Lady Elliot - Day 1

OK, so we arrived at approx 8:50 and we were taken into a compulsory safety briefing - don’t walk across the runway if a plane is using it, don’t step on any of these things as they will kill you, don’t leave your food unattended as the birds will eat it, don’t walk on any coral and, if you walk around the beaches at night, don’t flash torches around as you will disturb the turtles who are coming up to nest - WHAT? We paid for a turtle spectacle yesterday and we can get one for free today? Oh, by the way, please complete this medical questionnaire and sign this disclaimer to say we have told you not to tread on any of these things ... and did we mention the sharks? Anyway, we have 30 hours in paradise, what to do?

Lady Elliot Island, home of the Manta Rays” - exactly why we were there, to dive with the mantas. Straight to the dive centre. Bear in mind we can walk around the island in less than an hour, so nowhere is very far from anywhere.

We were asked if we’d like to participate in a refresher session in the pool at 10:00? We’d done one in Swindon before we left, but I don’t think I can get enough refreshing, so yes please. Where’s our luggage with our swimwear? In the arrivals lounge ... well that room there called the arrivals lounge. Completed the refresher, need something to eat before we go diving. We didn’t have long so needed to balance the need to be hydrated and to have eaten, with not having eaten so that we sink like a brick, get cramp and be sick - although I’m reliably told that scuba breathing regulators do allow you to be sick through them without cutting off the air. This also attracts lots of fish 🐠- oh joy. We shared some pumpkin salad and the best triple cooked sweet potato chips Bun has ever eaten.

Back to the dive centre, dress up in a full, black wetsuit in 34C, it’s hot. Carry the kit to the trailer, get into the carriage and off.

The group of about 14 divers were split between the two dive instructors. The dive was disappointing because, unfortunately, the mantas were not “at home”. Fortunately, the other group who dived at a slightly different location didn’t see them either. We saw a number of turtles, a shark, lots of other stuff, but no mantas.

Back to the dive centre, wash off the kit. Check in, off to room for a shower, then a walk. We have to be at the lighthouse beach to watch the sun go down at 5:30. Then off for dinner, then off for a guided nature trail. Then a walk around the island to see if we can spot a turtle. Is this what they call a holiday? No peace for the wicked. Czytaj więcej