First Time Scuba Diver... on the Great Barrier Reef!

My first stop on my three-week journey toAustralia was to Cairns. Only 24 hours into my stay in Australia I wasalready on my way to see one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World,the Great Barrier Reef! We made our way to the wharf and boarded our tour boat with a company called Reef Experience. (They offer both day trips and overnight trips to the reef). Once aboard, the instructors asked us if we would be trying the included introductory dive. Of course, we said yes, as neither of us have ever scuba’d before and, well, it is the Great Barrier Reef!

We went through a 30-minute “classroom session” where the instructors demonstrated underwater hand signals, what to do in an emergency, and pointed out important features on our scuba gear. Before we knew it we were in the water. We each had to pass three basic scuba techniques before we could join the excursion. The three people before me, did them without even blinking an eye. Then it was my turn. I went under the water and fear instantly hit me. I saw the bottom of the boat, then just blue abyss. I must have come up out of the water three or four times. My first excuse... “There’s water in my eye mask.” They quickly told me to stop breathing through my nose, because that was causing water leakage. My second excuse... “It’s hard for me to breath through my mouthpiece!” They fiddled with something on my scuba tank, which they probably just pretended to “fix” to make me feel better. My third excuse... “Okay, I’m just scared. I admit it, I don’t think I can do it.” Words cannot express how laid back and supportive the instructors were. I heard one say, “She’ll be fine once she gets away from the boat, I guarantee it!” The other told me he would not let me out of the water until I tried this or else I would regret it my whole life.

Now, if the instructor would have told me, ‘Hey, turn around... there’s the reef!” I would have passed my technique test the first time! As soon as I saw it, I felt this overwhelming sense of calm and awe wash over me. The coral, sea life, and general feeling of scuba diving was the most amazing experience of my life and I enjoyed it so much that I participated in the second dive that generally comes at an extra cost.

We also snorkeled while the other groups were on their scuba journeys. It was also amazing, but couldn’t compare to getting up close and personal to the reef while scuba diving.

Words and even pictures cannot express the wonder and beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, and it truly can only be fully experienced firsthand. It is the only way to give it true justice. Give us a call, and we’ll help you enjoy this once-in-a-life-time endeavor. Corinne is the resident South Pacific dive expert and is happy to discuss diving in Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia.

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