WOW! After sorting out paper work at the dive gaff, we were shown to what was to be our accommodation for the night. It was LUXURY! It was a converted flat above the shop that was all brand new and that had just been decked out in wooden floorboards, new kitchen, dining room, swish lounge with tv and a fancy dorm with brand new huge bunk beds in them. Certainly not we were used to... What was even better, was that there was only Becki and I and two other guys in the flat. We were able to cook a decent dinner in a kitchen where we didn't have to fight for the next clean pan or chopping board and then were able to lounge around in front of the tv in our pj's (that's just my pants in my case) on sofa's that didnt smell all musty. I could get used to this!! An early start in the morning, as it was the day for doing the SS.Yongala Wreck Dive.

Breaky was laid out for us in the morning (definitely get used to this!) and then we went downstairs to get our wet suit and other dive equipment prepaired. The big rib sat out on the drive way and was kitted up with all our stuff before it got towed down towards the beach by a tractor. After we'd established which side of the wreck we'd be diving first and discussed what we were looking for, it was time to grab our lift down to the beach.

This dive was the first one where Id been launched from the beach - usually we just get a boat from the marina - but not this time. We pulled up on a long, open, sandy beach and just by looking out to sea, we could see that it was certainly going to be a choppy ride! Still on the beach, we boarded the boat and then the tractor pushed us down the ramp and into the sea. We were off.....

The journey out, actaully wasn't that bad. We raced through the waves, crashing up and down and got drenched - but it was great fun! It wasn't until we were about 20 minutes out when I realised that the land behind us had vanished into the distance - we were out in the middle of a shipping lane in the middle of nowhere. That itself was slightly unsettling!

We arrived at the dive site and began getting kitted up. On the horizon, we could see a storm coming - the black clouds were gathering and they appeared to be heading straight for us. Now we were anchored, we were just rolling in the waves. The waves were getting bigger and bigger and so as you can imagine, I was pleased to hear that I was in the first group and was about to get in the water at that point. We were given hoods for this dive - something else I haven't used before - but because the stingers are out at the moment, they suggested we wear them to protect our necks and faces from them. So - I pulled up my hood, donned the mask and after my buddy checks, was ready to go. Becki and I rolled off the side of the boat and were in the water....Becki totally panicked!!! and I had lost my mask. Luckily, Jamie, one of the other divers managed to get my mask and we made our way around to the other side of the boat where the line was.

Easier said than done - with massive waves rolling around and me guzzling what seemed like gallons of salty water, it was a while before I'd got my mask sorted out and Becki had calmed down from her minor panick session!! All was ok though and we were ready to go....

Through the murky water, I suddenly saw the wreck at the bottom of the sea. It was amazing. Although the hull side (where we first dived) was quite like a wall I'd see before - covered in coral and fish, it was when we swam around to the upper deck that you could really see that it was a wreck. Although it sank in 1911 in a storm, killing all 114 people on board, toilets and the bath still remained in place in the lower decks, which we were able to peer through and see. The masts still sit, propping up the ship and all around it are hundreds of species of fish, sea snakes, rays, turtles and coral. Unfortunately, we weren't able to actually swim inside the wreck as it is still classed as a grave site. We did however, peer over one of the ledges and have a 'femur' leg bone pointed out to us. Quite spooky to see down there!

On the way up from the first dive, on our safety stop, we saw a sting ray - it was more of a manta though - absolutely huge! Quality to see gliding beneath me.....but glad to be safe in the knowledge that I was far enough away to avoid another Steve Urwin incident!!

We got back to the surface and although the storm had now passed over, it was still really choppy and pulling ourselves along the line back to the boat was a mission and a half. Getting on board was even more difficult. Pulling yourself up metal steps in choppy seas is one thing - but doing it with an air tank on your back is another ball game. Within 5 minutes of being back up for our break, nearly everyone was chundering over the side of the boat!! The waves were huge and I was certainly starting to feel the effects of them. Thinking that making myself sick would ease the situation - WRONG! This was the catalyst for plent more chundering sessions!!

The second time, it seemed easier to get in and out. We had a great dive - the instructor took his camera down with us and managed to get some great shots.

So after the second dive we came back up and unfortunately, the journey home saw some more chunderchops!! Again, I managed to lose the contents of my stomach which was nothing by this time!. We were all quite glad to get back on the beach and into the back of the 4x4 for our lift home.

Once back, we changed and then washed all the equipment down. It was then time for the BBQ! Our second Oz 'barbie'! YUMMY!

We were all shattered after that, but sadly, we couldn't go and lounge around up in the nice flat...it was time to go back to reality and Becki and I got a lift to 'Ayr Backpackers' with Jamie who was heading in that direction. We said our goodbyes and then hauled all our stuff through the doors of the hostel. It now looks like there are about 4 of us travelling, rather than just 2 - the amount of stuff we now have - rucksacks, daysacks, foodbags, diving eqipment (Mine) etc - there's loads of it!

Ayr Backpackers was to be our home for the next two weeks. We were glad to be welcomed by Donna, the lady who runs it and Becki was told that she had work the next Sunday - a day off to relax and then straight into it for her. We went to our room, that actually seems to be the best room in the house as there's no one else in there yet, and then headed for the tv room. That evening, we met Matt and Tegan - an English couple that turned out to be from Broadstone and New Milton - and even more randomly, Matt actually lived with Becki's ex, a fella called Dan for a while.....spooky!

We had a few drinks and then headed to bed. The two weeks of working were about to begin!!....

Bye for now

Miffy x x x