Unfortunately our morning dive was the deep one, meaning that we missed sunrise on the reef which when the most creatures are out. It did mean that we were able to go down to 90 feet. None of us got very narced (which is when too much nitrogen builds up in your system and you feel kind of drunk), but we did feel a bit slower. I've really enjoyed our instructor, Gerry, who is ~60, a retired investment banker, and British with that somewhat cynical dry British wit. He and Jason played off each other and I think he enjoys us. Matt (another instructor) gets frustrated with Jason because he's always late with his tank gauge readings (which have to be recorded). Gerry seems to find the whole thing amusing.

Most of the people on the ship are from around the world-Switzerland, Germany, U.S., etc., and aren't Australians. Everyone is white. The most interesting are Yve who is a German reporter/journalist who laughs a lot, and Catherine who is Canadian but has taught in Japan for the past six years and is considering becoming a dive instructor.

Our last dive of the trip is at 9:30 AM. All 40 of us got dropped off at the same spot which was overcrowded, but the place was beautiful. We did see a gorgeous turtle swimming up a cavern into the sunlight-just like from a postcard. After the dive we spent several hours chilling on the boat, some in the sun, some downstairs. Jason spent a great deal of time talking to the captain about where to go in the rainforest.

By the afternoon we were back in Airlie Beach, a place none of us were particularly fond of. When Queensland tried to introduce a law to end alcohol sales at 5 AM, the Airlie merchants got upset because they were afraid it would lose its party image. We chilled, repacked, and slept. I developed an ear infection and went to bed very early.