The theory lecture for the Buoyancy & Trim Skill Development Course (SDC) was given by our visiting National Instructor Sophie over the Australia Day long weekend at Straddie. As some of the more experienced divers had completed the practical component of the SDC at Manta Bommie, the originally proposed two waves of diving for the practical component on the following Saturday were reduced to a single wave. Although that meant an early start for Brisbanites making the trek to Mooloolaba for an 8 am meeting, it turned out to be serendipitous, as by the end of the second dive, the current was picking up and the surface conditions were ‘lumpy’.

Following an outline of the practical aspects of the course and a SEEDS brief by Sophie, Steve of SubSurface Scuba took us out on his vessel ‘Jim Carey’. For those of you who haven’t been on the Jim Carey before, it is most definitely a wet boat! By the time we arrived at the dive site, I actually looked as if I’d already been diving.

After about a 30-minute trip, we were at the dive site ‘Fairyland’. Once the boat was anchored, Gavin’s specially prepared shot line with markers at fixed points along its length was deployed. The first exercise was to maintain a horizontal position at 6 metres for 3 minutes. It was then down to about 12 metres to maintain a horizontal position for 3 minutes. Then came the fun exercises to check trim, including turning on to our backs like a dead turtle and hoping we didn’t sink, sitting cross-legged mid-water a la Buddha and hoping to maintain an upright position, and a backwards somersault. Then it was the buoyancy checks at 12, 9, 6 and 5 metres with all eyes focussed on the labelled markers on the shot line. By the time we got to 5 metres, the current was definitely making its presence felt.

Having covered all the practical requirements, the second dive was a pleasure dive, which was just as well, as buoyancy and trim exercises would have been hard work in the current.

Back on land it was on to Tim’s unit for lunch prepared by Laura and Mark, with a view of King’s Beach.

Fairyland is a good site to go back to, there is a coral garden at about 13 metres, and a wall that drops away to a sandy bottom.

Thank you to Hannah and Gavin for organising, and to Sophie for taking the course.

Bernadette Hawkins