Mount Isa & Devils Marbles

BEWARE: Oversize LOAD.. Indeed it is super oversize..

After the expensive diving trip in Cairns, we are now heading to another World Heritage site of Australia, the Uluru (aka Ayers Rock). From Cairns, we drive south to Townsville and took the ‘Overlanders Way’ route to Tennant Creek (Northern Territory) which is 1550kms long. We didn't stop and look around the small towns as we go pass but we stopped for overnights at Hughenden and Mount Isa before passing the border of Queensland and Northern Territory (NT) at Carnooweal. We actually not noticed that we actually in NORTHERN TERRITORY already untill we see the speed limit signpost changed to 130 km/hr..

Too bored driving? Try this!

Lookout at Mount Isa

Kuala Lumpur is just 4820 km from us now, this just right to describe our homesick feeling that KL is so close to our heart even the distance is that far.

Mount Isa, the last big city before crossing the border to NT.

After getting our food supplies from Mount Isa, we continue our long drive the next morning towards Tennant Creek. There is a quarantine station at Carnooweal but there were no officers on duty when we pass through. There are quarantine restrictions into the territory but they don't seemed to be bothered. 

Devils Marbles*****, near Tennant Creek. 

This is the first place we stop for a picture after the border of Northern Territory (NT). Really interesting rock formations, many huge red boulders just scattered around this area. Now we are so looking forward to see the ULURU... 

This one looks like an egg! P&A trying super powers to break this huge EGGie... LOL

Open Water Course@Great Barrier Reef day 2

moonset

Early morning, the moon setting while the sun wakes up and shine the world! Isn't it amazing where you can watch the moon set on one side and the sun rise on the other? 

That gorgeous moon actually waked Peter up at the early morning around 6 something and Peter just grabbed his nikon and straight out to the dive deck. Not diving but taking picture :)

Sunrise

We had our 3rd and fourth training dives with Ethan today. Overall it wasn't really that difficult to pass the open water course. Eventually we got our diving license at our third dive underwater! We did the mask skill and the videographer was with us all the time to record us doing skills and presented with our license. Phew~~~ $700 is not wasted then! But poor Brett who came from London, couldn't equalize his ears from 2nd dive onwards. Cannot equalize means you cannot go any deeper when your ear hurts, so he didn't get the license. And he actually paid for an advanced course, which might be around $100 more. He might be able to redo the course again at least... Good luck to him..

Group photo time! 

So since we passed and got our license, we will do the rest of the few dives on our own, paired with a buddy. So P&A will dive together on our own! It is much better when we do it on our own, without the need to practice skills, just us underwater looking at the beautiful corals, turtles, touching the giant clam, watching the christmas tree worm retract into their burrows when we touch it... =P It is so beautiful and relaxing. At all times we have to look at the air tank and it's time to go back up..

Christmas tree worm

Briggs Reef

sunset

Almost time for night dive!!! Crazy EXCITING!!

The night dive is really interesting; we followed a guide and went in a group. We hold a torch light in our hands. At night, it is a different world altogether. The bigger Red Bass hunting for small fish, turtle sleeping under the rocks, reef shark swimming around swiftly... So exciting! When we saw the turtles sleeping, we cannot shine the torch at them because it will interrupt their sleeping as they only sleep 4 hours a day. Then all of us cover the torch with our hands, so it went dark all of a sudden. But there are still light from the Moon. Cool...

Then Joel caught a pufferfish in his hands, the poor fish bloated up immediately smaller than the size of a basketball. Joel then shone his torch into the fish's belly, which makes it looked like a lantern! How cute... LOL....

This night dive is an experience we never thought to have before~ It feels just amazing to explore the reefs at night and the whole atmosphere just feels so mysterious and exciting. 

Our diving license!

NEXT: Last day @ GBR

Open Water Course@Great Barrier Reef day 1

Great sunrise to start off our day!

It's the third day of our dive course, a whole new excitement where we will be on board doing our first 2 dives at the sea today. We took the day boat, ReefKist (about 2 hours) to reach the Kangaroo Explorer liveaboard boat. 

Kangaroo Explorer II (photo from Balz)

It's a big boat and we were allocated a private double cabin. Yay :) So excited!!! Before our first dive, we ate lunch. Taking food considerably (which is unusual when it comes to self serve) because we don't want to feel bloated underwater :p

The servery

Lunch

The diving equipments...

Dive Deck

Before any dive, we have to do a buddy check which can be remembered by BWRAF (Ethan's version of this buddy check is Beer, Wine, Rum, Aaah FUN! LOL... First, Beer: Is the BC. Check if it inflates and deflates alright. Wine: Weights. Check if the weight belt is worned, secured and strap arranged so that diver can release it with right hand. Rum: Release, check the velcro waist band and shoulder straps, also familiarize with buddy's BC releases. Aaah: Air, open the air tank then close the tank a quarter turn. Test operation of primary and secondary regulators, both buddy should breathe comfortably and the air pressure gauge should not drop, while ensuring the air is fresh & dry. Fun: Final Check, ensure hoses are clipped to the diver neatly and correct configuration. (This is just a summary for our own reference =))

Well, our first dive is a disaster. Ethan said it was the worst dive he ever conducted. We just follow the rope down to 18metres (the max depth open divers can go), equalizing our pressure every 1/2feet. Then we had to practice our neutral buoyancy, trying to stay at balance without floating up. But then few of us floated up without realizing.. Which is terrible because we have to ascend real slowly, at 9metres per minute so that the nitrogen in our body can be released. If not, we might have decompression sickness. So then Ethan had to cancel the dive because everyone seemed blur and one of us don't have enough air. Gosh.....

Second dive was better, and we saw two turtles! Got the chance to scratch the turtle's back, oh they will just stay there and let you scratch! How cute, they enjoy the spa treatment by human, scratching off all the algae from its back =)

Enjoying the Moore Reef view and sunset after two dives...

Beautiful sunset, right on the horizon...

After the sunset, we watch the moon rise =)

.

Dinner time!

A beautiful day. Experiencing real diving in the sea for the first time. It was really exciting but scary at first. But after the first time, we got on really well. And it is actually easier than snorkeling since we'll not be drifted by the strong currents. Just when we ascend back to the surface and swim back to the boat exhaust us. But normally when diving, we will first swim against the current to see the reef and follow the current back to the boat so we'll not be so tired.

NEXT: 2nd Day @ Great Barrier Reef

Cairns Open Water Diving Course: Pool Training

Training pool

We attended the first day course at CDC training centre, our instructor is a funny guy, Ethan. He made diving sounds so easy. 2 important things that we have to remember during diving which is easier than crossing the road (which means easier than looking left and right). But if you don't do it, like if you don't look left and right while crossing the road, you will be hit by a car. So the two important thing is : Breath and ascend slowly. Hmm..

The first day is always very exciting and scary. There are 9 in the class and all of us pass the diving medical checkup. If you didn't pass this stage, CDC will refund the course fee (the whole amount if not mistaken). Then the second stage, we must be able to swim 200 metres and float freely for 10mins. If fail, we would only get 75% refund. Both of us pass the test too! Although we had to struggle a bit since 'exercise=stamina' is a long forgotten habit for us :p

The classroom. We watch few videos on the tv then proceed for pool training for the first two days.

Second day, we practice some skills like air share. When your buddy is out of air, you have to pass the second stage to him then ascend back to the surface. Also, learned how to clear water in the snorkel mask which is actually quite easy. Just tilt your head up a little, then holding on to the upper rim of the mask, use your thumbs to lift the lower rim a little and blow using your nose. Then the water will come out easily. The nervous part of this is to remove the snorkel mask underwater and putting it back. Sounds easy but you can't open your eyes (which results the nervous part) and putting the strap back is difficult, then you forgot to breathe through your mouth then you panic and choke! 

NEXT: Diving @ Great Barrier Reef

Cape Tribulation to Mossman Gorge

Next morning, we went to the Kuilki Rainforest walk to see sunrise from Cape Tribulation. The best place to view sunrise is the beach of Cape Tribulation.

 Waiting for Mr Sunny

Oops... Has the sun risen?

Still waiting patiently

Looks like sunrise has just happen!!

Finally~~ What a long wait for the sunrise...

Myall Beach, accessible from the camping ground 

Other activities beside walking and viewing are paying money for horse riding, tropical fruit tasting tour, kayaking, and river cruising.

Cute sand formation during low tide....

The world heritage rainforest in the background and great barrier reef out in the sea... (cannot see from here lar..)

Another walking track in daintree, Marrdja Botanical Walk. This walk allows good view of the mangrove trees and bird observation.

Strangled....

View from inside... Cool...

Mangrove roots...

Basket fern

Mangroves are very important to the river estuaries as they able to filter the salt or sea water into sweet, riverine water. Such amazing to know that tree has huge contribution to the environment.

Thornton Beach

After Daintree, a short drive back to Mossman we stopped at Mossman Gorge for a swim! The river is so clear and greenish in colour...

Two ways to get into Mossman Gorge World Heritage area is to take the shuttle bus from the information center or to walk because vehicles are not allowed in the reserve. We walked, took about 30mins so that we don't have to pay $4.80 per person =P

Not a really good decision to swim in this river, because it is so COLD!!! But this gorge is worth the walk, very relaxing. After the quick swim, we drive back to Cairns.

Back at Cairns, we found a cheaper caravan to stay in Cairns, with power for only $26 at Sunland Leisure Caravan Park. Comparing with Cairns Holiday Park ($34 for unpowered during peak season), it is so much cheaper. The only problem might be the security around this suburb, just don’t wander around at night. Else it’s all good.