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Published: September 6th 2007
oceanic sweet lips!
Being cleaned this timeWe left Koala Backpackers aboard our free transfer to Port O'Call Eco Lodge in Port Douglas (our new found frugality amazes us!). This stretch of the Captain Cook Highway is one of the most scenic coastal routes in Australia, so it was nice to sit back and drink in the seascape, the twinkling turquoise water tempting us into the sea. We had the bus to ourselves and our ex-Swindonian driver stopped off at a look-out point over the beach. Apparently Tom Hanks is in town, filming a Steven Spielberg series called Pacific about World War II. We arrived at the lodge and wandered down to the harbour to check out our vessel for tomorrow's dive trip. The Silversonic was still at sea so we contented ourselves with a paddle at the famous Four Mile Beach. We lay on the gorgeous, super-fine sand and enjoyed a good read! Back at Port O'Call we fought away into the kitchen to cook, fending off all the other Brit backpackers (they are everywhere in Australia).
Diving the GBR We boarded the Silver Sonic catamaran, which was rather flash with a posh hydraulic platform to allow snorkellers easy access to the boat. It
Coastal road
On lookout point was a large boat but fortunately there were only 8 certified divers, the rest were newby dive virgins or snorkellers (or fogies just there for the food). On the way out to sea, we spotted a mummy and baby humpback whale on migration, which was nice. If we had been lucky enough to see Minke Whales too, the boat had a licence for divers to jump for a swim with them. Rach was worried she might miss out on the diving by being too honest on her medical form and declaring her malaria pills (should have learnt from Zim experience!) which we didn't anticipate to be an issue. Australia is ridiculously strict about everything - especially burearacy which we found surprising. We are used to zero health and safety in Africa and Asia! Fortunately, Rach's protests that Malarone was the best for diving and that she'd been fine on the last 10 dives convinced them and soon we were jumping from the exceptionally high platform into the sapphire Coral Sea (Rach nearly lost a fin on one jump!).
We descended into the blue and the viz was deliciously clear after the 10m cloud of Sipadan. The first dive was
port douglas beach
This is by the sunday market! nicer than the rag market! OK but the second and third dives were spectacular! The colour of the coral was so vivid and it was amazing to swim through huge shoals of fish as we spiralled up coral encrusted pinnacles. We peered into a small overhang cavern where a huge reef shark was lurking - we startled him and he speedily shot straight past us! We saw unusual lionfish and lots of different types of clownfish - our Nemo friends. The funniest encounter was with a well hard Trigger Fish. We had been warned about their reputation for violence in Sipadan, so when Jase gently swatted the Trigger out of his way, the fish slowly turned around and eyeballed him, as if to say "Are you sure you want to be swatting ME out of the way?". Don't mess! We both chuckled into our regs at it's audacity!
We quenched our thirsts from three dives on dry air with our first night out in Oz - well it was Saturday night! We perched at the bar listening to a bongo and guitar combo delighting the crowd with renditions of the Chili Peppers and Green Day whilst sampling all the local brews. Despite the enticing
Ready to go!
Rach ready to jump in the Coral Sea names such as Coopers Pale Ale and XXXX Bitter, all six pulls appeared to produce lager concoctions. Boo!!! To make matters worse, the scooners they are served in are like lady-like small size versions of a pint. There were plenty of stereotypical drunken locals to amuse us though.
After brekkie, we had a lazy day exploring the rather posh Sunday Port Douglas market and lounging on the beach. The breeze had picked up so we were glad we had dived in the perfect conditions yesterday.
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Eddie
non-member comment
Shark!
Well I suppose everything in the deep is a little small fish compared to S.Africa, you know you can get S.water crocs in the shallower parts? Those clams have turned me on a little, oops, sorry. Glad you are enjoying Oz, it is very backpack orientated but it can be as good as it is bad. I Know it's touristy chaps, but if you can spare the dollar in Sydney,(u goin there?), go up the tower for a meal in the revolving restaurant and have a few beers through your meal, it's the reverse of de ja vu when you come out of the toilet. plus they do Kangaroo, Emu and Croc. The food is good to!