From the Trainee Lwayne Boslem 16/03/2006

Hey guys

Well the trip started when I left Ingham at 1:40pm and I tell you what it was the most boringest trip I've been on because I arrived at Mackay at 10:40 that night which is about an eight and a half hour trip. These two nice gentlemen named Nick and Ini picked me up from the bus stop and took me to the SV Pelican which stands for Sailing Vessel Pelican and they showed me around. In the morning I had to do some theory and practical on scuba diving because if you don't already know, I'm getting my open water scuba license and also a Coxswain Certificate which allows you to skipper any boat up to 12 metres in length. I had to go to the Mackay swimming pool first thing on Wednesday morning to learn some techniques before I can get into the ocean water which I passed. On Wednesday at around 5:30 pm we started heading out of the marina to the big sea, it was bloody rough.

Today, which is Thursday, we visited three reefs but only the marine biologists went down on the first two which they study the coral bleaching. On the third site, which is 19-131(Block Reef), I went down for my first open water scuba dive. It was awesome. I seen all kinds of fish like the famous coral trout, cod, parrot fish and a lot more colourful fish. My first depth which was 12 metres down went well because you have to go tough procedures to go down that far because you could severely injure yourself, like your ears, you have to go down slowly and also the same procedure when you're going to the top again because the nitrogen bubbles expand too quickly and clogs your arteries.

We have thirteen people on board, four females and nine males. The cook (Jayne) makes lovely food of all sorts which I enjoy. Well I'm going now, we are about to leave for the next destination.

Ps. If there is any questions you would like to ask feel free to send me some, not to many, and I hope Mrs. Gossner is treating you alright. Bye

Yours faithfully, Lwayne Boslem