Day 21 - Still on the Great Barrier Reef

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Today started with a 6:30 AM dive just as the sun was coming up. Can’t say getting into cold wet wetsuits was what we wanted to do that time of day but we were determined that it would be worth it during the dive. We did this dive on our own and the visibility was a bit better than the previous afternoon. But still a bit disappointing for the Great Barrier Reef. Chester was getting better with each dive and Kirsten realized if she let Chester suck off her tank for 5-10 min we could dive longer. After this dive we had a big breakfast and headed back to our room for a nap. The next dive was at 8:30 but as there is 6 dives in a day and you can only do 5, we decided to skip this one and continue our nap. The next dive was at 10:30 and we were at the same spot as the previous afternoon, however they did take us to another part of the reef by the small boat. There were 5 divers and 2 guides. This was a drop dive where they drop you off at one spot and you swim back from there to the main boat. This is not a problem when you know the area, but can be a problem if you don’t as you are not going back the way you came. But we had 2 guides with us so we thought no problem. They guided us through a swim-through, which is like a small cave you go single file through. This was a first for Chester so Kirsten brought up the rear. Watching Chester go through this almost make Kirsten choke on water. She was following a young German diver who had an underwater camera on this first dive. As with most people using a camera for the first time under water they are obliviously to anyone around them and tend to go off chasing fish. This guy did the opposite and decided to stop in the swim-through. This is not a good idea when you are going through single file as you cannot stop on a dime. Well Chester was behind him and freaking out a bit anyway with the swim through. Towards the end of the cave, she was doing these incredible small kicks and paddling her arms like a dog. She basically looked like a dog in the water. Very funny from behind. Once we got past the cave the camera guy was off on a tangent and the dive guides instructed Kirsten to just follow the reef wall on her right and we will end up at the boat. Problem with this is the wall ended. Kirsten lead the way to what she thought was the right direction but when we hit sand and no more reef, she realized there was a problem. At this point, Chester is running low on air so Kirsten pops up to take a look and realizes we are about 400 yards from the boat. So as Chester is almost out of air, we get to do the not so fun task of a surface swim back to the boat. The part about this that sucks is you are now dealing with the wave and current and not to stealth and streamline like when you are under water. We finally arrive at the boat and Chester is pretty exhausted, but made it. We head into shower and then to lunch. We relocate to another dive site as well so new layout to figure out.

Chester is pretty tired and decides to skip the dive after lunch. Kirsten is determined to see something cool out there goes out with a guide. And finally she gets to see the cool stuff. Two small reef tip sharks, a huge lobster, which is unusual during the day, 4-5 turtles and some huge fish we are out. It was a really nice dive and of course Chester misses it. The next dive we take the guide again as it was not a straight forward reef and Kirsten realizes Chester is not up for another surface dive with her lack of navigation skills. This was a really nice dive. Chester finally realized how to relax a little, got to see a few turtles and even pet one. This was what we were expecting at the Great Barrier Reef.

Another huge, awesome dinner, and Kirsten shames Chester into another night dive that she was hesitant to go on as she was a bit freaked out the night before. But she succumbed to Kirsten antagonizing and participated. We did take a guide again, Damien, (don’t let the name fool you, he was awesome) as he had been so successful on the previous dives. The water was pretty rough and as we later found out there was quite a current. We descend down and Chester seemed much better on this night dive. While we descended we saw a small reef tip shark and some HUGE fish. This freaked Chester out a bit as she was still trying to get here wits for the dive. We follow the guide and at some point realize that we are not where we should be as it was just sand and big fish. We head to the surface and realize that although we were heading straight off the back of the boat we were now about 400 yards in front of the boat as they current had carried us away. At this point we had another surface swim ahead of us. The current and the waves were pretty intense. At this point the Kirsten was talking away asking Chester if she saw the big fish and shark and getting no response. We all know that if Chester is not talking there is a problem. She then starts making these animal like noises and both Kirsten and the guide realize she is freaking out. The guide grabs her by the tank and starts to drag her in. The animal noises are still coming out so we know she is still breathing. Once we get close to the boat he lets her go and Kirsten takes over. They lowered the platform into the water so we could just swim onto the platform and they would raise it up and we would not have to fight the waves going up the stairs. Chester rolls on and gets to her knees and clutches the ropes with a death grip. She was not letting go of the boat. Kirsten was trying to get to the other side of Chester to make sure she is stable. She was waiting for the next wave to push her forward, but they started raising the platform. At this point Kirsten is laying on her stomach on the platform and it is out of the water. Not real graceful. So once lifted, she rolls over like a beached whale and Chester realizes everything that just happened and it all hits her like a ton of bricks. Kirsten and the guide realize they have a ton of air so want to go back down. Chester is done and heads to the deck. But this point she is almost in tears and we all know best thing to do then is leave her alone. So that is what Kirsten did by going back down for another dive. And let’s just way it was AWESOME. She got to see it all. There seems to be a theme that when Chester is not there the cool stuff comes out.

When Kirsten got back the crew all wanted to know why Chester was upset. We updated them and one of the guides said she went to our room to see if she was ok and in classic Chester style she said she will be after a glass of wine, which is the exact advice Kirsten gave her once she got on deck. Chester showered, got a glass of wine and dessert. Kirsten did the same once she returned and we both had a good story to tell. ( slightly different versions though)

Tomorrow we have 3 dives in the morning and then back to the smaller boat and the mainland.

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Photos

And still some more
Its a lot cooler under water.

Our luxury accomodations
Ok our accomodations.

The not so hot hot tub
Filled half way with luke warm water. We only gave it a try once.

Comments

[Ricki]

dives
Chester, you are a trooper.....I'm glad you have Kirsten there to guide you & make light of your trials, so some day you'll look back & say "I did it"! keep the wine handy...Ricki