Great Barrier Reef, Green Island Cairns Australia

Ben Southhall (Best Job in the World)

11/11/09 11:13
ben southhall, green island
Having dived a few different places in the world using SCUBA the idea of using the Seawalker system which is on offer here on Green Island didn’t have a load of appeal initially - you know been there done it. Bre and I had the chance to try it out and after a short safety briefing and kit issuing session the boat led us out to the pontoon where it went from the pictures I’d seen these things are a cross between a spaceman’s suit and a diving bell and offer the chance for unqualified divers to explore the underwater marine environment. They’re pretty ungainly suits out of the water weighing in at 42kgs but once they’ve been lowered onto your head and you drop into the ocean all of a sudden it becomes the window to a new environment and a great new experience. The clear perspex bowl gives you 270° visibility and an incredible zoomed-up view of everything around you and without the slightly claustrophobic feeling that a standard diving mask offers. Takes a little bit of getting used to though; if you tilt your head forward the water level raises inside the suit, if you breath hard you can feel the air pressure force bubbles out around you but you can maintain a full conversation…..with no-one but yourself, remember that underwater ‘no-one can hear you scream!”

After 20 minutes exploring the sea floor, the coral reef and the numerous fish which come up to investigate the feeding bottle, the experience had won me over - this gives people without dive certification, maybe without the intention of ever diving, the chance to experience something very unique and different to snorkeling. It’s a real opportunity to see the ocean floor close up.

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