-- Spoilsport, Saturday, January 4, 2003 --

Dive #17 - Scuba Zoo, South Flinder's Reef (entire group, in at once)

I wonder if the "zoo" refers to the frenzy of 30 or so gray reef sharks, or if it refers to the 25 or so tourist hanging onto shark cages? :) Teddy greeted us on the ocean floor; he was outfitted in a full scuba kit, and was sitting on the center of the photographers' shark cage. A large trash can full of meat was dragged around while gray reef sharks chased it, trying to get to the food inside. When the food was actually released after twenty minutes of throwing the trash can around, the sharks went berserk, tearing repeatedly at the steel chain the bait was tied to. It was almost impossible to get a photo of a shark without artificial human things in the frame, so I didn't shoot very much. Afterwards, everyone converged on the feeding site to look for shark teeth (including Teddy!).

Teddy, ready to watch a shark feed at Scuba Zoo

Teddy, Elana, and Walt, at Scuba Zoo

Will, surrounded by a diver audience at Scuba Zoo

Gray whaler sharks, at Scuba Zoo

Paul, in the shark cage, at Scuba Zoo

Shark feeding frenzy, at Scuba Zoo

Humans wedged into a shark cage, Scuba Zoo

The real `zoo` at Scuba Zoo (looking for shark teeth)

Gavin and Teddy enjoy Scuba Zoo

21:45 - At 5pm, we were dropped off at a tiny sand island ("Flinder's Sand Cay") out here in South Flinder's Reef to enjoy dry land and to have some champagne at sunset. Marie filmed everyone saying "goodbye," which felt a bit strange because we are only half-way into the trip. The island was beautiful, with clean white sand and two species of boobies on it. Turtles are also known to lay their eggs there. We spent about an hour on the island and then returned to the boat to have a traditional Australian barbecue, which was delicious! Seasoned prawns, steak, chicken, fish, calamari, potatoes, salad, corn, garlic bread, and an Aussie dessert called "Pavlova." "It's named after a ballet dancer," says Marie.

Oh! I almost forgot. We played a little game before dinner. Members of the crew matched up against the "rest of the world" (our team consisted of Wess, Amie, Teri, Ib, and me); the game consisted of clenching a coin in our buttocks and releasing it from a slightly raised platform into a metal bucket on the ground below. After a few tie-breakers, the "rest of the world" won! Malcolm broke the tie. We were very proud of him. :)

Due to changing weather conditions, we're steaming to Yongala wreck one day early. It's a nine-hour steam, and we're already underway.

22:40 - We are more than 200km away from a large light source, and the view of the night sky is tremendous. The rocking motion of the boat makes the sky look like it is gently swaying back and forth, and the powdery sprinkle of the milky way is clearly visible. I can only imagine what it would be like to see a meteor shower from here.

[next - yongala wreck]