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Wednesday 23rd February 2011
Today was the Great Barrier Reef Tour!
It was an early start of 6am today, we got ready and made our way to the docking port which was really easy to find. We checked in and got straight on board, greeted by the crew and given tea/coffee and chocolate muffins! We had a briefing about what the day would consist of, and this was our first chance to decide whether or not we wanted to take a dive over the reef. Our tour included a free 10 minute dive but it cost $70 dollars extra to go deeper into the ocean for an extra 20/30 minutes.
I put my name down to do the free 10 minute dive and started thinking about whether or not I would have the guts to go through with it because I have a really bad fear of deep water!
We set off for about 20 minutes before our first stop to prepare for the 10 minute dives and the snorkelling. The crew ensured that we all knew how to de-presssurize our masks and we knew all the signals under the water if we wanted to come up or if we wanted to continue with the extra long dive.
We got on our sexy dive gear lol...all looking like smurfs -Holly went snorkelling and i decided that I wanted to go for the free 10 minute dive and see how I got on. I told the crew and the man doing our dives that i had a fear of water and to keep an eye on me incase I freak out!
I met a lovely Scottish lady that had arrived to Australia that day..she must have been shattered lol-but I decided to claim her as a friend before I risk drowning..just so I had an extra person watching over me. ha.
We got in the water and started practicing breathing with the masks...the crew were amazing as they took their time with each of us individually. They let us drop down a metre under water to see how we all were ..I started to panic a little as it was fresh in my mind that if I wanted to go up..I couldnt just quickly get to the top with all my gear on. I made the signals to the guy and said I didnt think I could go ahead with the longer dive..but he was so good-he calmed me down straight away and let me give it another go..once under water I thought he asked me if I was okay..so I made the 'OK' signal and then before I knew it-we were all whisked down to the reef! As much as I didnt expect this was the start of the longer dive..I was so excited anyway. This was a major thing for me..and I just couldnt get over all the beautiful colours and millions of different creatures that we saw that live on the Reef!
This was another thing that I must say is one of the best experiences of my life..I would never have expected to do this as I really have a bad fear of deep water-but i would advise anyone that also has this to give it a go-The Barrier Reef is just amazing and the colours, the creatures and the plants that live and grow down there are un-believable!
I also recommend Passions of Paradise-the crew, the boat, the attention, the food included and activities included were all 5*
When we got back this evening after our trip, at Gilligans they have a promotional offer called 'Power Hour' -This is $10 dollars for a wrist band and you get 6 drinks with this band. You must be aware that the drinks are all within one hour-as alot of people got the band thinking if they bought it in that hour they have the drinks throughout the night-but you have to pretty much get them all at once. The girls and i got our drinks all in one go- so depending on how much you drink-you could always share a band. This is a really good offer as you can get pretty much any drinks you want with the band.
I got very drunk tonight...lets just say- I started talking to a backpack on the floor thinking it was a person..aha-good times.
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