Open Water Dive - Ocean Dive 4 - 24/3/13

Dive Site Details
Dive Company: Makin' Bubbles with Al
Location: "The Hole" Cudgen Creek, Kingscliff
Visibility: ~1-1.5m
Temp: Surface 25 degC / Bottom 23 degC
Depth: 5m
Bottom Time: 12mins
Pressure Group: Starting B/ SI 15min /Ending E

Description
Same site, Same day, and degrading visibility.

Dive
Finished off Remaining skills... "Certified!" I ticked off all my skills over the first 3 dives so this dive was basically fall in and enjoy completing my course. Unfortunately visibility and current were against us and we only had a very short dive but a certified dive non-the-less! Felt really good to complete the course, and I am definitely looking forward to next weeks Easter Long weekend up at the Manta Lodge @ North Stradbroke Island. From what I hear the visibility will be jaw dropping for me, coming from my little creek out into the ocean. Can't Wait!

Open Water Dive - Ocean Dive 3 - 24/3/13

Dive Site Details
Dive Company: Makin' Bubbles with Al
Location: "The Hole" Cudgen Creek, Kingscliff
Visibility: ~1-2m
Temp: Surface 25 degC / Bottom 23 degC
Depth: 8.9m
Bottom Time: 20mins
Pressure Group: Starting / SI /Ending B

Description
Same site, Different day, and marginal improvement to visibility. A little cooler too, which was nice.

Dive
Visibility was better today, could actually see some life down there! used my new Oceanic Geo 2 dive computer on this dive so was able to play around with some settings and get used to it. Will add an update and review on this later. Today was the big skill day, namely the CESA (Controlled Emergency Safety Ascent). Actually not that scary, just don't blow out all your air at once! To do this we went a little deeper to nearly 9m, I had some slight sinus issues so went nice and slow, Breath in deeply a few times and ascend to the surface in one breath, exhaling all the way. Finished the dive by completing all my surface skills like the "Tired diver Tank Tow" and removing gear on the surface.

Open Water Dive - Ocean Dive 2 - 23/3/13

Dive Site Details
Dive Company: Makin' Bubbles with Al
Location: "The Hole" Cudgen Creek, Kingscliff
Visibility: ~1m
Temp: Surface 26 degC / Bottom 25 degC
Depth: 5m
Bottom Time: 40mins
Pressure Group: Starting B, SI 15mins, Ending L

Description
Same site, Same day, only 15mins interval and no improvement to visibility.

Dive
Cruised through my skills, all done first go. Viz didn't improve but I was mostly in the shallows. Needed a slow descent as had some blocked sinus issues. Instructors words ringing in my ear "Early and often!" I set off with some underwater navigation. Given the visibility I quickly realise the importance of underwater navigation! considering I can barely see my compass, let alone the number on the dial or the North sign! I repeat this skill a number of times as I really want to get it nailed. After the dive I also work on my dive log and calculating my pressure groups.

Open Water Dive - Ocean Dive 1 - 23/3/13

Dive Site Details
Dive Company: Makin' Bubbles with Al
Location: "The Hole" Cudgen Creek, Kingscliff
Visibility: ~1m
Temp: Surface 26 degC / Bottom 25 degC
Depth: 5.6m
Bottom Time: 20mins
Pressure Group: B

Description
My first open water ocean dive... in a creek, with only 1m vis. Well, they say you should learn in the worst conditions to appreciate the better conditions. Dive site was only 8m deep max but that was plenty of room to do most of my skills. Very cloudy visibility due to some back currents swirling around and the bottom mainly consisted of fine sand so didn't see much in the way of aquatic life.

Dive
The first dive today was fairly simple, just fall in, blow some bubbles and get yourself used to your gear and breathing underwater again. Keeping very close to my instructor, otherwise I wouldn't have even been able to see him, even with his custom fluro-coloured wetsuit, we swam around for about 15 mins and surfaced to do a short de-brief and then work on some skills.