Snorkelling!

Finally the day dawned on my ‘special’ birthday. I lay in bed and heard what sounded like cockatoos squawking. It took a while before I remembered where I was. Then it hit me, I was finally in Cairns, a few hours away from catching a catamaran to go snorkelling.

To most people that would sound like great fun and very exciting. But I’m not like most people! I hear you ask what problem or concern I could have had! What could possibly be intimidating or frightening about such an exiting trip in the warm sunshine looking at amazing coloured fish swimming around beautiful coral reefs!

Well, for a start, I’d never snorkelled. My husband had been given a snorkel by our son for his birthday. He had practised in their swimming pool. Bringing it with him to Australia he had snorkelled in my sister’s swimming pool as well. Happy that he had mastered the art he, together with the rest of my family who had all snorkelled before, had been counting down the days.

Initially I had decided that, because it was my birthday, I could do what I liked. Snorkelling was never something on my bucket list. However, I did imagine lazing in the sun on a deck chair as the boat sailed lazily along an aquamarine sea. Dolphins would periodically leap out of the water, getting their fix of oxygen and apparently they also find it fun!

We had all flown to Cairns two days before and spent the second day in a cable car swaying gently over and deep into the world’s oldest continually surviving rain forest. It was spectacular! After having lunch at a little village inn we made our way to the station and caught a steam train back down through the forest. All very relaxing but, at the back of my mind, the next day’s challenge had never been far away, niggling in the background.

I had to make a decision. I bought ear plugs as historically I struggled with water in my ears. That was the first step towards making a decision. I hadn’t swum for years. I loved the sea, it’s strength and beauty, but held it in a very healthy respect.

I didn’t sleep that night. My thoughts ranged from slow death by drowning to being saved in the nick of time but left with life changing injuries. There weren’t any positive alternatives feeding into my pessimistic, overactive brain. The next morning I woke up feeling exhausted!

I crept downstairs to hear excited chatter about the day ahead. I felt even worse. I used my limited acting skills to pretend that I had slept well and was ready to embrace the day. Surely, I silently asked myself, I had the right to chose what I wanted to do to celebrate this very depressing birthday. If I didn’t go snorkelling I could either face up to the disappointment shown by some members of my family or displeasure voiced by others. I was left with no choice. I had to bite the bullet and join them.

I packed my bag, did my hair and painted my face. I tidied the room and made the bed. It was time to go. I put my bag in the boot with the other bags and climbed into the car. I didn’t join in any banter. I remember hearing somewhere that drowning was the best way to die. Apparently it’s painless. At least that was something!

We boarded the catamaran. I had a cup of tea and a biscuit. I listened to the instructors and watched as they explained how to use the snorkel. As a lamb led to slaughter I accepted my fate and made my way to the back of the boat. I was given a wet suit, a life jacket (because I had never previously snorkelled), snorkels, goggles and a pair of flippers.

The wet suit was a ‘one size fits all’, cold and damp. Not sure how clean it was but, by that stage, I had passed caring! I actually felt strangely calm. An instructor checked that I was ready to be let loose into the Pacific Ocean and pointed to the back of the boat.

I feel sorry for ducks! It’s incredibly difficult walking in flippers! It’s even harder trying to navigate steps! I eventually fell off the platform and into the sea. A wave caught me and flung me away from the boat and into a swimmer, head down, oblivious to my presence.

I gingerly lowered my face into the water. A shoal of small zebra fish shot past. Automatically breathing through my mouth I slowly propelled myself forward. At first I did breaststroke with my arms and kicked frantically with my feet. It was hard work I but moved away from the boat and closer to a coral bank. It was only when I realised that I could keep afloat and was still a strong swimmer that I relaxed. With my head down, arms at my side and gently moving my legs up and down, I marvelled at the wonderful sights visible only to snorkellers or scuba divers.

The Great Barrier Reef is home to a multitude of fish and coral species. Shoals of beautiful, brightly coloured fish in varying sizes swam beneath me. There are over 450 types of coral and I feasted my eyes on some amazing specimens. At our introductory meeting we were told that, where we were going, sharks were rare and we’d be lucky if we saw one. Luck would not have been the word I’d have used!

So, as you can see, I survived the trip. I did two swims that day. I had leapt right out of my box and, even though I’ll probably never go snorkelling again, am glad that I did! Besides having swollen lips from folding them around the mouthpiece and very stiff calves, I marvelled at sights I could never have imagined. I was relieved when the day was over and we all sat around a table eating wonderful seafood and drinking delicious wine! Now that’s my way of celebrating! 👠