After much a-do with the organising part of the trip, and an all time record number of adjustments to the number of divers with the dive centre, I set off for the long trip north to South West Rocks with a vague understanding of who else might or might not be joining us up there, but I knew there were going to be a few Robs and a few Bens at least. After a long and arduous journey we were met with an equally long and arduous check in process for the cabins, confused by the fact that James had booked one of them in his name and was no longer coming, which completely threw the whole paperwork system into chaos. A long day but nothing that a cold beer and a few burgers couldn’t fix, even Ross and the newly qualified Mod 2 Michelle made it in time for tea. We resisted the temptation to follow club weekend tradition and overdo it on the first night, and retired relatively early for a good nights sleep* *Except for the unfortunate Rob S who chose to bunk up with Rob J who “snored like a trooper”.
Saturday dawned and we awoke to the fabulous whiff of bacon cooking, and Rob J set to work with the coffee grinder. The sun was shining and the diving was ON – happy days. The dive centre found an extra spot for Ross but alas Michelle was still full of snot from a cold so didn’t mind missing out too much and went to chase the boys down the 4 wheel drive tracks in the surrounds. All was looking good for a great days diving, however the less said about Saturdays diving the better. Being a long weekend it was diver soup, and staying together in a group of 8 behind a super quick dive guide was about as easy as following a midget through a Boxing day sale in Myers. The sharks were equally unimpressed with the heavy traffic and went elsewhere, not that we would have seen them through the gloom anyway.
Afterwards we were all keen for a G&T and also of course HAD to visit South West Woks Thai whilst in town although they have now sadly changed their name to something completely unmemorable. They were ‘BYO everything’ so we took them at their word and packed Gin, Tonic, and a tupperware box of ready sliced cucumber and lemon! They were not phased by our provisions and duly provided tall glasses and ice – cracking service!
Sunday we had pre-determined, was going to be a better day’s diving, although I nearly jinxed the whole expedition by trying to bring bananas onboard, but was intercepted by the skipper and crew with a whole rally of “oh no NO BANANAS onboard oh my god I can’t believe you brought BANANAS!…” So they were left in the car, nothing was going to spoil today as we had self appointed ‘Dive Nazi’ Michelle on board, ready to ‘sort out’ the dive centre guides if they gave any indication that they might try and rush us off the boat and head off en-mass with no clear plan again. Viz conditions had improved overnight although the swell was still a challenge – even the least prone to seasickness (like me) were feeling a touch green by the time we reached the rock. My group dived the cave first, and I discovered that I really don’t like wobbegong sharks swimming straight at me in confined spaces, I do prefer when they are sitting quietly on the bottom of the cave where they belong, but I didn’t really feel like a face to face discussion about it at close quarters so pinned myself to the wall and gave way so it could carry on! Lobsters, rays, and even a lion fish were spotted too, and a wall of fish greeted us at the exit. The wall climb over the ridge to exit was about as exciting as it gets, and a bit too exciting for Rob J who parted company with one of his hired finns and made a ‘unexpected but not completely uncontrolled’ ascent (just so he could get a free ride in the boat I reckon). On the 2nd dive we were graced with at least 7 or 8 large grey nurse sharks swimming by out of the murky conditions which added to the atmosphere, and a pleasant trip around the rocks and boulders through the numerous large balls of fish (sorry I don’t do types of fish, smaller than a grouper they’re all just ‘fish’).
We celebrated Ben A’s birthday and a great day’s diving with a bottle of bubbly and an assortment of (fishy) pizzas, followed by plenty of cheese and the finest Muscat Mudgee has to offer whilst various experience dives were signed off around the table.
Good times! And then the long long slog back to Sydney…
Taken by Robert Smith on 11 April 2012
