As I said in my previous blog, I was feeling a tad rough from my night out with French Stephen in Adeliade, so I was more than happy that German Rebecca didn't mind driving that morning. Our first port of call was to fill up the van which was nicely decorated on one side with Wallace and Gromit and the Minions from Despicable Me on the other side. While getting fuel I met the nicest guy in Adelaide. He was the cashier of the petrol station. I had just gone in to get a juice and some plasters for my finger when he just asked me randomly where I was going today, to which I responded Port Lincoln, a few comments later he was on google printing directions for us and I couldn't help but think how better the world would be with more people like this friendly character about. So after he gave us the directions we set off on the around eight hour trip to Port Lincoln. The journey wouldn't be helped by the lack of radio and only three cd's Ministry of Sound Annual 507 or whatever one it was, a Bob Marley Collection and a Pink album (not one of her good one's) I don't really mind all three but when they are on repeat time after time they kinda drive you a bit nuts.

After the initial ice breakers with Rebecca it's fair to say conversation dried up and it was apparent we had nothing in common apart from both wanting to head to Perth. Things didn't help either when she gave me a ticking off for driving too fast. (I was within the speed limits) but apparently I should have been going at a more economical fuel rate! She was also less than impressed I didn't know where my hostel was located in Port Lincoln. Eventually we found the hostel and I checked in. I can honestly say the Port Lincoln YHA is one of the best hostels I have ever stayed at. I was greeted by Debi (The owner / manager) who had informed me that I got a free night as I booked the Calypso Shark Cage Dive. She gave me a full tour of the hostel, which was sparkling clean and informed me I better keep it that way. She had a motherly authority you didn't really want to upset. I was put in a room with 5 other people who were doing the cage dive the next day like myself. First I met Claire who was French and had always loved sharks and wanted to do this from an early age, infact she was crazy and wanted to do it without the cage. Then I met her kinda boyfriend (things were difficult as she was heading back to France) His name was Kane, and he was from Melbourne. He had this familiarity about him I couldn't put my finger on right away and then it clicked he reminded me of Paul Rudd from films such as I Love You Man and This Is 40. He was terrified of sharks, had been since a young age and was curious as to whether this would worsen or help his phobia. Plus as most blokes do, he was probably doing it to keep his good lady happy. I got a shower and chilled with a film, surprisingly not Jaws or Shark Attack and got an early night as it was a very early start for the shark dive the next day.

My alarm rudely woke me up at 5.45am. I'm not usually a morning person, but today was different. Adrenaline was pumping and I was about to go face to face with the scariest monster of the sea - The Great White Shark. A taxi picked us up from the hostel and took us to the boat. The boat was full (23 people) so it promised to be a long day. And we began with a short safety briefing on the boat, after that a complimentary breakfast was served, consisting of fruits and ham and cheese pastries. We had a three hour journey to Neptune Island where we would see the sharks so in that time I had a cheeky little nap, and woke up to find Dolphins swimming next to us. Eventually we go to Neptune Island and had another safety briefing this time it was about diving in the cage. I was a little surprised we wouldn't be joined by a more experienced diver and all it was was yourself and three other people from the boat tour. As deckhand James explained the do's and don'ts, he also said we would have to wait for the sharks to make an appearance. The day before it took thirty minutes. But today we got lucky. No sooner as he chucked the bait (Tuna guts) in a shark appeared on the scene immediately. It was time for group 1 to get kitted up and get out there. This was my cue as a member of group one along with two middle aged women Jess and Joanne and an older Aussie guy called Michael. Natasha, the hostess, filmed and interviewed us on the way in and out for the highlights dvd. I was second in the cage after Michael and caught a glimpse of a shark straight away. It wasn't at all scary, just fascinating in a kinda of hypnotic way. We spent 45 minutes down there and got to see two maybe three different Great White Sharks which was awesome. My only issue of the day was that we had no pro photographer in the cage with us, so our pictures were not the best or as I had hoped. We then had to wait while the other five groups did there dive. This was not as boring as it sounds. We were kept feed and watered with free soft drinks, snacks and lunch of salads, cold meats and pasta was served up. It was also fun watching the people in the cage and the sharks jumping for bait and circling the cage. Once everyone had dived, we had all saw 5 different great whites that day either in the water or circling the boat and then we headed back to port via Tiger Island where we saw Sea Lions and had tea - a range of sausage rolls and pies. We eventually got back to shore around 6.30pm.

The shark diving was a staggering $495, but I thought it was great value for money, with free food, free drinks, a free night at the hostel, a taxi to the port and back to the hostel, and also getting to see 5 great white sharks, dolphins and sea lions as well. I'd recommend it to anyone and would do it again in a heartbeat. That night was also quiet, as I had to check out before ten and get picked up by German Rebecca as that would be the start of our road trip to Perth. So I made soup and watched Leon: The Professional and also checked the highlights package of the day and told everyone how great it was.

But it was time to hit the road again so until next time stay safe and take care

Adi

xx