The Great Barrier Reef by Brett Gordon
Diving the Great Barrier Reef from a relative newbie’s perspective.
Well I have completed my Open Water and Advanced Open Water Courses (thanks again Steve and Sarah) with some interesting dives in Wellington in winter……11 degrees with 1 metre visibility is a good way to do your navigation dive!!!!!! But now what?
The opportunity arose to put these new found skills into practice with a trip to Cairns set down for mid July 09. Perfect timing with winter flexing her muscles here and Cairns suffering with 26 degrees in their winter. A no brainer really. A 3 dive day on Silverswift was booked.
Once aboard and after all the paperwork, we headed 60kms offshore to Flynns Reef on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. We were given our gear – a 5mm shortie wetsuit, fins, tank and reg. Where are the boots, the gloves, the hood, the thermal longjohns? What? We don’t need them? What is this madness of which you speak!!!!!! The shortie is to stop any coral cuts rather than for keeping you warm as the water temp will be 26 degrees today…mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Suiting up we were led to the edge for our first giant stride entry into the water..a drop of about 1.5m. One small step and all that stuff and I am in. Oh god its warm!!!!!!!!! I might just have a peek under water and see what I can see while I wait for the rest of the group. Looking down to the bottom I realise that it’s already 10 metres down and crystal clear with so many different fish coming to say hi already. We set off following the Divemaster who is our guide on this 40 minute dive to a maximum of 18 metres around this part of the reef known as Gordon’s. Visibility is 18 to 20 metres here…so this is why we dive. I understand.
Here we met our first Maori Wrasse who followed us all around the reef. These wrasse grow to over 2 metres long and are so inquisitive. Yellow tailed Fusiliers, Giant Trevally, so many types of fish were on show as well as the star…..a Green Sea Turtle who seemed to love the camera almost as much as dining on the coral.
Soon our dive was over and we returned to the boat ready for the next adventure. As it was, this was close by at The Tennis Courts on Flynn Reef with a 40 minute dive to 14 metres on offer. Once again the Wrasse made their presence felt along with more Turtles and my first baby Lion Fish.
The third 40 minute dive was located at Tracey’s Bommie, a 28 metre wall dive a short boat tripto the edge of Flynns which we explored at 12 metres. We spent time with White Tip Reef Sharks, Spotted Rays and more fish than you can count.
What a day. 3 dives in 26 degrees with 20 metre visibility. Turtles, Sharks, Wrasse, Giant Clams to name a few. A magical dive experience that I am sure I will never forget. Once you get your dive certification from Steve and Sarah, get yourself to Cairns for a holiday and GO DIVING!!!!!!
Brett Gordon
