. Next dive - the Great Barrier Reef at Christmas so stay tuned..........

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Photos

Peter and Sandra in "Open Water"
..no sharks lucky

A "gear intensive" sport
air!!

Our titanic moment
corny......