Magnetic Island has to be my favourite place we've been too! It's so beautiful and relaxed, and just feels like paradise really. We got the very early bus from Airlie where it was pouring with rain. So we were a bit soggy as we had to walk to the bus station. We got dropped off in Townsville before catching the ferry over to the Island. I still wasn't feeling well and being back on water did not ease my tummy... It wasn't a long journey though, we hopped on the Island bus when we arrived and finally got to the hostel. Bungalow Bay YHA was very cool. You had little huts in amongst all the trees and wildlife, making you feel very at one with nature. The only downside being the ENORMOUS ants crawling around, even caught some in our beds. Eek! The hostel has it's own wildlife park attached as well which is super cool. Unfortunately, due to how I was feeling we didn't do much the first day. We had a little walk down to Horseshoe Bay and an early dinner before I had to go to bed.

Our diving course started the next day, I was feeling a little better but still not 100% which was annoying. We got there just after 8 in the morning and had a few hours of theory to do. The fun bit started in the afternoon when we got to go into the pool and start learning some key skills. I couldn't believe how heavy the actual scuba kit was, plus the extra weight they put on you so you can actually sink! It was more challenging than we had anticipated and quite scary. It's so different breathing underwater and you feel quite chlostrophobic. We did well as a group in getting through the first day, even finishing early. There were two guys in our group, Erick and Bos, who were very friendly and easy to get along with. We were surprisingly tired after our first day! We stopped by the supermarket for dinner and then headed back to the hostel to freshen up. We made some food a little later and got down to our homework we had to do. By 10 o clock we were wiped and called it a day.

Day two of diving definitely got harder. We spent the morning doing some more theory and pool skills before we headed out to the ocean to do our first proper dive. I think we were all a bit nervous as we didn't know what to expect. The visibility underneath was horrific! We couldn't even see each other underwater when we were next to each other. Our instructor, Jason (a really cool guy!), made us all hold on to a rope so we didn't get lost as we wouldn't be able to find each other again. We did some surface water skills and underwater skills. And some bits of swimming below. It was a shame not to be able to see anything and did make the experience a lot scarier! I guess you felt quite vulnerable submerged underwater not being able to see! After our diving day we did the same as the evening before. We finished all the studying we had to do for the course and did a bit of revision in preparation for our exam in the morning. Sleep beckoned!

Our final day and we'd find out if we'd passed the course. Jason said it would be hard for us not too but you never know! We did the exam first thing in the morning and all passed that with flying colours! I was top student with 46/50 :) Then we had our two final dives and skills to complete. We went to Alma Bay for the first one (we'd been at Geoffrey the day before) and the waves were very strong. Once we managed to get out far enough we descended to the bottom. Here was where I had a little incident... Experienced the drowning sensation which is probably the worst thing I've ever been through. Whilst completing a full flooded mask skill a big surge pushed me almost over and I inhaled through my nose way too much sea water. I then couldn't get rid of the water due to the air regulator so began having a coughing fit and not able to take on any air. Jason managed to clear my mask so I couldn't take in any more water via my nose which allowed me to breathe again. It took a few minutes to recover, all happening underwater where we still couldn't see cause of the poor visibility, and at one point I did genuinely fear that I wouldn't be able to catch my breath. It definitely made me very nervous and I was a bit scared to complete the second dive back at Geoffrey as we had a mask removal skill to do there. I'd already done all these skills before with no problem but I now started doubting myself. Thankfully the waves weren't as strong in the second bay so it was easier to maintain balance on the bottom. We got to do some navigating as well which was interesting when you couldn't see and then the mask removal (the bit I was dreading!). But it all went fine without problems. Just worked myself up about it when I didn't need to. We all got out and Jason told us we'd all passed so we were very pleased and proud of ourselves. Especially with the water conditions we'd had to learn in. It was a beautiful day, the sun had come out for us, and we relaxed on the green feeling pretty exhausted afterwards. We treated ourselves to a nice dinner and then all had some celebratory drinks in the evening! Much needed but we found it also put us to sleep. We stayed up as long as our bodies would allow before we had to retire for the evening.

We got to have a little lie in the next morning before checking out of the hostel. I've applied for the receptionist job there which I'm desperately hoping to get. Frustratingly got an email as soon as I got off the ferry asking me to come talk to them at reception! So I've called and explained I can be back in a couple of days. Just waiting to hear back from the boss whether this is okay or not. I really hope so as I love it there and I love the Island! All fingers and toes crossed for me :) we grabbed some lunch in Townsville before getting the bus. We are off to Cairns for our last stop of the trip before going our separate ways which is scary! I will then be all alone in Australia fending for myself! Yikes. Been here over a month now too and it's flown by, but at the same time feels like I've been gone forever. Got some fun filled days lined up with trips to the rainforest and the waterfalls so will definitely make the most of our last few days!

Till next time :)