Today was one of those rare sunny winter days where the Newcastle sun had some heat to it (you have to find the right spot though – you know how it is).
We walked along the break wall, with all our gear wrapped under our arms, making sure we didn’t forget anything.
As we got to the last stretch by the waters edge, we talked through how to go about de-fogging the mask, and how to enter the water so you don’t trip over everything that’s going on.
It was Rod’s first time in the water with a spear in his hand.
The day before, I had thought about where to take him, and was hoping that it would be a fun experience, so that he’d be keen to go ahead. My mind had darted back to when I had learned to spearfish, and how my Dad had taught me.
I also hoped we didn’t happen to see any sharks that day.
Not because they are dangerous, bad, or anything like that. Simply that for someone’s first time, it’s helpful for them to be calm, and while seeing a shark is bound to happen eventually, there’s typically enough going on in the first dive as it is.
We swam out along the rocks, into deeper water.
We passed a few smaller fish. Blackfish, juvenile snapper…
Then suddenly, within two minutes of entering the water, we found ourselves right over an 8 foot grey nurse shark.
I called Rod over, and we just sat still and observed the shark moving gracefully below.
I asked him how he felt after.
Of course, he was fine.
We dove for another 3 hours, got plenty of fish, saw another dozen sharks or so, then came in.
A lot of times we “dread the moment” that something might happen. The first shark sighting, the difficult conversation, the sales call.
We can stall, put things off, or delay.
At the end of the day though, once we open up to experiencing the event as it unfolds, it typically goes better than expected.
