Long time liao...
So long no entry.. Even forgot how to log in..
Wonder if i'll ever be locked out of my own account in future when i cannot retrieve password or something...
Anyway, just came back from a trip to Cairns, dived in the Great Barrier Reef.. Name is Great, and probably the reason it is called Great Barrier is because the reef forms like a barrier over the north-eastern coast of Australia. The diving though... is not that Great, spend half the money to go to Southeast Asian sites like Sipadan and you may get to see almost the same or better stuff.
It was a liveaboard trip (5 days, 4 nights) and fortunately we managed to get some motion sickness pills before boarding. The ride was ROUGH. We went off all the way to Osprey reef from Cairns (Osprey is way up north on the map). Crossing the inner reefs to the outer ones will mean a real wild ride over the ocean waves and we were rocking left to right, up and down on our cabin bunks and we could hear the DVD player in the cabin sliding back and forth with the waves as well. Not our idea of some good rest before a hectic day of diving...
I always thought diving was like cycling.. You'll never forget how to do it.. Unfortunately, i somehow forgot that taking out your regulator underwater will mean water will get into your mouth...
I was a little sick (motion sickness) on the first dive and was about to puke. So i happily removed my regulator and attempted to puke but nothing came out and fortunately the nausea went down with the 'vomiting action'. So naturally after the attempt, i had to breathe. Happily i opened my mouth and inhaled and in went salty, cold, ocean water..
Had to cough several times under water, underwent a period of panic of not being able to breathe and needing to ascend.. then underwent a period of wondering if i would drown.. Somehow remembered that diving got oxygen tank and regulator one, so quickly replaced my regulator and purge whatever water is in the regulator before sucking in precious air.
Can't imagine doing an emergency ascend just 15mins into the first dive.
Water was also chilly though the gauges showed that it was 24 degrees, it felt like 16 everytime i dived in.. Was shivering in every single dive. Think next time must be more prepared with dry suits inside or something..
Well, reef life was abundant and it would have impressed us if we hadn't been to Sipadan.
Here, we had to dive like more than 10 times before seeing a single turtle and a ray. I almost couldn't believe my eyes and ears when a fellow diver jumped with joy after seeing 1 turtle... Maciam they are rare like manta rays..
But highlights of the dive were the potato cod feed and the shark feeds. They managed to organise some bait into the water and attract the more unique fishes to feast on them right infront of us.
However, besides these highlights.. have to admit that it is not that kind of MUST GO places to dive. Sites in our neighbouring countries would probably offer the same if not better sights.
Well at least it was a real good break from work and civilisation (100 miles from land, no other boats in sight... only water water everywhere)
Map of the Great Barrier Reef. Osprey reef was way up north on the map.
Interestingly, reefs occasionally 'pop' out right in the middle of the ocean like this..
Our dive group. From all over the world: China, Europe, US, Africa..
Spoke to some of them and they agree that GBR was probably not the best place they've dived in.
Potato cod feed.. These cods are huge compared to other fish.
Shark feed: In the initial moments, it was really a frenzy, the chain which hung the bin full of bait and tuna heads was shaking like crazy with all the feeding frenzy from the sharks and other fishes joining in the fun.
Wonder if i'll ever be locked out of my own account in future when i cannot retrieve password or something...
Anyway, just came back from a trip to Cairns, dived in the Great Barrier Reef.. Name is Great, and probably the reason it is called Great Barrier is because the reef forms like a barrier over the north-eastern coast of Australia. The diving though... is not that Great, spend half the money to go to Southeast Asian sites like Sipadan and you may get to see almost the same or better stuff.
It was a liveaboard trip (5 days, 4 nights) and fortunately we managed to get some motion sickness pills before boarding. The ride was ROUGH. We went off all the way to Osprey reef from Cairns (Osprey is way up north on the map). Crossing the inner reefs to the outer ones will mean a real wild ride over the ocean waves and we were rocking left to right, up and down on our cabin bunks and we could hear the DVD player in the cabin sliding back and forth with the waves as well. Not our idea of some good rest before a hectic day of diving...
I always thought diving was like cycling.. You'll never forget how to do it.. Unfortunately, i somehow forgot that taking out your regulator underwater will mean water will get into your mouth...
I was a little sick (motion sickness) on the first dive and was about to puke. So i happily removed my regulator and attempted to puke but nothing came out and fortunately the nausea went down with the 'vomiting action'. So naturally after the attempt, i had to breathe. Happily i opened my mouth and inhaled and in went salty, cold, ocean water..
Had to cough several times under water, underwent a period of panic of not being able to breathe and needing to ascend.. then underwent a period of wondering if i would drown.. Somehow remembered that diving got oxygen tank and regulator one, so quickly replaced my regulator and purge whatever water is in the regulator before sucking in precious air.
Can't imagine doing an emergency ascend just 15mins into the first dive.
Water was also chilly though the gauges showed that it was 24 degrees, it felt like 16 everytime i dived in.. Was shivering in every single dive. Think next time must be more prepared with dry suits inside or something..
Well, reef life was abundant and it would have impressed us if we hadn't been to Sipadan.
Here, we had to dive like more than 10 times before seeing a single turtle and a ray. I almost couldn't believe my eyes and ears when a fellow diver jumped with joy after seeing 1 turtle... Maciam they are rare like manta rays..
But highlights of the dive were the potato cod feed and the shark feeds. They managed to organise some bait into the water and attract the more unique fishes to feast on them right infront of us.
However, besides these highlights.. have to admit that it is not that kind of MUST GO places to dive. Sites in our neighbouring countries would probably offer the same if not better sights.
Well at least it was a real good break from work and civilisation (100 miles from land, no other boats in sight... only water water everywhere)
Map of the Great Barrier Reef. Osprey reef was way up north on the map.
Interestingly, reefs occasionally 'pop' out right in the middle of the ocean like this..
Our dive group. From all over the world: China, Europe, US, Africa..
Spoke to some of them and they agree that GBR was probably not the best place they've dived in.
Potato cod feed.. These cods are huge compared to other fish.
Shark feed: In the initial moments, it was really a frenzy, the chain which hung the bin full of bait and tuna heads was shaking like crazy with all the feeding frenzy from the sharks and other fishes joining in the fun.
posted by KwangHow at
9:58 PM
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