On way back down to Cairns we stopped off at a place called 'Mossmans Gorge' which was a nice setting with some rockpools etc flowing down some rapids. Once back in Cairns we treated ourselves to a Mcdonalds for Dinner (living the life of luxury here!!) and then went for a few beers in PJ O'Briens (Irish Pub, surprise surprise!). Slept in Esplandae car park only to be woken up by a tap on window in morning by council parking inspector telling us we cannot sleep here. Was doing quite a handsome job of it prior to you waking me I thought to myself but packed up car and moved off. Headed into town the following day and booked up a package deal of activities. This included a Skydive tomorrow, 3 days on a live aboard diving boat a couple days later (2 days for Andy to do academics for his Open Water), then 2 nights 2 days on a Whitsunday Sailing Boat and 3 days 2 nights on Fraser Island doing a group self drive jeep trip across it!!! After booking this up we had planned to go to a small waterpark nearby however Mcluvin decided he did not want to start!! Uh-Oh first problem with the motor was encountered!!! After pushing him about and trying again and again no joy. Luckily a car hire place was over the road and we borrowed some jump leads from them. We then proceeded to await the return of one of the drivers from the neghbouring cars so we could jump start the car. Eventually a lady turned up in her 4x4 and was very helpful in getting the car back into motion. Luckily the jump start worked and the road trip could continue (for the time being). Found a deserted car park that evening which is where we parked the car for next few nights sleeping in Cairns.

Next morning was early start and we headed to travel agents where Skydive bus was going to pick us up at 7am. Three hour drive down towards mission beach where we would be undertaking the jump onto. Really quick turnaround when got there with safety briefing etc before knew it we were in plane heading up to 14,000ft!!!!! Myself and my skydiver Pierre were first ones out the door and we were soon falling through the air at break neck speeds (fortunatley though this did not occur!). Totally awesome views of Barrier Reef and beach below together with neighboring Dunk Island. Had a go on the ropes of the parachute to steer it once deployed and thouroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Spent next couple hours chilling out on Mission Beach awaiting the next two plane loads of skydivers.

Next couple days I had time to laze about as Andy was completing the academics for his Open Water course and I therefore spent the day catching up with e-mails etc before heading in afternoon to pub. Met couple people in here got chatting to and later on in evening met Joe who I had met in the Masons (my local in Thailand)!!!!! Caught up with him and decided the neaxt day we would head to Palm Cove beach since Andy still had another day of academics. Met Joe about Midday and headed to Palm Cove, really posh looking beach resort which clearly looks more aimed towards holidaymakers then backpackers and I think the prices will reflect this. Had a walk along beach and look around before heading back and spening rest of afternoon sleeping at Cairns Esplanade.

Had early night that night ready for yet another early start tomorrow (not liking this having to get up at specific times!!!). Met at shop at 6.20am and got minibus out to harbour where we boarded the ProDive boat. We were allocated our rooms and completed paperwork. Rooms were small but for us this was luxury (not sleeping in back of car after all and there were mattresses and everything..........) Whilst completing paperwork encountered a problem when I stated about my Diabetes. The crew then stated they needed to see medical certificate. (I had questioned about this prior to booking on and was told since certified diver no issue, yeah right!!). Gave details of dive school in Thailand together with my dive instructors mobile number. To be fair crew and skipper (Ben) were really helpful and did want to get me diving. They got hold of Thailand dive school and were told it would be faxed over. Missed first dive as a result, however for second and thrid dives of day I went down with Dive Supervisor Oscar on basis form was being faxed so was just happy to be diving to be honest. Ended up being good dives as well since Oscar knew areas well and we ended up seeing a White Tip Reef Shark which was fantastic. Also got to do the night dive that evening since it would be guided by Timmo so did this. First night dive and little surreal but good fun for an alternative outlook on it I guess.......
Next morning got wake up call at 6.30am and were in water diving by 7.30am. Had confirmation that paperwork had been received so I was ok to be diving with another certified buddy now. Buddied up with a girl from Dundee called Rachel and enjoyed the three dives of the day followed by our unguided nightdive. We started to get a bit of a reputation on board as being the Navigation Rejects as we kept ending up in wrong places and getting lost and not seeing some of the things other guys saw, haha, oh well we were enjoying ourselves all the same!!. Next morning was an even earlier wake up call at 5.45am for our final 3 dives before heading back to Cairns. First dive we started off following the navigation instructions spot on and ended up seeing the fish and areas we were told about. It was only when we tried to head back to boat we got totally lost (we did think we were going right way) and ended up on the other side of the boat!!! Can only assume we swam too far back. Anyway Oscar came out on the dinghy to pick us up and tow us via the rope on back, back to boat. He then proceeded to question how his instructions got us where we did........ All crew and other people on board did seem to be humored by this and on next dive Ben offered us the boats GPS system to find our way!!!!! Oh well we both said we thought that was our favourite dive, so whatever!!!! Next dive was easy one and got back to boat and on last dive Andy also joined us after completing his Open Water together with going on and doing his advanced. We dived same sort of area and got to see another shark........AWESOME. Once back on boat the crew began to panic when looking at record sheet and realised there was a diver missing. Crew were almost ready to undertake a serch but then he surfaced. Turns out he could not find a buddy so went on his own and decided to follow a couple other divers only to lose them after five or so mins. He was a newly cert diver and the crew went nuts when he surfaced saying he was an idiot and thats the stupidest thing he could've of done, fair play I think everyone else on boat was thinking the same!!!!
That evening we all headed out for food and beers and had a real good time getting pretty drunk. After 3 days on a boat together had met some great people and exchanged contacts etc to try and meet up with people down the coast. Really did enjoy this trip and has to be highlight of Oz so far although still relatively young into it, so watch this space, plenty more action to come!!!