There we were, on our first sailing trip through the Whitsundays in Ozzie, looking forward to learn how to scuba dive. We had been taught by the shore how to regulate the pressure of our waistcoats so that we would sink far enough but still control how much we wanted to float, only this time we were falling backwards from our boat into the sea; yay!
As I was concentrating on bending my legs to land on my knees in the shallow water, regulating my waistcoat's pressure and trying not to pass out due to the huge effort breathing through those air pumping machines, I see a hand shaking in front of me. Obviously someone was trying to call my attention, so I look up and what do I see? A massive fish tall to my waist and longer than a pram! Big, black and with a bump on its head;
Did it want to eat me?
Nah, it just floated around the five of us, making sure its big eyeball with beautiful silver strikes analysed us all from top to bottom; taking its time before calmly wandering off to explore something else. The diving instructor, as if nothing had happened, gave us all the O.K. sign and off we went, on the first of one of the most amazing diving experiences one can have on the Great Barrier Reef.
After a few hours, we were back on the boat excitedly talking, trying to catch our breath between one bewildering comment and the next.
Once he got an opportunity, the instructor explained that this fish is called Elvis because of the bump on its head that resembles Elvis Presley's hairstyle. It's harmless and was only looking for food that tourist sometimes have to offer, but I can tell you; when you're under water and oral communication is not an option, the only thing going through your mind is staying still, pretending to be a floating algae and hoping that this fish has, well, a fish's memory, and that it quickly forgets about you.
Oh, and it's this size --------------->
