The evening before you dive

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Perfect diving is all about feeling amazing... that being said, I need to know exactly how you like your coffee. Deluxe Dive works with Sparrow (Allures Beans) in Byron Bay. This will be our first stop in the morning tomorrow! Your favourites will be waiting for you.
Your Instructor encourages you and your group to have a beautiful meal and try to keep your margarita consumption below fiesta levels... big day tomorrow!

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In the morning

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It’s go time! Your Instructor will be outside your accommodation at 6am. I know what you’re thinking (at least you’re not hot air ballooning - they start at 4am!). Onto the Deluxe Dive Jeep and straight to your coffee stop, Sparrow Byron. Next, we drive out to Brunswick Harbour. During the 20min drive, Jason will be chatting with you about what marine animals we will expect to encounter. Julian Rocks Marine Reserve is ranked high in the top ten dive sites of Australia, it’s a lot like visiting Jurassic Park!

 

 

At the harbour

 

Meet your captain, Rod Grey. This man is pure salt. Driving dive boats for over 30 years, Rod is the most experienced dive skipper in Byron Bay. With over 30 years of experience as a coxswain and as a diver/ freediver in the Byron Bay area, Rod knows the bay like very few others. Rod taught me to freedive, scuba dive back in the day and is the safest waterman I have met.

 

You are in the best hands ever.

 

While we stow your gear, I will be laying out some warm croissants and danish pastries from Byron's famous bakery The Bread Social. If Sparrows coffee was to ever get married, it would be to this Bakery. Your Spirits at this point should be alive times ten!

 

 

We cast off. The journey to the Rock

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Sunrise on the Brunswick River is magical! Take photos, be in the moment, reflect on how life has brought you to this point and be present to your adventure. As the Bay Warrior eases out of the river mouth into the Ocean, we are immediately on the lookout for dolphins and in the season Humpback Whales! The passage to Julian Rocks can be as fast as 15 minutes but with a pod of Humpbacks playing meters away From the boat, it’s hard to hurry. We often see them guiding and teaching tiny little calfs...you will be a part of this precious moment for ever.

 

 

Arriving at the Rock

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Excitement and nerves are mounting. I remember my first ever Dive here and I was awash with every emotion. Knowing you are in the most steady and safest hands ever should help make you feel very very good. Rod will choose the most perfect Dive Site to give us optimum conditions on the boat and under the water. Once moored a quick talk about the environment here and a short dive briefing for you all by your Instructor.

 

Then, it’s time to DIVE!

 

Jason will take the first pair and help you into your Scuba Gear. For the rest of your group, it time to Snorkel, Rod will assist you into your gear and be acting as lookout for you whilst you enjoy the underwater world.

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Your first scuba dive

 

Relax and breath... that’s your job, the rest is I take care of! Your Instructor will talk you through the very basic rules of scuba that you learned about in the PADI Discover Scuba Diving online learning.
 

Then we will practice 4 very easy skills before we launch:
• How to clear a little water out of your mask
• How to clear a little water out of your scuba regulator (mouthpiece)
• How to equalise your ears
• How to recover your regulator if you need to

 

These are easy and fun. Once you’ve got the hang of this we will float on the surface holding the thick mooring line and one at a time Jason will get you to practise each of these again this time just below the surface (don’t worry, I’ll be right there holding onto you).

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Descending into paradise at Julian Rocks

 

The beauty of the PADI Discovery Dive is it is so easy. Your instructor will gently control your descent underwater. This will be gradual and allow you plenty of time to get used to the new sensation of weightlessness - like astronauts! Once at a nice depth, we will make our way over to a patch of empty sand... knee down, breath, take it in and realise how incredible the experience is. A few moments here and all trepidations and concern vanish, you begin to see the marine life all around you. Clown fish in anemones, turtles, the life at Julien Rocks is so diverse and so busy, it is beautiful. Now you are at home, Jason will adjust your buoyancy so you are weightless again and take you on a tour of the Rock. Once more we move at your speed, pausing as your Instructor reveals hidden and camouflaged creatures, always with an eye to the Blue for spectacular Manta Rays. Jason will be checking your air usage often and when we ready will let you know it’s time to make our way back to the surface and Boat.
 

The Accent is gentle and controlled. On the surface you float, let Rod know you are okay and we can start to talk about our adventure! On board, it’s time for a mineral water and some fresh fruit, your turn to snorkel now or just relax, while I take the next two of your group on their adventure underwater.

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A picnic at Sea

 

My grandfather was a Safari Guide and Tracker in East Africa in the 1950’s. He taught me the magic of bringing the very finest, most exquisite things into the wildest of places. Believe me, eating a meal prepared by the best chefs in Byron Bay, using the very best seasonal produce, afloat above pristine corals... between bites, you look up at a lagoon blue sky, watch a commotion of fish below you... food will have never tasted as good and you’ll need it as we have more diving ahead. Over this amazing food we will discuss what happen on your first dives, what you saw and anything you felt you needed to change.

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Your second dive

 

After your first Scuba Dive, it’s probably been very hard to think about anything else, finally it’s Dive Time!
Weather and conditions depending, Rod will move the Boat to a second dive site and safety moor up. The first pair get ready, the rest of the group and once more snorkel or bask in the sun. Having been through the dive prep already, things will be easier and more streamlined, all under the watchful eye of your Instructor. This time we simply enter the water, float, make our way to the anchor rope and your Instructor will help you both begin your descent, he will control your buoyancy all the way down.
This second dive is all about making the most of experiencing the underwater world. You will be lead very calmly on a tour, with Jason pointing out each different marine animal you encounter. Like my Grandfather, who lead Safari Groups through the wildest parts of East Africa, you never know what we may encounter. This is real adventure, unscripted, raw and the source of stories you’ll be reliving
for the rest of your lives.

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Up anchor and a glorious ride home

 

One unique thing about Byron Bay being the most Easterly Point of Australia is that the Sunsets happen over the land. Whilst on the land this isn’t so special but when at Sea, powering back to Harbour directly into the setting sun will be a picture in your mind forever... it’s beautiful. Once more, we’ll look for whales and dolphins on our trip back from the Rock, but now you’ll be seeing them through very different eyes. Now you have a real sense of their world and a real connection that so few other humans on the plant have. Diving changes people. Diving opens your imagination, your perspective and leaves you calmer, bigger and happier. To assist with these deep reflection on your achievement and membership too a very elite group, I alway find Champagne helps! Toast yourself with an exquisite part of a distant Country.
Raise a glass of Champagne to the end of this day and the beginning of many more.

 

 

Mandatory washing of the boat

 

Once docked, as guests you get to clean the boat! You can’t imagine the fun until
its experienced... a taste of your Instructors bad sense of humour! You don’t have
to wash the boat - it’s ghastly!

 

 

Back to base

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The feeling you get after a days diving it hard to describe, I’ll just let you find out. It’s good and it leaves you buoyant... On the way home in the Deluxe Dive Jeep, we can discuss your day, your thoughts and Jason can give you insight into your next step in terms of diving again. More pressingly, Jason can recommend the best restaurants and bars for young your family to celebrate!
From this point your Instructor will always be available for any future Scuba Diving needs. If you would like to complete your PADI Open Water Scuba Diver Certification, conduct more Discovery Dives here or anywhere, call me. Deluxe Dive Customers are for life and Jason is at your service Nationally and Internationally, as required. It’s a small world but a big ocean, I would love to assist you, your friends and family in the future.

Let’s Dive!

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