DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA FEB 2025 ISSUE 410

At Osprey reef in the eighties, I was heading back to the dive boat, diving at twenty metres along the wall. I spotted a school of Hammerhead sharks way down below, heading in the opposite direction. Naturally, I descended to get closer. They kept swimming deeper and further from the boat with that familiar swaying from side to side that they do. I was torn between going deeper and further from the boat and my air supply getting lower. All too soon, I decided to navigate my way back to the boat. I did my safety stops while swimming with the compass bearing. The visibility was great. It was calm. After a few minutes, I turned to check that all was clear behind me.

This is a treasured photo of Silver Tip Whaler that came in during a baited shark feed run by Max Benjamin of Walindi Resort in 1989 in Kimbe Bay.

There were three large Silver Tip Whalers following me about nine metres behind. I swam for several minutes toward where the boat should be all the while checking over my shoulder. Nothing changed. The three Silver Tips kept following. I became concerned, to say the least! Time has a curious way of slowing down in these situations. I checked my watch and moved shallower for the next level of my multi-level safety stop. The trio were still there. How far away is that dive boat? Where was that deco shot line? When I saw the hull of the boat it was a great relief. As I gripped the shot line, the three sharks slinked off into the distance. However, I was diving on one of the very early dive computers, The Edge. I knew that I had done plenty of safety stops but The Edge said that I had a “one foot ceiling” That meant that I was not allowed to ascend above one foot of sea water. As I remained faithfully at four to five metres, I noticed that my three friends had returned. They were directly beneath me circling with anticipation. Ten minutes later, The Edge still had the notification One foot Ceiling. I obediently maintained my safety stop. Checking my watch, only fifteen extremely long seconds had elapsed. More safety stops. Checking the watch again. Another twenty-five seconds. Time had stood still. The lure of the safety of the boat was too great and I ascended before my three friends decided to come in closer. The Edge was trying to deal with several days of four dives a day for a total bottom time of 280 minutes This had been one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. www.divelog.net.au

Silver Tip Whaler from Fathers reef Kimbe Bay, Walindi.

DIVE LOG Australasia #410 - February‘25 78