7/3/2007 - Dive, Dive, Dive

How funny is it when something you could never imagine yourself doing, you end up doing it over and over and over again. Strange really. See i could and still don't swim at the beach. I'll swim in the ocean at the enclosed swimming areas ( enclosed i mean with a cement wall not just a net ).

But 4years ago, you would never have gotten me to go swimming in the open ocean. As a kid you grow up listening to stories of people drowning, being bitten by sharks, stung by blue bottles etc. You watch movies like Jaws and The Abyss, and you never quite imagine it would be something you'd be interested in. The risks are unbearable.

So, i get put through a dive course and look at me now, diving every weekend without question. Even if the weather is shit and the vis is minimal, i will still do it, cause who knows it could be the day you see the rare fish or find something you've never seen before.

But still to this day, i will not swim at the beach. I actually still feel threatened in the water. But diving pulls a sense of calmness out of me, and i feel at home under the water in the world unknown. Strange i know.

I try and get up to South West Rocks with the Hutchinson Boys every 3 mths to dive the Fish Rock Cave and see the Grey Nurse Sharks. Another thing i think is odd of me. These big puppy dogs, just crusing by and saying hello. If they are at all frightened by my presence they go away. But they seem comfortable with us being there.

I've got the cravings for wreck diving. I got my first experience of actually penetrating a wreck back in March 05 when i got a week off work to go to Merimbula to dive the Tugs. Its just another different venue. Apart from diving in the ocean and looking at fish and corals, wrecks are a whole new adventure. These tugs were huge, going in and out of different rooms, turn the torch off and its pitch black. Cables hanging down ( becareful not to get tangled ) wheels, propellors and probably alot more hidden that i didn't see.

Philippines was another adventure i had the opportunity to go and see. Coron holds all the cards in the Philippines when it comes to diving Wrecks. Coron Bay holds 12 WWII wrecks just waiting to be dived. I dived on four of them. And the fish life, corals ( hard plates is what i have found to be my favourites ). I went through with three torches flashing in every direction so there was no crevice unseen.

Then October 05 was time for the underwater parks of Austin Texas. They sink things for fun here, and give you a map to find it all. Amazing. I'll post the map one day for you to see what im on about. Chains leading throughout the dive site ( map showing the chains ), platforms to regroup and head count etc ( also on maps ) throughout the dive you will know where and what depth ( relating to the map ) of where you are. Wish we would have throught of that here in our home town. Hmmmm gives me an idea... hahaha.

Anyway, thats me for today, just mumbling ( tummy grumbling ). Hope everyone is doing ok, talk to you on the underside.... 

18/12/2006 - Christmas Thieves

It makes you wonder where everyones Christmas Spirit is over the what is meant to be the 'Happy Holidays'.

Found out today that a guy from work had his house broken into over the weekend, and they stole money and worst of all, the Christmas Presents under the familys Christmas Tree.

How sad is that!!!

I can't believe someone/people could stoop that low, during this special season.

Thanks for listening guys!!!

12/12/2006 - Double Diving Day

Saturday was a good day for diving, the tide was high ( hahaha sounds like a song title ) and the whether was fine.

High Tide was at 11:05am 1.74metres.

Two mates and myself went to Halifax ( at Nelsons Bay ) and dived here. My friends are from Sweden and they were gettting sick and tired of diving Swansea and Boat Harbour so they needed somewhere different. I mentioned that Halifax was a Marine Reserve and its hailed as one of the top places to dive in NSW.

So, you could say they were looking forward to this fantastic dive....

Must of been bad luck though.

We had 3metres vis, and there was so many jelly fish things around you were swatting them like flys throughout the whole dive.

So you can imagine what came out of their mouths when we emerged from the water..

" thanks for the great dive Sal, we will definately miss that one next time "

But they have given me one more chance to show them Halifax in better condition.

I did get to show them the Southern Silver Drummers which frequent there. It was the best part of the dive ( the only good part of the dive. )

From here, we packed our gear into the car and raced down to catch the Swansea tide 2.5hours after.

After talking to a few familiar faces down at the waters edge, we got into the water. And the dive was great. Around 6 - 8 metres vis, wasn't too cold. A lot of changes had happened under there in regards to the bridge work.

One thing i wasn't happy about was the baskets that they were placing on the bottom to create new habitats for the fish, we found two which were actually covered in rock rubble. I can see how this is meant to help the growth of many fish species ' NOT '.

Couldn't see much of the bridge, as the tide turned quite fast during the dive, so we just kept to the areas where we weren't caught in the current.

But a fabulous dive as always at my favourite dive site.

This weekend coming were off on another Double Diving Day / Weekend. Heading to South West Rocks. They have their annual Christmas Party on this weekend. And the three of us will be helping them celebrate.

21/11/2006 - My Newspaper Clipping ( Part Two )

21/11/2006 - My Newspaper Clipping ( Part One )