Learning to dive!

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Today I finally left Cairns to head South, I have literally got off the bus at Mission Beach.

The last 6 days have been crazy hectic, but so so rewarding.

I am now a certified adventure open water diver (I had enrolled on the open water course but all my class upgraded to the next qualification when we made the open water qualification).

I couldn't speak more highly of Pro-Dive, they are professional and fun.

My first two days were pool and theory classes, from first thing in the morning to after 6pm. Our instructors Gonzo and Kate are brilliant.

It actually felt good to be back in a classroom learning again, and there was definitely a lot to learn. How to dive, how to dive safetly, how to set up equipment, how to use open water divers table to calculate the pressure group (levels of nitrogen in your blood) at different depths for different times, how to work out how much this reduces over different surface intervals before second and third dives etc (necessary in order to avoid decompression sickness).

However, during the first days pool session I got quite freaked out - I didn't like being under water with a very strange thing in my mouth, not being able to breathe through my nose! Pro-Dive's policy is that you can pull out and receive a full day's refund at the end of the first day, but not after that.
I honestly didn't know what to do, I was strongly feeling that diving was not for me, but just wasn't certain.

I ended up phoning up to pull out, and was allowed by a wonderful man on the phone to try another pool session before deciding. Needless to say I then wanted to try ocean diving.

The three day two night liveaboard trip was amazing.

All we did was dive, eat and then learn more theory when we upgraded. The crew were great and my dving group have proved fun friends.

The first day we dived twice, the second day we had four dives, our last 2 certified dives, then our first buddy dive where we were not with the instructor any more, then a night dive with torches.

The third day we did a deep water dive to 30m for the adventure course (open water divers can only dive to 18m since this gives very low risk of decompression sickness, after this diving is a bit more dodgy with risks of nitrogen narcosis (think stoned) and decompression sickness.

Finally we had an option dive - I did underwater photography.

The whole experience was amazing. It became completely normal to be up before sunrise, into swimwear, wetsuit (a total mission to get into!) and dive gear, fins etc and into the water before breakfast, before spending the rest of the day barefoot and repeating the routine!

So diving...I saw turtles, white tip sharks (not dangerous), stingrays, jelly fish, giant clams, and lots and lots of colourful coral and tropical fish.

I addition I had the training joys of filling my mask and removing in underwater etc - more preferable in the pool rather than the salty ocean!

I just want to go diving again now! Incidentally I still have landsickness where the still land is spinning having spent 3 days on a boat. Not helped by lack of sleep of course, since the last two nights have involved being out on the town.

My luggages has also increased by two large dive manuals (which I need to read again and post home) my dive log book and my prescription mask and snorkle!

On the bus here I was flicking through my photos and remembering what an amazing two weeks I've had: how many things I've done, seen, learnt, the people I've met...I haven't felt lonely since the first two days after I arrived, since then I've been with lots of fun people from Cape Trib, hostels and Pro Dive.

I'm now in Mission beach, set for my hectic trip down to Brisbane...though hopefully four of my pro-dive friends will be arriving here later!

So in short, lack of sleep, but I'm having a great time!

More photos to follow - I need my camera lead! Needless to say I rented the underwater camera!

xxxx

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Photos

Jumping off the boat!
Andy, Alex, me, Zoe, Gonzo

Me!
Gonzo, our instructor, blew the bubble ring and took the picture!

A Fish!
Not sure what kind, though I spent quite a while taking pictures of it!

Zoe and I
My diving buddy

After diving party
In the Woolshed. Me, Erik, Sophie, Leroy, Zoe and Renee

More fun at the Woolshed!
Erik, Leroy and I

Comments

[Sue Jones]

Wow
Fabulous pictures Lol, I am proud of you for persevering. Enjoy trip south but do let up some time and rest. Love Mum

[Alan]

Great photos Lolly!
Amazing experience. I am very proud of you for persevering! You must teach me some time! Alan

[Jasmine]

Sounds like you had a great time, I'll be on the west coast till the end of september, so if you get over here we can go diving on Ningaloo reef, its ment to be fab!