Day 127: Townsville - S. S. Yongala

At six "I can't believe I have to get up this early" AM we got up this morning to do the legendary, one of the top wreck dives in the world, encrusted with living coral, S. S. Yongala.

This ship sank during a cyclone in 1911 taking its entire 121 passengers and crew with it. So as well as being a living artificial coral reef it is also a underwater grave site for those that lost their lives. This wreck was not discovered for 70 years.

Our day started with a 3 hour boat trip to the wreck. During which "Just call me Capt'n Jack, have you seen the movie Pirates of the Caribbean?" gave us our dive briefing, "Hold onto the rope and follow it down". This I promptly forgot as I plunged into the water and really believed the trouble I was having breathing would be eased if I took my regulator out of my mouth... luckily I didn't because that would be silly.

A few fin tugging minutes later, my dive buddy Oly, saw my wild staring eyes and put my hand on the rope, it all fell into place. I still couldn't breathe properly but at least I had something to hold onto and a direction to go in.

The wreck was abundant with sea life. Amongst others, we saw: eagle rays, sea turtles, shovel nose ray, sea snakes, groupers (one was said to be the size of a VW beetle and is affectionately called vee-dub, which we didn't see but we did see some big buggers that had nothing on Axel!)

Two dives later we were flat out on the upper deck and heading back to Townsville marina.

There were four U. S. Army guys that were on the dive who suggested we all go for a Thai meal afterwards. So Capt'n Jack and Ian from Adrenalin Dive, Dawn (Uni), Emily (backpacker), Tom, Greg, Joe Jerry and Dean(Army), met for a delicious dinner followed by a few too many drinks and games of pool (my pool shark days came flooding back to me as I thrashed Oly).

Appologies for the bad quality of the picture, I was using my camera phone and didn't put it on night shot.

Emelie

Day 53: The Great Barrier Reef

Divers Log, Divedate 2...

Two things happened today, firstly I managed to stay stock still when I encountered Axel and secondly, Henry has a girlfriend.

So I did my deep dive and navigation. Once again we were greeted by Axel at the second dive site and this time I kept my arms in and made no eye contact.

One thing that wasn't planned for during our dive, was when Gary's regulator hose blew off the tank leaving him with no oxygen. It made a big boom and we were told that a large mushroom of air exploded on the surface. Gary, the professional, remained calm as Oly raced gave him his spare regulator (octopus) and we carried on our dive after the boat dropped Gary another tank, complete with BCD, which he had to carry around with him.

I am pleased to say I passed (yay!) and am now an Advanced Open Water Diver (woooo!). Ol and I celebrated by going to the Chinese restaurant frequented by the rich and famous (Bill & Kiefer). It was not good. The chicken satay we had for starters was thigh meat and the rest of the meal was mediocre.

On a happier note, Henry is indulging in his first holiday romance. He met Blondie, Lisa's kombi, at the camp site. He admired her roo bar from afar (poetry) Oly says Henry was actually admiring her headlights...

In my own little way I am missing Axel already...

Emelie

Day 52: The Great Barrier Reef

Divers Log, Divedate 1...

I was only a little grumpy having to get up early... my instructor, Gary, was even grumpier after being kept up all night with a tooth ache. It's not often someone can out grump me in the mornings.

We travelled to three dive sites on the Aristocat. On the second dive, as we were getting our gear on, Gary said "The first in the water gets the big fish", he wasn't joking.

Upon entering the water, Gary (who by now was feeling a little better and, dare I say, playful) produced a bottle full of beef and emptied it in to the water. I looked on daydreaming in my own little world waiting for the cute little tiddlers to come aswimmin'. The biggest fish I have EVER seen in my life started coming towards us like an express train. Two of these and five loaves could have easily fed the five thousand.

Axel, as he is known to the locals, is a huge estuary cod and in its mouth you could easily fit a limb of your choice into. Much to my horror he (actually it is a she) was really friendly and as I was making the most movement (trying to get behind Oly) the bugger kept coming for me thinking I was going to feed her.

In my controlled panic I had a continuous jet of bubbles streaming from my regulator in a column above my head. Oly, on the other hand, had a continuous jet of bubbles streaming from his reg due to his uncontrolled laughter. No matter what he did to get in between Axel and I, the sod kept on going for me like a eager puppy. At one point I tried to use Oly to propel myself away and in my haste put my hand square on her very cold and solid body.

I need to buy myself some dive gloves...

Another long day tomorrow, lets hope we do a different set of dive sites.

Emelie

Location: Click Me!

Diving with Sharks (OJG)

Ok, I have somehow forgotten to mention the afternoon I had at AQUA, the Aquarium of Western Australia. For this particular blog I will just let the images do the talking with a few comments next to each one...

<-- Some jellyfish against a blue background. They are so alien-like! Well this is what greets you as you enter AQUA. People stand in front of them for ages just watching them "push" themselves upwards just to sink bak to the bottom and then repeat.

3 Moray Eels, looking their usual pissed off selves (they cannot help it, that is how they breath).

<-- Cuttlefish, I believe a close relative to squid and octopi. I am sure this one was watching me! The movement is so graceful.

Where is the deadly poisonous rock fish? This is a trick question (answer at the bottom).

<-- A picture of some Sea Dragons (I think), members of the Seahorse family, except because of the low light it all got blurred. However I quite liked the pic so here it is.

A seal showing doing his best impression of the red Barron!

<-- The 2 seals together, getting ready to play up to the camera again.

Apparently they like to swim upside down, and for some reason it just looked hilarious every time they did it.

<-- A Nurse shark, I know she looks fearsome, but she has no interest in humans at all. Alegedly.

Yep, several sharks and a stingray, which up until recently was not even considered a danger. Think you can guess the most dangerous animal in the tank?

<-- Grandma, what sharp teeth you have?! Nope not the most dangerous.

Yep, believe it or not, this is the most dangerous animal in the tank! Apparently their poor eyesight means they can bump into you, panic, and start pinching away with their huge beak.

<-- And here I am along with a few other divers in the shark tank. Unfotunately there is very little interaction with the sharks, and we are instructed to steer well out of their way. Sigh.

Me again, with a shark nearby. Half way through my 30 minute dive.

And a nice final pic of a shark. Perfect :)

Oly