Hi all,
I promised petunias and fish a trip report once we returned to Canada. Although our diving didn't happen in the time period of this thread I hope I will be forgiven.
Acanthurus and I had the pleasure of being guided and hosted by petunias and fish at Bare Island on the 10th of November. What a wonderful dive site in the heart of such a big city. Lucky indeed. We had such a great time meeting them and getting the royal treatment for acanthurus's first salt dives. Nick from Sydney Scuba was there as well and his sharp eyes dug up some small goodies for us to gaze at. Seahorses, nudis and the like.
After a couple of days seeing the sights of Sydney we were off to Cairns to hook up with the Taka. We were booked on the 5d4n on the 14th bound for Coral Sea and Osprey reef. We did 14 more dives over the trip and were treated to many sights in the clear tropical water. Steve's Bommie is a must see for everyone. Very concentrated area with critters of every description. The Taka treated us well and we thought they provide a great product for their price. We have both posted in other threads relating our experience with them.
And then for something completely different we headed south to Tassie on the 24th. We then dove with the great folks at the Eaglehawk dive center near Port Arthur. It was good for me to get in some dives with the familiarity of the cold water and the kelp forest. Very much like our home turf near Vancouver, Puget sound and the straits around Vancouver Island. This was something completely new for Acanthurus but she enjoyed it immensely, especially with the seal visit she got. Little bugger must have seen the camera in my hand for it never announced its presence to me. Figures..
This trip was also my first attempt at underwater photography. Ben, the videographer on the Taka (from Scubapix) was most helpful with critique and tips for my picture taking. I concentrated mostly on wide angle style shots rather than hunting for critters and on some dives didn't take the camera at all. There was just too much to look at and I just didn't want to be distracted so much. I did take a few...well a couple of hundred OK
Here's a few:
Acanthurus also upgraded her diving edjamacation and participated in an Advanced course.
Here she is doing a bouyancy exercise.
and here she is with her instructor happy to find the boat after the navigation exercises 
But the best part of the whole trip was experiencing the "over the top" hospitality of all of the Aussie folks we met. Hats off to ya all for making our holiday so pleasant and showing us the great things you have down under.
I promised petunias and fish a trip report once we returned to Canada. Although our diving didn't happen in the time period of this thread I hope I will be forgiven.
Acanthurus and I had the pleasure of being guided and hosted by petunias and fish at Bare Island on the 10th of November. What a wonderful dive site in the heart of such a big city. Lucky indeed. We had such a great time meeting them and getting the royal treatment for acanthurus's first salt dives. Nick from Sydney Scuba was there as well and his sharp eyes dug up some small goodies for us to gaze at. Seahorses, nudis and the like.
After a couple of days seeing the sights of Sydney we were off to Cairns to hook up with the Taka. We were booked on the 5d4n on the 14th bound for Coral Sea and Osprey reef. We did 14 more dives over the trip and were treated to many sights in the clear tropical water. Steve's Bommie is a must see for everyone. Very concentrated area with critters of every description. The Taka treated us well and we thought they provide a great product for their price. We have both posted in other threads relating our experience with them.
And then for something completely different we headed south to Tassie on the 24th. We then dove with the great folks at the Eaglehawk dive center near Port Arthur. It was good for me to get in some dives with the familiarity of the cold water and the kelp forest. Very much like our home turf near Vancouver, Puget sound and the straits around Vancouver Island. This was something completely new for Acanthurus but she enjoyed it immensely, especially with the seal visit she got. Little bugger must have seen the camera in my hand for it never announced its presence to me. Figures..
This trip was also my first attempt at underwater photography. Ben, the videographer on the Taka (from Scubapix) was most helpful with critique and tips for my picture taking. I concentrated mostly on wide angle style shots rather than hunting for critters and on some dives didn't take the camera at all. There was just too much to look at and I just didn't want to be distracted so much. I did take a few...well a couple of hundred OK
Here's a few: Acanthurus also upgraded her diving edjamacation and participated in an Advanced course.
Here she is doing a bouyancy exercise.
and here she is with her instructor happy to find the boat after the navigation exercises But the best part of the whole trip was experiencing the "over the top" hospitality of all of the Aussie folks we met. Hats off to ya all for making our holiday so pleasant and showing us the great things you have down under.
now take a bow you have some stunning shots there
humph! I may not be able to spell but I have been professionally trained to inflict pain stimuli 
He lifted the blade and came back and removed the pile for me
