Liveaboard Life: Three Days, Ten Dives, and a Whole Lot of Breathing Practice

Let’s get one thing straight—when they said 

 was an incredible liveaboard, they weren’t lying. But did they warn me I’d be having a personal crisis about my air consumption on day one? No, they did not.

(Left to Right, Front to Back-ish) Janet, Carrie, Noah, Me!, Michael, Emil, Sascha (open shirt), Peter, Heidi, Richard, Lily, Emmanuel, Joel, Aurelio, and Yeung (YTC).

Day 1: Equalization Issues and the Midnight Waterfall

 on the bus and had a gut feeling we'd be put together. Turns out, I was right. He’s Swiss, speaks at least four languages, and is effortlessly cool. Meanwhile, I spent the first dive burning through air like a leaky balloon. 

(Our first night, I knocked over my water bottle from the top bunk—nothing like a surprise waterfall to kick things off. Joel took it in stride, while I spent the rest of the trip obsessively checking my water bottle lid.)

Heidi and Richard from Alberta. (Europeans and Canadians outnumbered Americans on board, so we could make fun of the Gulf of America)

Dive two? Equalization issues. Visibility? Meh. Confidence? Waning. But Chinami, the Zen Master of Buoyancy, was there, effortlessly floating like she was one with the ocean. I, on the other hand, was more like a malfunctioning submarine.

 waving to some coral... (More likely to Anton, who generously gave me his underwater photos)

Day 2: The Day I Stopped Sucking (as Much)

 were fine, but I was still flailing. Then, Anton saved my dive career by switching me to a larger steel tank—more air, less panic. Suddenly, things started clicking.

Lily powered through her Advanced Open Water course—even after four dives and a storm-induced nausea—while Joel aced his Nitrox course. Noah passed his AOW too!

 I spotted it first, and knowing Sascha (our German photographer) was behind me, I held position—no flailing, no wild exhalations of panic. The cuttlefish hung around just long enough for Sascha to get the shot… and right as he did, a reef shark cruised by in the background. Cinematic perfection. Was it skill? No. Was it luck? 100%. Did I take full credit? Absolutely. (Did I remember to ask Sascha for a copy... no, no I did not.)

Cutlefish image courtesy of Yeung's semi broken go pro (one day I'll get my own camera)

Sascha and Rob throwing underwater gang signs

Just as I was finally pumped for the night dive… Mother Nature pulled the plug. A storm rolled in, canceling our plans. Fingers crossed Kim was safe back in 

That night after listening to Maddie's shark presentation, we had a visit from a nurse Shark - dinner and a show!

Day 3: Where Have These Skills Been All My Life?

 I was finally feeling good. Even Yeung and Maddie noticed—"You're doing great, and you’re smiling, too!" Which was fair. Up until now, most of my “smiling” had been me trying not to inhale seawater.

By Wonderland, I was relaxed enough to enjoy the dive instead of just surviving it. I watched Michael (German, 100+ dives, effortlessly cool) move through the water like a pro. One day, I too shall be as chill as Michael.

Then, the final dive. Maddie took us to a hidden pinnacle. I swam through a shimmering wall of tiny silver fish, ascending into the light where Maddie hovered above. Pure magic. Weightless. Effortless. A perfect end to the trip.

Final Thoughts (aka: When Can I Do This Again?)

 A great mix of solid dive buddies from all over the world, I tried to talk to as many as I could.

(Left to Right, Front to Back-ish) Janet, Carrie, Noah, Me!, Michael, Emil, Sascha (open shirt), Peter, Heidi, Richard, Lily, Emmanuel, Joel, Aurelio, and Yeung (YTC).. (Not Pictured, on the DL: Meg, Sarah & JJ)

Besides Joel (Switzerland, my multilingual roommate) there was Lily (American lawyer), Sascha (German photographer), and Michael & Noah (a father-son duo from Germany). I also had conversations with Peter (Toronto/Cozumel), Carrie (Hawaii/Connecticut), Richard & Heidi (Alberta), and Sara (plus JJ—though I only ever saw JJ playing video games during safety meetings!)

My final night conversation with YTC (Hong Kong) and Aurelio (Italy and they met in Japan) was a highlight—deep talks about SCUBA, family, relationships, and life. A perfect way to wrap up an unforgettable trip.

Shoutout to the Crew—Because They Made It All Happen

 brought the reef to life with her passion and knowledge. The dive instructors—

(our excitable blonde guy from Ottawa who only wated to point out microscopic undersea creatures)—were fantastic.

kept us well-fed, and the entire crew made us feel at home. By the last night, it felt less like a trip and more like the best kind of summer camp.

If you're looking for world-class diving with an incredible crew, this is it. Three days of constant diving really does improve your skills. The question is—how long before I revert back to Day-One Air-Guzzler Mode? Gonna have to try some dives in Thailand to find out.

Great Barrier Reef SCUBA Liveaboard