26 - Thursday 16th October 2014. Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

Hello from the middle of the ocean on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, I am about to embark upon a 3 day diving trip with pro dive.

About a year ago, dad and I set ourselves a goal, it was to learn to do something we had never done before, we wanted to learn to scuba dive together. We took up classes every Wednesday night, we studied the book, we had the classes, we practiced in the pool and we took the exams, both practical and theory. The exam was in the freezing cold lake in Cambridge, exhausting as it was we loved it and we were now fully qualified PADI divers.

We set off at 5:30am on the 16th for our 3 day live on bored adventure, we bordered the boat and from then onwards the action began, although fantastic the trip was really intense and full on. We completed 11 dives over the 3 days including two night dives and a few very early morning ones as well. As we are both certified divers we were able to take ourselves off independently and just dive the two of us, this made the experience fantastic as the smaller group you dive in the more fish you see. Dad and I enjoyed the morning dives the most, because although at 6am you don't really fancy putting on the wet suit, we found the water was at it's clearest and the fish tended to be in bigger schools at the earlier hours. Over the course of the dives our confidence increased and we just tended to see more and more sea life. We were lucky enough to see, turtles, parrot fish, star fish, sting rays, clams, sharks, GTs, shrimp, nemos and so many other fish which I can't name, it honestly was mind blowing.

After diving 3 times during the day we were also given the chance to do a night dive, on these dives the dive master explained this give you the opportunity to see bigger fish during the feeding hours and bigger sharks which come to the reef to feed at night. With this information although slightly scared I was so excited it was sometching we had to do. It was incredible, dad and I saw massive sharks 6f long and very fat looking, I thought I would be more scared than I was, but the gracefully movements they make almost put you at ease, even if the sea is dark and your vision is not at it's best. That dive was probably the best of my life, the size of the fish at night was incredible and the great travellie (GTS) looked fierce and evil. I'm not sure I can describe the night dive and give it justice in words, but that night I saw the under world of the ocean in a less friendly was and it's something myself and dad will never forget.

We met a great group of people on the dive boat and although a little scary the drama of a German lad getting stung by a jelly fish and was air lifted by helicopter to hospital in cairns was great excitement. Luckily he was okay in the end!

I will never forget my time diving on the barrier a reef and it's certainly something I can tick off my bucket list, but to learn to dive with my dad and then dive the barrier a reef together was a dream come true! Thanks dad it was a blast and unforgettable experience. Australia you never let me down, it was incredible!!!