Ayis found this place on the central coast of New South Wales where you can dive in the breeding grounds of grey nurse sharks. It was awesome. You swim through this canal where all the sharks are passing through. From the depths you will see this dark shape getting closer and closer. His teeth are out and he is not really swimming so it looks as if this shark is magically floating toward you and you can see him checking you out. It is like playing a game of chicken with the shark. the more still you are the closer they will come. I never won cause it just freaked me out too much to be in the path of these big animals even if they never bite humans. "There is a first time for everything" is my motto.
After we pass through this alley, we hit the entrance to a cave filled with schools of fish, rock lobsters, HUGE turtles, HUGE sting rays, and the ever so stealth woobegongs (which everywhere else in the world is called carpet sharks, see right)
. Also you get to surface inside the cave where there is an air pocket, but you are still 12 ft below the water. But, there is little to no light, so you have to use a flashlight. This makes it easy for creatures and/or rock outcroppings to sneak up on you. Combine this with the fact that there is a bit of current in the cave so that you have to hold on to the rocks when the current threatens to sweep you backwards and have quick reflexes when the current is pushing you along. There is some good movies that I have posted on you tube (using the apt alias, Dr. Fantazajazz) and that show up on the video bar (if I did it 
right). Inside the small cave were some ridiculously large sting rays, which left very little room for you to give the sting rays their appropriate respect. Ayis laughed at me for literally climbing the walls of the cave trying to get out of the way of the rays. And our dive guide laughed at me for almost stepping on a woobegong and then freaking out when I realised what it was. There was also a nearly blind sea turtle at the exit of the cave who will try and bite whatever he thinks he can see just in case it is food. It was my first experience having to gently hold back a rabid sea turtle as it snaps at me.
. Also you get to surface inside the cave where there is an air pocket, but you are still 12 ft below the water. But, there is little to no light, so you have to use a flashlight. This makes it easy for creatures and/or rock outcroppings to sneak up on you. Combine this with the fact that there is a bit of current in the cave so that you have to hold on to the rocks when the current threatens to sweep you backwards and have quick reflexes when the current is pushing you along. There is some good movies that I have posted on you tube (using the apt alias, Dr. Fantazajazz) and that show up on the video bar (if I did it 
right). Inside the small cave were some ridiculously large sting rays, which left very little room for you to give the sting rays their appropriate respect. Ayis laughed at me for literally climbing the walls of the cave trying to get out of the way of the rays. And our dive guide laughed at me for almost stepping on a woobegong and then freaking out when I realised what it was. There was also a nearly blind sea turtle at the exit of the cave who will try and bite whatever he thinks he can see just in case it is food. It was my first experience having to gently hold back a rabid sea turtle as it snaps at me.We had camped the night before at Trial Bay which was an amazing Parks department campsite that had some resident wild kangaroos. Some of them even stayed to watch a movie with us, dubbed "Hoppy Cinema". Ayis and I practiced our tumbling maneuvers and general looking pretty during sunset. One must practice!
All in all, it was a fantastic dive. It's just a shame Ayis didn't get to see the end of it.
No time for grieving, I have my illustrious career as an underwater DJ to look after.
Peace out!
Peace out!
1 comment:
Hey Heather,
That sounds awesome. I'm glad you developed a relationship with a rapid sea turtle he he. Have fun in Kathmandu. Stay safe.
Bre
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