WE ARE BACK!!!
We jumped off the boat a couple of hours ago, and I have spent ages doing 2 posts for you. The rest will come tomorrow!
See below for 2 new posts....
SD
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Monday, 6 July 2009
Dive Boat Day 3 - Dives 5 to 8
We woke (if you can say that) after an extremely rough crossing that kept us awake pretty much all night. But what can you expect when you out in international waters?
We ate breakfast and set up for Dive 5 which was North Horn. This site is not seen by many people so we felt quite priviledged. The current was strong and the depths were down to 1000m so you really had to keep an eye on the ball. Plenty of shark around and visibility was stunning. We were at about 30m and you could still see the hull of the boat quite clearly.
Dive 6, at the same site was the shark feed. The whole group settled into position and the food was lowered.... there were approximately 30 sharks of various types ranging from whitetips, blacktips, grey whaler (biters!) and oceanic silvertips (worse biters!)
When the feed started (frozen whole tuna heads) it was quite serene and I was a bit dissapointed, but I didn't realise the food was stuck in the container and a couple of minutes later when it was finally released mayhem broke loose. It was an absolute frenzy and a real buzz with sobering undertones. One word for it really.... AWESOME... something that we probably will not have the opportunity to experience again.
After the feed we continued our dive, swimming past the now well fed sharks and then ended our dive and had lunch.
Dive 7, at Cypress Hill was good, but sadly we can't remember a single thing about this dive as we were still on a big buzz from shark feeding.
Dive 8, The Entrance was a very cool, relaxing dive. Jen and I being instructors were given free reign on every dive and on this one we didn't see any other divers..... just us in the ocean, watching eel gardens, puffer fish and a humphead maori wrasse was very serene and we both enjoyed this dive alot... just experiencing it together by ourselves.
And, that was the end of the day. Beers and dinner were had before commencing the journey overnight back into Aussie Waters and the Great Barrier Reef.
We ate breakfast and set up for Dive 5 which was North Horn. This site is not seen by many people so we felt quite priviledged. The current was strong and the depths were down to 1000m so you really had to keep an eye on the ball. Plenty of shark around and visibility was stunning. We were at about 30m and you could still see the hull of the boat quite clearly.
Dive 6, at the same site was the shark feed. The whole group settled into position and the food was lowered.... there were approximately 30 sharks of various types ranging from whitetips, blacktips, grey whaler (biters!) and oceanic silvertips (worse biters!)
When the feed started (frozen whole tuna heads) it was quite serene and I was a bit dissapointed, but I didn't realise the food was stuck in the container and a couple of minutes later when it was finally released mayhem broke loose. It was an absolute frenzy and a real buzz with sobering undertones. One word for it really.... AWESOME... something that we probably will not have the opportunity to experience again.
After the feed we continued our dive, swimming past the now well fed sharks and then ended our dive and had lunch.
Dive 7, at Cypress Hill was good, but sadly we can't remember a single thing about this dive as we were still on a big buzz from shark feeding.
Dive 8, The Entrance was a very cool, relaxing dive. Jen and I being instructors were given free reign on every dive and on this one we didn't see any other divers..... just us in the ocean, watching eel gardens, puffer fish and a humphead maori wrasse was very serene and we both enjoyed this dive alot... just experiencing it together by ourselves.
And, that was the end of the day. Beers and dinner were had before commencing the journey overnight back into Aussie Waters and the Great Barrier Reef.
Dive Boat Day 2 - Dives 1 to 4
We woke at 6.50am for breakfast, before jumping into the cool 25 degree waters in our 5mm wetsuits...
Tested the camera housings and ventured around the "Cod Hole" bumping into some whopper 150kg potato cod. Pretty cool creatures who were very friendly. Visibility was good and it was nice to get a decent dive in.... its been a while since we had a good one.The next dive at the same site involved the cod being fed some pilchard. Although this goes against my "passive interaction" philosophy, these cod have been fed for 15 years and are naturally expectant of food now.
It was fun, and the big boys bumped my camera lens a fair few times...
Dive 3, was Pixies Pinnacle, a small pinnacle in the middle of nowhere. We saw a shark on the start of the dive.... just a small whitetip, and a flame file shell.... which you should look up on youtube as a photograph cannot do it justice... very cool.
Dive 4, was a night dive at Challenger Bay. We saw lots of cool stuff including Whitetip Shark, Octopus, Moray Eels, Blue Spotted Ray. The big thing about this site is the Jacks (Trevallys) who swim quietly behind you in large numbers looking at fish they can eat by using the light from your torch. You don't know they are there until they zoom past you to munch on their next poor victim... It was a bloodbath!
Tired and hungry, we ate and went to bed to prepare for a rough crossing into international waters and "Osprey Reef"
Friday, 3 July 2009
Dive Boat Day 1
So, we boarded our boat, which is pretty nice I have to say...Our bedroom is nice and spacious (for a boat) and we unpacked all our gear and set up our dive equipment ready for 4 dives tomorrow. Unfortunately being the donkey I am.... my monitor on the camera housing was not working and it took me ages to figure out that it actually runs on batteries (read the f@*"ing manual as my course director would say). Luckily, some nice chap has given me half the batteries I need, and I'm currently negotiating with someone for the other 4.
So, emergency over. The internet on the boat has broken, but I have brought along my wireless mobile broadband dongle and while we still have a signal, I thought I would post this. It may not last so don't get worried if you don't get further updates.
Tomorrow, the first 2 dives are at "Cod Hole", then lunch, then another dive at "Pixie's Pinnacle" before finally a night dive at "Challenger Bay". Best get off to bed soon.... cos we have to get up at 6.50am....!!!
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Dive Boat News
Well, looking at details of the boat this morning, it seems there may be a chance of an internet connection. So keep your eye out for updates tomorrow.. I am taking my laptop so fingers crossed.!!!
SD
SD
OZ Day 30 Camper
Well,
The next 5 days are gonna be a true test of your patience. We leave on the Taka Dive boat tomorrow to head out into the Deep Blue.... here we shall be out of contact until the 7th of September when we return. Obviously its going to be a mega special report detailing our dives and shark feed etc... fingers crossed for some hammerheads (we've never seen them before)..
Today, we spent packing our cases, the camera equipment and also our dive kit. Its alot of baggage!!! We then relaxed by the pool for a couple of hours and then played ping-pong and tennis again. It turns out that I'm cooking tonight.... damm!! But Jen is washing up...! SWEET!
Anyway guys, thats it for the next 5 days. I wish you well, and see you on the 7th for a very special dive report.
Love to all.
Edit: Oops!! 7th of July NOT september!
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
OZ Day 29 Camper
We left town, and headed the last 200kms to Cairns. Cairns is the city we shall be flying from in 10 days, so we shall be based around here till then.
We arrived at the caravan park, and settled in... Then went for a swim in the pool and played a few rounds of ping pong.. I won, which means Jen cooks dinner! Sweet..
Now we are off for a spot of tennis to decide who does the washing up!
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