When a new mask comes along, you just know. You know it’s the one. But only after it’s passed a scuba-style Rosie Project of specifications of course! A girl has standards 
Check out my new video on choosing the perfect mask. From finding the perfect fit to determining quality, I hope it helps you out this Summer! Click here!
Dear Melbourne,
I love you. I love your secret streets and bookshops and markets. I love your scarves and boots and beanies. I love your wood fires and red wine and hot chocolates. I hate your water temperature.
Love from Catherine.
For my Aussie followers not safely embraced by Queensland’s warm hugs, here is a rant about Winter, and some ways in which to get through that cold, city shadow, white huff season.
1. Document your travels: Winter is the perfect time to document your adventures in an album. If you fancy a coffee-table-style book, snapfish.com.au is among many who make creating a professional looking album with your photos easy. Alternatively, the more rustic cut and paste style mementos also work well, and you can add your tickets and postcards too to keep everything together. Get creative!
2. Work hard: Now is the time to work hard. If you aren’t chasing Summer around the globe this year, then get busy saving money now, and leave Summer free to spend on diving!
3. Play games: I rarely play console games, but when I do, it is usually during winter. This is because first person adventure games are a fun way to live a fantasy. The graphics these days are also so beautifully realistic that finding ruins and exploring exotic locales is all the more fun. Nerdy, but fun.
4. Discover new activities: The beach has many other activities that can inspire ocean-minded people. I recently discovered that sea-glass is a ‘thing’ (search it on instagram… you’ll be amazed). I set out to find some on the tideline, adamant that I had never seen such a thing, and was gratified by the few smooth colourful treasures that I did find. What’s more interesting is the history that can be attached to said pieces of what is essentially rubbish. Rockpool rambles are another way to get your sea life fix. And supping or kayaking are other ways of keeping dry while getting active.
(Pic: Seaglass finds!)
5. Plan the next trip: Butchers paper – check. Textas – check. Woodfire – check. Big cuppa tea – check. (Okay let’s be honest, it’s a glass of wine and a laptop). Research and PLAN! Reading copious amounts of dive fiction also falls into this category 
6. Eat: Consider your duty this season to eat everything. Taste new things, go out, sample at markets, attempt inspired cooking. Finally, when it comes time to dive, your new extra layer of fat will keep you warm. Especially in Port Phillip Bay…
(Pic: Dream desk, from the new Tomb Raider game. Maps, diaries and coordinates = adventure!)
I don’t quite know how I should feel.
The idea that someone has salvaged a relic, my relic, and that I will never dive on it again, is a strange thought.
The ‘thing’ was rusted metal, fused with rivets and straps creating a three-dimensional work of art, much like a huge olive. if I had wanted to, without my cumbersome gear, I could have fitted inside, like a black lycra bird in a rusted cage. Although the deteriorating metal casing the structure was supporting was quite sharp. It was in less than ten metres of water and was likely wharf or ship debris, a large lantern or buoy perhaps from past times, as it had a large ring at the top as if for hanging it up. My buddy and I came across the ‘thing’ at our favourite site. Having possibly bypassed it many times, we experienced the elation of underwater discovery. More likely though, was that the large seas the week before had unearthed it. We called it our relic.
The shock came when I was walking the dog a couple of years later only a few streets away from the dive site, and saw the ‘thing’. Stark naked and sitting on the manicured front lawn of someone’s house, horridly out of place next to the green snake of a garden hose. Someone had brought it up. Suddenly, after years of coming to terms with a salty caress, it was resigned to live out life as some sort of an awkward garden feature. A talking point for inter-state relatives.
And I understand. I do. It is the same reason people collect shells and rocks and broken china and display them at home. A piece of the past.
Obviously I do not own the relic, I probably didn’t even discover it. But who has the right to say whether something that makes a dive site enjoyable or have meaning is theirs to take? Not to mention the countless ocean plants, and creatures that had set up house on that artificial reef.
It would be like uprooting Sydney and dropping it into the Mariana Trench. Saying, survive that.
But is the ‘thing’ even considered cultural heritage? Or merely rusted rubbish that is better off lifted from the sea which it is contaminating. It is unlikely to be labelled ‘archaeologically significant’, but regardless, now we will probably never know. When most things in this world have been discovered, explored and documented, would someone please let me have just one?
N.b. Having been unable to find any catalogued photos of the ‘thing’, or even its origin, my research continues.
Often during our busy schedules, travel is a special time when reading for pleasure is catered for. There are hammocks and beaches and lazy afternoons just waiting to be filled. I personally love choosing a book to take, knowng that it will soon be dog-eared, wet, bent and loved, and destined to fall across my chest when naps take over. Alternatively, in the depths of Winter I may crave what I like to call the ‘ fantasea’ genre, any book that takes me away to a tropical location filled with diving and adventure. Here are my top 6 Beach Holiday Reads: (Click on the book icon to purchase.)
1. The Beach, Alex Garland.
Seeking perfection in a private community on a secret island location sounds like a dream. Fishing, playing, picking fruit, watching the stars. Yet the idyllic scenario is soon tainted by reality and various groups playing with power. Richard, tourist become traveller, finds himself on the island, at first embraces the wonderful lifestyle of no commitment to reality, but is soon overwhelmed by the lack of boundary and the controlling members of the group who insist on their secrecy at all costs.
2. Savages, Shirley Conran.
A group of corporate wives meet up on a tropical island while their husbands are at a conference there, but on witnessing a shocking attack, are forced to go to ground. With only their rough boat skipper to teach them survival skills in the jungle, the woman hide deep in the forest and must learn to fend for themselves.
3. The Reef, Nora Roberts.
A battle of the wills against two main characters destined to hook up. They find a sword on a treasure dive in the first couple of chapters and spend the rest of the book trying to outwit the baddy/getting rights to wrecks/and having the hots for each other. Simple, oceany goodness.
4. Skinny Dip, Carl Hiaasen.
Skinny Dip is ridiculous. There is only one way to put it. But ridiculous in the best way. Set in the Florida Keys, there are enough psychotic ex-husbands, dopey cronies and sly gators to keep you entertained. One of my rare laugh-out-loud moments was had during this book. It’s appeal is in it’s sunny locale, extravagant characters and, well… it’s ridiculousness.
5. An Embarassment of Mangoes, Ann Vanderhoof.
This Non-Fiction account of one couples sailing trip down to the Caribbean and all that they experience. While beating the hurricane season and living off fresh fish, the book details the lives of ‘cruisers’. If you have ever dreamt of packing up and sailing away, then this is the book for you. Easy holiday reading at it’s best. Also perfect for those dreamy Winter afternoons when sun is a distant memory…
6. Inca Gold, Clive Cussler.
I have included a ‘Dirk Pitt’ novel, not because it is my favourite, but because as the veritable King of dive literature, with over fifty books in his series’, Clive Cussler books get an honourable mention. Dirk Pitt is not his only protagonist, and possibly not the most likable. Sure, he’s tough and sexy and rugged and adventurous. He also dives. And my God I just can’t seem to put the book down! There are other series by Cussler within the same genre, all action, all ocean-faring adventure, and obviously with such a wide range there are many others that may form a personal favourite either due to their location, lead role, or interesting relic of value. Cussler obviously speaks from experience and strong research, making the death-defying escapes from death perhaps the only minor issue in accuracy. Fun dive fiction!
Got more? Comment and share your favourite dive/holiday reads!
Remember that notebook I talked about you getting? Now is the fun part, from here on in it’s all research and narrowing down the perfect location and itinerary for you! Get your multi-coloured pens, magazine cut-outs and graphs ready NOW!
The Weather – The tropics are divided into the wet and dry season, La Nina and El Nino. And no, they aren’t some Spanish travel duo you think you’ve heard of…
Essentially when diving, rain isn’t a problem, though it can dampen (oh snap) your spirits if you were planning on laying in the sun between dives and instead are trapped in a humid cabin while mosquito larvae thrives and prepares to – well you get the idea. Similarly, cyclones are going to make things potentially problematic. Finding out ‘the best time to travel in (insert country here)’ is one of the first entries on your graph. Global warming has made this a little more difficult to determine, and tropical rain is just a thing that happens. Sometimes there is no avoiding it. So embrace it!
The Water – While low water temperatures may not be a deal-breaker, poor visability is. If you have established a diveshop/divesites you are interested in, their website should have a chart listing the monthly temps and viz. From there you can judge the months that will be most suitable to travel in and dive in. Alternatively, divers will review if they have had a great experience somewhere, so take note.
The Tourist Season – School holidays or the best time of year will amp up the prices in some more touristy locations. Avoiding these peak periods will not only enhance your experience with less crowds, but also keep money in your pocket for dives and other adventures! This will be less of a problem off the tourist trail.
The Price – Snoop around before you purchase air tickets. Some sites are guaranteed to find you the best deal, while other flight centres often post great deals that you may blink and are gone. With all these so-called deals though, remember to read the fineprint, as a great ticket price is useless if it doesn’t include baggage.
The Events – If you are planning on things to do other than diving, checking the events schedule for your holiday destination is a must. It will be worth your while if you can correspond with local markets, festivals, shows or events like whale migration, within your timeframe.
Final Thought – It can be so exciting planning a trip, it is one of the lovely things to look forward to when your current holiday is sadly drawing to an end. Keep your little notebook handy, it can be useful to have a wishlist, or travel locations on hold for a later time. For instance if one has worked out to be too expensive yet, wait a while, choose something small and achievable for this trip. Weekenders or even making the effort to drive an extra couple of hours North for a new divesite close to home is still listed as travel in my world! As I said before, take what you can get and make the most of your time and money.
And all that research and information on another place can wait until next time. Then it’s just a matter of getting to tick it off.
Missed the first bit? Click here to read ‘How To Plan A Dive Trip Part I – What Do You Want?’
Hi guys! Sorry I have been AWOL for ages, but this time of year is also known as ‘The time of year when I work heaps to save money for my next trip.’ Yay! Though hospitality is fun, active and full of interesting people, the best part of working is knowing that I am working towards a new adventure! I read a quote somewhere recently that said,
‘Invest in travel. Experiences are worth more than money.’
While I do not endorse a lifestyle of not saving for future endeavours, I do strongly recommend travelling as often as is possible for you. Aim for what you can. Set a goal, and work towards it.
This article will be broken into two. This one will aim to get you to specify what you want out of a dive trip and where to start. The follow-up will include what information is most important to consider before you press ‘buy’ on your plane tickets.
On Packages – My last two trips were diving based, but were both completely different in the way they were booked and also what they entailed.
For instance; Trip One was booked through an agent that specialised in dive packages, and was with a like-minded group. Trip Two was organised by myself and a friend, with only a few dives booked, and plenty of other things to see and/or do.
On Relaxing – Now, depending on your definition of relaxing, either of these dive trips may suit you. Trip One, was all meals, accommodation, laundry etc. included. I just had to be at the dock with my gear ready at the right time. Lots of lolling around between dives and reading trashy novels (like ‘Fifty Shades of I Shamefully Left My Copy at the Resort’).
Trip Two, had very little booked, so if we felt like eggs on toast with baked beans for dinner, we’d have that. If we felt like a day trip to a beach? That. A dive? That. A sleep in? That. A trivia night at the local pub? That.
On Money – You need to have a budget. It’s that simple. Without dwelling on money, the main points of concern are to know what you are working with. Work out exactly how much you have to spend on a trip before even Googling ‘Diving in the Maldives.’
Once that’s done, I prefer to divide it into three categories.
Remember that package deals are essentially an agent, who will need their cut for helping you book. Therefore the cost will be inflated for this service.
On Safety – I strongly urge getting Dive Insurance. For pure piece of mind for you and your buddy. A lot of dive shops will be very safety orientated, but always check yourself what their protocols are, especially in some remote locations. Generally, it can feel safer booking the whole thing, especially dives, though a big company. It can feel more secure to know that someone has done the groundwork and the diveshop is part of a reputable company. But always check these things yourself. Google it, and read reviews. It is a good idea to ask around at your local dive centres, find people who have visited the place you are thinking about going to, and get advice or recommendations. Generally people will love to share their experience, even with a relative stranger. Or even via email if you know of a cousin of a friend of a friend of a friend that might be willing to share info on a destination.
On Other Activities – This is where you ask yourself if you want just dives, or some other activities too. Remember that diving twice a day every day for a week can be exhausting if you aren’t used to it. And also, that some places, (if you intend on ticking off one country at a time) boast other unmissable, and unforgettable experiences that you might kick yourself later if you missed out on.
On Gear – Gear is a toughie. On Trip One I took everything (except weights or tank). This was mandatory. And yes, I felt comfy in my gear, gear that I am used to, fits perfectly, never fails, and never fogs. But some airlines have low weight limits and packing was a strict and meticulous affair. On the trip home the gear was also, how can I put this…. moist.
On Trip Two, I took mask, fins and my wettie. And hired the rest there. As the trip included only a few dives, this was a sacrifice I made (think ill-fittting BCD). These few items also meant that snorkelling could still be enjoyed on other days without the hassle of hiring stuff.
Final Thought – The easiest way to determine what will suit you, is to gather as much information as possible. Both ways can be perfectly apt to plan an enjoyable holiday.
Write lists! Develop the pros and cons of both types of booking plans. And decide which you will personally get the most out of. This may involve compromise if you aren’t travelling alone, but remember that this is your money and your adventure too, so if there is something you feel you will never get the chance to do again, voice it.
Alternatively, talk with a package agent. Some will be happy to include other perks. It’s all a part of their job to develop a package that suits the client. This may include stopovers or other things specific to location. And finally, don’t rush into it! Perhaps invest in a notebook that you can include lots of different information in. A bucket list of many dive places that you can tick off over the course of your divelife. Good planning and timing make all the difference.
(Pic – Magnetic Island Palms, Aus.)
Want more? Next article : ‘How To Plan A Dive Trip Part II – When Is The Wet Season?’
Click here to read!
Danny and I dived for forty minutes that day, and collected rubbish that had been strewn into the sea.
First mission of the day; collect fisherman’s dropped knife. This was essential, in order to avoid any potential Alf Stewart-esque situtions; “I need my knife, ya flamin’ galahs!”
Second challenge; retrieve drunken young man’s deck chair. (Don’t even ask.) And don’t get me started on the bike.
Then we found a wheelie bin. It was somewhat ironic. (Not to mention I got quite a fright from the looming black shape as it appeared.) Not just that, but the rubbish was more natural than I would care to believe. A tiny blue-ringed octopus, perfect in its flashing neon complexity, living in a bottle. Us at a loss to remove its home from the system. The vast quantity of objects borne on tides to gather. Enough lures and fishing line tangled amongst the rocks and weed to stock a tackle shop. I counted on two hands the things that didn’t belong. From things carelessly dropped from the wharf, to things that had no doubt travelled miles on tides and currents. Beer bottle; brick; plastic wrapper; caterpillar treads, to name a few. And some of these things will become a part of the ocean. The bottle is a home. The treads are relics. The brick, artificial reef stock. And creatures adapt.
But not all of the rubbish assimilates in this way. A plastic wrapper looks like a jellyfish. Turtles eat jellyfish.
End of story.
So, there we were, Merimbula Main Beach, hand in hand, watching the dog attempt to dig to China and vying for more attention by trying to get between us. Watching as the peach tones of the sunset fell over the twinkling start-up lights of Pambula. Seeing the colour of the sky turn the sea to a rose hue, while holiday makes made the most of the last light.
What happened next was simply un-Australian.
Someone. Stole. Our. Thongs.
Kidnapped from their safe nest at the top of the path where gravel turns to soft sand, where thongs are designed to be kicked off and added to a colourful melee of cheap rubber. Gone. An assault on the etiquette of coastal living!
So with stubbed toes and gravel indented feet, we hobbled to the car. Incredulous that this could happen! Floored it from the parking lot, driving through Fishpen, necks craning and leering at any couple whose feet vaguely resembled the size of our own. Judgmentally focusing on the occupants of parked Wicked campers. When actually anyone was fair game.
How could this happen? My feet had indented those thongs over years of wear, like a fingerprint! Like memory foam! Only my feet could fit those grooves. A veritable salty-haired, sand-blown Cinderella.
And then, ‘Babe, I don’t mean to alarm you, but we are about to run out of petrol.’ Evidently the day could get worse.
But in a somewhat romantic/apologetic gesture, ‘the man’ bought me a new pair of thongs. But they will never be the same. For they will take years to break in.
So, guard your thongs this Summer, people. Or padlock them to the fence at the top of the beach path. This is not extreme behaviour, as the world is changing, and a good pair of thongs are worth their flimsy weight in gold.
This week we had five inches of rain in a short time on the South Coast. Flash-flooding coursed down the river and by the next day, a slowly creeping swathe of brown water was heading down the coast. Vis turned to zero. Strange debris floated past. It was a divers nightmare, though the big swells made the surfers smile.
(Photo by Tori Davies, Surfers, City Beach, Wollongong, Aus.)
Bananas are banned on boats. For new divers, this can be an embarrassing lesson to learn. Bananas are a healthy snack of choice, so it is all too easy to just chuck one in your pack for later.
But no, imagine the look of fear and horror on my fellow divers’ faces, and the captain – visibly shaking, when I produced my between-dive-snack and began to peel that mother. Then I saw the sign, a little yellow banana with a red line through it, much like a ‘no-smoking’ sign but obviously much more detrimental to your health…
There are many superstitions relating to bananas on boats, dating back centuries. The story told to me (amid frantic headcounts and with darting eyes) was that trade-ships that sunk were left with only the bananas floating in their place. Of these flotillas, the only ones to sink in the storm were the ones with bananas on board.
Further research revealed a more likely scenario, of venomous spiders hiding amongst the banana cargo, which inevitably made their way out of the hold and poisoned the crew by biting them. Yet bananas in any form can anger the Sea Gods. Banana bread, logos on sunscreen (maybe even wearing a yellow outfit with a black hat… who knows?), even saying the word is frowned upon.
These days, bananas can be deemed responsible for many events. Fish going off the bite, seeing a shark, or a random storm whipping up will generally entice the captain to check bags and toss the offending fruit overboard. For them to take this so seriously is testimony to every fiction being based on fact. Though the times of extreme superstitious behaviour has now long passed, no one in ready to change the game. It’s safer that way. I know I now believe in the myth, because when that yellow devil was ripped from my hand that day, the sun went behind a cloud, a cool wind swung from the north, and a bird screeched overhead that sounded like a soul in hell…
