Scuba Dive Master

Location: Airlie Beach
Weather: Hot n'Sunny

Left Rainbow Beach and got a lift with Russ and Corinne to Hervey Bay. This place is where most people go to Fraser Island from, I don't quite know why. Fraser takes 30mins from Hervey Bay instead of 8mins from Rainbow Beach. Also Rainbow looked a much nicer place. Anyways, then got the bus to Bundaberg. Checked into the "Bundaberg Backpackers and Workers Hostel of the Union of Soviet Socialistic Republics". I was not impressed with this place or the atmosphere there, it was ok, but just for fruit pickers really, those present during the day(I'm guessing they had a day off) just seemed to watch TV all day.
BUT as it happened, across the road I discovered Aqua Scuba a dive school offering very cheap 4 day SSI diving course - so I ended up enrolling on that. I was joined by 3 others on the course - Sylvain & Aurelis from France and Sebastian from Germany. Our teachers - Marcus and Julian were top blokes and Aqua Scuba have their own shared house which was a very pleasant place indeed. The 4 of us, along with the other housemates and divemasters all got along very well and I found it a true shame to leave that place to be honest. After a day of theory and a day in the pool we went diving in the sea. If you've never worn it before, Scuba gear weighs a ton and to makes matter worse the 1st dive was awful, the sea was extremely choppy and visibility was about 1m! the 2nd dive was a bit better though and I managed to see about 2 fish! But the next day the conditions were wonderful. Saw a sting ray, sea snake, plus lots of fish and coral. It also now means I am a certified Scuba Diver and can go on dives anywhere in the world!

The day after finishing my dive course I did the Bundaberg Rum Distillery tour (99% of visitors ONLY go to Bundaberg to do this tour [or to pick vegetables, I suppose] - Bundaberg Rum is one of Australia's most famous drinks). I then got the bus to Agnes Water and Town of 1770 - alone (I was the only person on the bus!). Town of 1770 is the place where Captain Cook landed at in 1770 and it turned out to be remarkably nice and relaxed. I only went there because Aurelis said it was such an amazing place and recommended "The Escape" hostel - so I checked in there and met Nick, the most laid-back host and best hostel cook I've ever met. Did a bit of swimming, had another surf lesson, went on a sunset tour, saw a dead echidna and monitor lizard on the road and lots of kanagaroos and that was about it.

By JamesReed on 06.10.04 @ 05:46 AM GMT