12:40 24th February
Dive 1
So that was it. I now have no fear. What an experience. For 45 minutes I was surrounded by the most incredible display of colour and life. The conditions were perfect, we opted to follow the dive master and I was nervous that I would ruin for everyone else. Two other chaps who we haven't bothered introducing ourselves to joined us. I was convinced that the 210bar that I had at the start would run out quickly and we would all have to turn back because o me. My nerves were high when I kited up and I was dreading jumping off the back of the boat. But off I went and splashed into the warm sea.
It was a little bit choppier than I thought it would be and found my mouth filling with water -I didn’t want to put the regulator and waste the precious air and my snorkel kept filling with water. It was hilarious that Ray lost his cylinder when he jumped in, he had to climb back out - so glad it wasn't me, I would have given up and gone home if that had happened. With 4 x 2kilos on my weight belt I wasn't sinking so I put another couple of klos in my pockets And within minutes I was sinking down to the depths.
Our plan was to head out for two smaller coral reefs, then onto the main large reef. All around us in the water were fish. Now my knowledge is severely limited so I cannot begin to write what I saw. Just believe me when I say there were hundreds of varieties. Everywhere you looked there were beautiful colours swimming around. Mostly smaller to medium sized fish. I was still a little apprehensive and wasn't sure I managed to get neutral buoyancy. Found myself constantly adjusting, filling up with air and releasing quite a lot. When I did relax I could look all around me at the wonders. What an experience.
We finned slowly and just took our time going around the reefs. It's cliché but it is like another world. Quite incredible. I was relieved when I looked at my gauge to still see more than enough air. We were told when it got down to 100 to turn around back the boat. It was half an hour before I hit this stage - the same as everyone else. What a relief. Occasionally we only really went down o 8-9 meters and stayed at this depth. The floor was immediately below us and you would look around for something more unusual than just the normal shoals of fish. It was amazing how quickly most of the fish were the norm. How spoilt we get so quickly in this world. Of course the minute I got out I'm dying to go back in again. So we didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but that didn’t make it any worse. I cannot explain how amazing it was. It must be experienced to be believed.
So back on the boat we all came, I was surprise there was not much chat but I guess you've got to concentrate and get your kit off and sorted out. But I still expected more smiles from everyone.
Speaking of everyone people on the boat seem a bit of a boring bunch. No mad youngsters, a bit of a shame but at least we won't have to waste time with idle chatter. I feel like sleeping now, just had lunch - a good selection buffet. But I was feel a little sick (too much seawater) so didn't eat as much chicken as I normally would. There are about 16 people on the boat, mostly older blokes, and a few older woman - all seem a bit snobby for my liking, but you can never tell. The two chaps who came along with us may get chatty, but I’m just happy to relax. Most of the people belong to one group - Bobby's bits - as they called themselves, so this meant they tended to all chat together. So were on the move again, to the next dive site! And every day is going to be like this it’s quite incredible.
The sun is beating down surrounded by sea; my only frustration is that I can’t communicate with home. Missing the wife and kids, I would like to be able to chats with them now, haven’t seen a phonebox yet,not convince I can get one.
Dive 2
The adventure really began now, more confidence and now Ray and I can buddy together with nobody else looking after us. What a difference -feel so free. We swam round and round a reef - swam off to another one and returned safely. Superb