I found Nemo

Trip Start Aug 22, 2008
1
9
Trip End Sep 16, 2008


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Flag of Australia  , Queensland,
Sunday, September 14, 2008

There was no let down during my final day spent in Queensland.  Ever since I had left Australia in 2004 I had always been upset with myself for not making the effort to get to see the Great Barrier Reef.  On Thursday, I made amends in a very big way.  I took a boat trip out to the outer reef where I was able to complete my first SCUBA dive ever.  After I got comfortable with the breathing we dove to a depth of around 15 meters.  The scenery was absolutely spectacular to say the least.  I saw sea turtles, sting rays, and hundreds of types of fish including Clownfish like Nemo.  There really is a whole different world down there, and the fish come right up and touch you. 

A common theme throughout the trip is the fact that you absolutely never know who you're going to meet, and my Reef adventure was no exception.  My dive partner was a girl who was on a trip with her husband from Berlin.  When I asked her about not having a German accent she replied that she was born and raised in the US.  When I dug deeper I came to learn that she was from the outskirts of Pittsburgh and a fellow Nittany Lion alum.  They were incredibly nice people and after our dives we shared a few Aussie Beers together.  

I have made it to Sydney now, and it's fantastic catching up with my old friends.  I can't believe it's almost Tuesday and time to head home.

"The ocean is a desert with its life underground
And a perfect disguise above"  -- America
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