Sun
columnist Simon Kent warned me that “everything in Australia will kill” me, but
I think the part of the itinerary that made me most nervous was being in open
water.
We
boarded a catamaran at Port Douglas (about 15 mins. from Thala Beach Resort)
operated by Quicksilver. This cruise operator brings customers to Agincourt Reef,
part of the Great Barrier Reef where they can partake in certified diving, an
intro course to diving – or, my choice, if you aren’t very comfortable in water
and are clearly not fit for survival – helmet diving.
They
call it “ocean walking.”
First,
Quicksilver staff ask your group up to the top level of the catamaran and ask
you to fill out a medical questionnaire. I felt the process was a bit invasive because
they were asking what specific medications people were on and what they were
specifically used for openly in front of strangers. It was a bit awkward. Could’ve
used a bit more tact, to be honest.
Once
approved, you get a wet suit and you get into a thicker wet suit. The
Quicksilver folks put a weight belt on you. The helmet itself is a substantial
34 kilos., but feels virtually weightless as you enter the water.
A
group of six people will slow make their way down a flight of stairs underwater
to a rusty metal platform. From there, three divers and a cameraman begin
interacting with you as you’re breathing normally in this glass head bubble and
holding onto a rail with one hand.
It’s
pretty incredible.
Schools
of fish dart towards you and aren’t afraid to get up close and personal. I made
friends with a buck-toothed red snapper who, in my opinion, was giving me the
stink-eye. But I loved him anyway.
(What is with Australian animals giving me the stink-eye? First crocs, now fish?)
The
Quicksilver diver began picking up ocean artifacts, including a
freakish-looking red sea cucumber. I didn’t exactly know what to do with it
until he grabbed my hand and placed it on this gummy-textured creature.
Ah, OK. You want me to touch it.
And
appearing to be in slow motion, he began spinning it around on the tip on his
index finger and batted it over to my direction. He did the same thing as he
made his way down the assembly line.
The
experience lasts roughly 15 mins. or so. There’s embarrassing video of us that
I have purchased.
Thoughts
of Bill Murray hunting after the Jaguar shark ran through my mind. It really
was an incredible thing to hang out with all the colourful fish.
I
also tried snorkeling for a bit, but ended up floundering about in the reef,
despite having the safety net of a yellow life jacket. Need a bit more help with
that one.
Back
on land!
Apparently,
we’re going to learn how to spear a fish today on an indigenous people’s walk.
Oh, those crazy Aussies.
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