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Vanuatu Dive holiday May 2017
  • Maree Crawford
  • Maree Crawford

Vanuatu Dive holiday May 2017

A 8-day adventure by Maree Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 10, 2017
    Maree CrawfordVanuatu Dive holiday May 2017Traveler

    Melbourne to Hideaway Island

    May 10, 2017 in Vanuatu ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    On the 10th of May Jimmy and I flew out to Vanuatu on a diving holiday. We went with 8 others from the Warrnambool Dive and Firearms Shop organised by Brian Brumley and his wife, Leanne. Also going were Chris and Bernie Rantall, Michael Harris and his 14 year old son Jeremy, mates Adrian Harris (no relation to the others) and Ed Basic. Turned out to be a great bunch of people. Destined for 10 dives over the weeks, 3 of us doing our Advanced Openwater Scuba Dive certificate, Brian being our instructor.
    We eventually got into Vanuatu Airport after midnight and getting to our rooms on Hideaway Island at around 2 am! Our bed was a very welcome sight.
    The temperature was about 27-30 degrees with the water 26-27 degrees even at depth!!
    The dive photos on this page was our first introductory dive, getting our gear and buoyancy right. It was a shallow swim off shore then a sudden drop off to more than 30 metres. We just went to 20 metres It was very pretty but still a bit murky from the 2 cyclones that had passed through over the last 3 weeks. The coral beds were a bit wrecked this close to shore as well.
    This is a marine conservation area that has a partnership with the Macquarie University in Australia    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordVanuatu Dive holiday May 2017Traveler

    Bonzer wreck dive @ 24 metres

    May 11, 2017 in Vanuatu ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Ben's birthday today but he's back in Melbourne
    Today is our first Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver certificate dive for those of us doing the course.
    When we got into the water, my mask filled with water and I started to panic but got that sorted and descended. I'm getting the buoyancy control sorted now. Lots of corals growing and fish swimming about the rusty old wreck. There is plenty of room to swim through the cabin too.Read more

  • Maree CrawfordVanuatu Dive holiday May 2017Traveler
    Bernie
    Adrian and BrianJimmy, Chris, Bernie, Ed, me and LeanneBrian Brumley, tour leader and dive instructor, with JimmyMe and Leanne Brumley

    The People

    May 11, 2017 in Vanuatu ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    A good bunch of people. The other 2 ladies don't dive but are here on holiday with their hubbies. The Brumleys know old friends of ours, the Murrie's who used to live on Flinders but now live in Hamilton.
    We're all getting on well    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordVanuatu Dive holiday May 2017Traveler

    The Abyss @ 30.6 m

    May 12, 2017 in Vanuatu ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    This was classed as a deep dive and our second Advanced course dive. Any dive over 18 metres is classed as a deep dive and shouldn't be done unless you have the advanced ticket. You shouldn't go below 40 metres , 30 metres is the recommended maximum deep depth as further than that and you are more readily susceptible to nitrogen narcosis. The colours have pretty well leached out by that depth too, plus run out of air very quickly.
    This dive, The Abyss, starts as as 6 metre reef with a steep drop off to 50 metres. We only go to 30 metres for 10 minutes maximum or air down to 100 bars, whichever happens first. As promised the colours get really dull down deep. It was a pretty dive with lots of different corals and sponges and fish. I get my bouyancy right and Brian is very happy with my dive. I feel confident    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordVanuatu Dive holiday May 2017Traveler
    ChrisJimmyWindowsJimmy on the throne

    Aloara wreck or "Rising Sun" wreck 26m

    May 12, 2017 in Vanuatu ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    Deliberately sunk wreck, resting on it's starboard side and slightly upside down. We weren't allowed to penetrate (go in) as we haven't done a specialty wreck dive course but can go around and over the ship. Apparently there's an airspace inside you can yell into but of course we didn't. There's also a toilet you can sit on (Jimmy). On the swim back to the boat there is a pretty shallow "Coral Garden" where there was pretty corals and lots of colourful fishRead more

  • Maree CrawfordVanuatu Dive holiday May 2017Traveler
    Brian doing the crucifix pose, Ed underneath looking like he's praying

    The Cathedral off Port Vila, Vanuatu

    May 13, 2017 in Vanuatu ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    3rd Advanced cert dive -"boat dive"
    Today we took water taxi again to mainland to get to Port Vila where we go on a boat charter with "Big Blue" dive. It is a bit of a boat ride to get out there with a big swell at the reef we get to. The reef is at the surface but then there is a drop off to 24 metres into "The Cathedral" or chasm you can swim in and out of.
    Here there are a lot more colourful corals and sponges, fan corals, pretty fish in big schools.
    I have been getting a cold over the last couple of days and today it's getting more into my sinus' and ears. Right ear really hurt and squealed 3/4 way down. Didn't do the second dive on that trip. I stayed on the boat but tried a snorkel on the top - it was still pretty but got nibbled by wee jellyfish or something    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordVanuatu Dive holiday May 2017Traveler

    Night dive, 26 degrees, 20 metres

    May 14, 2017 in Vanuatu ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    I didn't do 2 dives today as my ears still hurt a bit but I did do the night night as it was part of our Advanced Course. I was buddied up with Adrian as he was having trouble with his ears too.
    For the night dive we swam off shore doing the introductory dive we did the first day.
    At around 12 metres my R) ear really hurt but it eventually equalised and I was able to get down further. I was surprised I got down to 20 metres in the end. Adrian and I stayed around 12 -20 metres because of our ears but still saw plenty of things in torch light. Adrian had a great strong light we used. I had a torch but it wasn't as bright. There was lots of fish activity and looked different at night and by torch light.
    It was a little freaky at first going into dark water but I felt quite relaxed and kept track of my buddy pretty well. It was a good dive    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordVanuatu Dive holiday May 2017Traveler
    3 Advanced Open Water divers and our instructor, Brian

    We are now Advanced Open Water divers!!!

    May 16, 2017 in Vanuatu ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Navigation Dive ugh!! Our 5th Advanced dive and compulsory component. I stuffed up a couple of times but eventually passed it. What a shocker! We did it around the underwater Post Office just off shore in about 4-5 m.
    Later on had a snorkel which was lovely. It was warm and because it's shallow the colours were very pretty and true.    Read more

  • Maree CrawfordVanuatu Dive holiday May 2017Traveler

    Port Vila town and market

    May 17, 2017 in Vanuatu ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Jimmy hasn't been to Port Vila for a look around as he was sick when the rest of us did it so we pack up early and go into Port Vila for a tourist look. Jimmy is so tall and blonde especially amongst the locals in the market, I can't miss him.
    We spend a few sticky drizzly hours there then get a taxi out to the airport. As is the Vanuatu way, we drop relatives off to their home on the way. We have allowed plenty of time for this and are there a long time before the others come, with our baggage.    Read more

  • Trip end
    May 17, 2017
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