The day with all the fish

Day.... something...

I'm getting used to the outrageously early starts. I think its something to do with religion, or culture, or having a non-student body clock, but my cousins love to start their day before noon.

Crawling off the mattress in the living room into my 'day clothes' we went off to Sydney Aquarium (they love their water things over here). The amount of animals they cram in there is fantastic, fish as far as the eyes wanted to see. In truth, there are only so many 'nemo's and 'dorey's you can find before it gets tiresome though... although, i've decided, i want to dive on the great barrier reef within a few years... it just... needs to be done.

As well as the Disney animated characters, there were freshwater, and saltwater aligators (i'll revel in that photo)... and seals, and of course, the sharks, Irwin killing rays (sorry if thats in bad taste!) and other nasties that everyone pays to see...

From Sydney aquarium, I embarked on a mad rush on the public transport system (which is just as simple as London's... albeit with the additional fun of ferrys and 'jet cats'.... onto my next adventure.

Diving with sharks

Oceanworld Manly was the place, quite a small aquarium with a donut shaped main tank. From my hazy memory, 8 full sized sharks (around 3-4 meters), 2 giant turtles, 2 giant rays (barbs still attached and able, as i was reassuringly informed) and a bunch of other random fish that were not 'that' interesting.

As i've never dived/done anything particularly sub-subterranean, the website informed me i'd go through an hour long scuba skills session... as it transpired, we put all the kit on, ensured i'd be able to breath, take away the oxgen thing...!!!!! and put it back, spat in my goggles, and underwater i went. Whilst running through the 'ok' signal underwater in the swimming pool, or training pool, i noticed something behind the guy's back... naturally it was a baby shark, about a meter big... i dont know if he noticed i was distracted slightly... but training continued. Turns out, scuba aint hard, so we went on into the main tank after approx 8minutes of messing around at the bottom of the training pool.

Walking under water with lead weights strapped to your back makes you walk more ridiculously than any amount of vodka red-bull ever will. Trying to stand up... impossible. Apparently, I was told by my instructor, its like walking on the moon.... go figure. Anyway, superman diving across the perspex viewing window (big cylindrical thing that people walk through, the tank is all around/above them) i landed in shark territory.

The rest is just... well, its on a dvd again, only 3mins long, those who want it, give me a shout and i'll show you it. The sharks are huge, 4m as it turns out, when it culminates in rows and rows of sharp teeth and beady eyes, is quite intimidating. The eyes... obviously.

Anyway, I ended up with a lil souvenir, I got a shark tooth. Now again, hazy memory, I either plucked it from the jaws of an onrushing shark, struggling valiantly and overcoming said beastie. Or. I rummaged around and picked it up from the floor. Either way. I have a shark tooth =D

Then we all went and got burgers.

Much love as always.

Stay safe!

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