Voluntarily cold...

Since it is low season here in Byron Bay it is quite difficult to get a job. I don’t want to hang on the beach all day or drag myself through town. I need to stay busy, do something, anything. So I started working as a volunteer at one of the dive shops in town. At the Byron Bay Dive Centre to be exact (www.byronbaydivecentre.com.au).

They use a lot of volunteers at the dive shop. Mostly beginning to advanced divers who want to get more experience and are willing to work for just free dives and after a while free accommodation, which is conveniently located above the dive shop.

I had to fill out all the necessary paperwork and read through a ‘crewpack’ as they called it. It stated their philosophy, the way they run their operation and what was expected of me. It looked all very professional and that gave me a reassuring feeling. Back in Curacao I was used to a minimum level of professionalism and service and it seemed that this shop had that as well.

Turns out, it has more to do with liability and health and safety regulations than anything else. There was no proper training or introduction. Just learn as you go. Volunteers that just arrived a week before me had to explain how things worked and what the routine was. Of course that is not a problem and everything went fine, but because of the ‘official’ intake I had somewhat other expectations.

The service towards the costumers, which I expected to be high, was almost non-exciting. Most of the crew ignored them and an explanation about what was the plan for the day was barely given. The skipper gave the dive briefing, which struck me as odd, since the skipper is not in the water with the guests. Maybe this is just how they operate in Australia. Or maybe just this particular dive shop, I have yet to find out. Or perhaps I am corrupted/spoiled by Ocean Encounters and every dive shop I work at after them will seem unorganized and chaotic to me. The atmosphere is great though and the guests didn’t seem to mind. Perhaps it is just my perception that needs some altering.

Byron Bay Dive Centre (BBDC) has three super rhib boats they take out for diving, snorkeling and whale watching. They each hold about 12 people, although the one named Bay Runner can hold up to 20. We took the smaller Cape Runner.

Guests are transported via minivan to the beach. The rest of the crew take the truck with the trailer and are off to launch to boat off the beach.

It was quite the fight to keep the boat in the right direction while waiting for the skipper to return, who had to park the car and trailer. Big waves crash into the stern of the boat just moments after they were ridden by the ever present surfers at ‘The Pass’. A rock outcropping at Cape Byron with a lookout on top to spot whales or watch the surfers.

After everyone was onboard, we races through the surf towards Julian Rocks. A small marine reserve in the middle of the bay in front of Main Beach (http://www.julianrocks.net/). We moored at one of the buoys at the dive site called The Nursery. It lies on the protected leeward side of the rock outcroppings that make up Julian Rocks and is the perfect spot for smaller sea creatures to mature before venturing out into the Pacific Ocean. We quickly slid into our gear and did a back roll into the water. Even though I was wearing a full body 5MM wetsuit the water shocked me a little. It was ‘only’ 20 degrees Celsius and felt cold. The cold aside it did feel real good being in the water again. A bit like I’ve never left it. The dive was led by a German girl called Johanna, which had a striking resemblance to Heidi Klum. So following the dive leader came with ease.

I wasn’t that impressed by the dive site at first. Not a lot of corals, a few sponges scattered over the site and some anemones tucked away in cracks in the rocks. But after a better look, that all changed. Small tropical fish darting in and out nooks and crannies. Clown fish fiercely defending their anemones against dangers only they perceived. Some many Porcupine fish it looked like they were schooling. Big Blue Groper and Black Rock Cod cruising the trenches. Life in abundance.

Till this dive my shark count was stuck sadly at zero. But a quick headcount in the first 10 minutes of the dive changes that to about 25! All species of Wobbegong shark that is found here were present. Hales, Spotted and Ornate Wobbegong sharks (Wobbys) were all over the place. They are also known as carpet sharks, since they lie on the bottom mostly and have lobes on the side of their face which to me looked a bit like a shaggy carpet.

These very docile species aren’t regarded as ‘real’ sharks by most divers and I can relate. But when I wasn’t paying attention and thought to myself how cold I was I saw it. A big grey shadow disappearing behind a rock. I followed it and there she was. A beautiful Grey Nurse Shark about 1,5 meters long. They have that pointy snout and grim scary appearance, but are very docile. Like a big cage fighter that turns out to volunteer at a petting zoo.

It was my first ‘real’ shark and it was an amazing sight. I did not feel scared or anxious at all. The feeling of wonder and respect pushed the cold away for a while and right at the moment the cold was taking over, another one. This time very close. It was coming right at me and passed me in opposite direction just 1 meter away from me. Being next to the animal gave me good indication of how big this shark was. It was about 2 meters long with a fat body and lean face. It was absolutely beautiful.

It was time to back on the boat, but not before we saw a Spotted Eagle ray, Green Turtle and Spiny Lobster. Although the surroundings at Julian Rocks are not that much to look at and the dive site not very big either, there is a lot of cool stuff down there and I did thoroughly enjoy my dive.

I might go down there a few more times, but then it is time to move up north. I was freezing during and after the dive. I appreciate the opportunity to dive here for free while volunteering, but I refuse to be voluntarily cold. I might actually refuse to be cold if I get paid. The Caribbean really messed me up.