back from diving

Back from my refresher diving trip - I'm glad I did it rather than trying to fake my way into a regular dive trip. Things came back to me quickly but I didn't feel as confident as I thought I would when first putting on the equipment. I don't think I was really up for a full fledged diving trip - the dive itself wasn't too ambitious (45 minutes in 18 metres of water) and I didn't have to pretend I knew everything.

The session in the pool was helpful. It really brought back memories of learning to scuba dive back in high school. I had forgotten how wearing a mask allows you to see things in the pool with a little too much clarity - things you know are in the water, but could happily live without seeing - hair balls, bandaids, etc. (One thing I saw that was never in the pool at home was a large beatle, swimming merrily under water). I have some fond memories of learning to dive and the subsequent trip to Jamaica. Memories of David Stocker, Jason Chang, Kunuk Rhee and I having races to see who could swim the length of the pool fastest (me!). Of the Open Water test in Tobermory - my first and so far only, shipwreck dive. Of Diadema antillarum and sea cucumbers. I wonder if the trip still runs every year and if the increased knowledge about reef conservation has changed how things are done - I remember the sea anemone that my group collected lost a significant number of tentacles to our inept handling.

The dive today was at Julian Rocks Marine Park, which is only about a 5 minute boat ride from shore. But what a boat ride it was. One of those little wave-runner type boats that Green Peace uses to harrass the oil tankers. It was really wavy - quite exciting, although I was a bit worried about getting seasick. The water was cold and my wet suit was a size too big so I was quite chilled afterwards. I found that most of my focus was on the physical stuff, like breathing and being cold, rather than on what was around me. I guess next time will be better. But I did see two huge sea turtles and a large ray swam by overhead.