Yesterday we spent relaxing and shopping in Cairns so there was nothing worth mentioning. Today we set off to the Great Barrier Reef. We went with Reef Magic since they had something for everyone. Hendrik and I wanted to go diving, Hendrik’s dad wanted to snorkel, and Hendrik’s mom just wanted to relax. Reef Magic takes people to a pontoon, Marine World, where people can dive, snorkel, relax in lounge chairs, go on a semi-sub, or view the ocean from an underwater viewing gallery. So this was the best option for us.

The ride out to the reef was rough as usual so I took my travel-calm but many people did barf. I just stared out at the horizon the whole time. The ride to the reef is the worst thing about going to the reef from Cairns since it takes about 2 hours and it’s terrible.

Once there we went diving straight away. There is a platform that is underwater under Marine World to which stairs lead and this is for divers to enter the water. I really liked it since it was so smooth and allowed me to get situated with my BC and flippers while being able to stand in the water making the load on my back light. The reef was really nice below Marine World. We were with a group and had a guide and she was able to point out many interesting creatures like a trumpet fish which I had not seen yet while diving and three nemo families. Then we saw Wally, the resident Maori Wrasse which we each took a picture with. They had a really great photographer, much better than on the Kangaroo Explorer and I got a nice shot with Wally. He definitely does wonders for Reef Magic since everyone has to buy the picture because it’s so cool.

Me and Wally

After the dive Hendrik and I went on the semi-sub which was nice because of the live commentary but I would suggest them to wash their windows more often since lots of green stuff grew on it covering the view. We were still able to see sharks, a green turtle, and a unicorn fish. The buffet lunch was good and then we had one more dive. This time we were taken with the semi-sub to another part of the reef and dived there. All the comforts of getting into the water were reversed and it was very uncomfortable wearing the large and heavy oxygen tank on a little dingy.

Snorkling on the reef

This dive went well, and we saw two reef sharks, barracudas, and a feather star which I was able to touch. After the dive it was time to go back to Cairns which was a shame because we had no time to go snorkelling. I wouldn’t have minded spending another hour on Marine World. The ride home was smooth so it was much more pleasant and bearable. I really enjoyed Reef Magic and think they do a wonderful job.

Day 5. The last day of diving, which was relieving because the whole thing had been so exhausting. The first dive was again at 6:00 AM and I was cold and tired. Knowing I had to go down 30 meters was scary and I didn’t want the dive to begin. I went to get a wetsuit early to have a newer one and pulled the tight black rubbery thing around my skin, then slung the rest of the equipment on. We swam around the coral and way sooner than I expected we were on a sandy patch 27 meters underwater. I hadn’t noticed the descent, which was comforting and I didn’t feel much different from 5 meters to 27. At least the pressure mostly affects the ears only 10 meters deep so they were fine too.
One curious silver flat fish which was about a foot long and half foot high swam around us inspecting the new creatures in its environment. The instructor cracked open an egg and because of the pressure the white had sucked itself around the yoke that it appeared to be in cling wrap and was unbreakable. It felt like a mini rubbery stress ball. After we passed it around the curious fish got to have an unusual snack. Then we had to take a narc test in case the nitrogen was affecting us and making us high or “narced” I had to point at numbers in order on a chart and after each touch my nose. No one in the group was narced.
The second dive of the day after breakfast was a fun dive and Hendrik and I got the camera this time since we missed our turn and we took lots of pictures, and saw a sting ray which was exciting. It went well except that Hendrik almost ran out of air which was bad since I missed his signal for ascent, but it wasn’t a big deal because we were just doing our safety stop and we were close to the surface but it still gave me a scare.
I was sad that our last dive wasn’t a fun dive but we wanted to get certified as an adventure diver and therefore had to pass a navigation course. In between our two dives we had to learn how to use a compass underwater. We had a lesson while the ship was moving which was terrible since I felt incredibly nauseas because it wasn’t the best weather and the sea was quite choppy. I took a pill but would have still enjoyed being in the fresh air and looking at the horizon. I said I understood everything even though I really hadn’t paid attention at all since my stomach had taken all my attention. After the lesson I went outside ASAP and Hendrik explained what I needed to do with the compass underwater, which was very easy.
I had to use the compass to swim in a straight line and Hendrik had to count 30 kicks and then I had to make a 180 and go back to where we came from. Then we would switch rolls and make a square in the same fashion. It was very easy and everyone accomplished the task during the dive. Then we explored the reef a bit more and I got to pet a huge turtle which was the last animal I really wanted to see because I had already seen nemo, a shark, a sting ray, and lastly I wanted a turtle to make diving complete. The only thing I didn’t see which I had wanted to was Dory. Then it was time to get back on the small boat and endure another long bouncy wet journey back to Cairns.
We went out for dinner with our diving class mates that night and had a go at salsa dancing which the lessons I took were of no help since I’m hopeless in rhythm.

As a whole I was really glad I made it through the week and got certified, because diving was something I’d always wanted to experience but I can’t say it was super amazing. Many people found it freeing but I found the opposite. I felt constrained. Constrained to a computer and air supply which I checked obsessively, and constrained by props that weren’t natural like a mask, flippers, wetsuit, and silence. I found the underwater to be eerily silent. Also the air was so dry it would dry up my mouth making it uncomfortable. It wasn’t as spectacular as I thought it would be but I would do it again, definitely especially since I would only have fun dives now since I’m certified. I also think that a nice saltwater aquarium might bring me more pleasure, but that’ll be another investment.