After all my adventures in Koh Tao, I started exploring local shore dives in Melbourne. Diving here is a lot harder than diving in warm tropical water. The moment I arrive at the dive site, I already know it’s going to be tough. The water is cold, the wetsuit is thick, and I have to carry more weight just to stay underwater. The tank feels heavier too, and I need to wear gloves and a hood to keep warm.

Just getting ready takes so much energy. By the time I finish putting on everything — hood, gloves, thick wetsuit, weight belt, heavy tank — I feel like I’ve already done half the dive! Walking to the water with all that gear is hard work.

But once I’m finally under the water, I always remember why it’s worth it.

Melbourne has a totally different underwater world compared to Koh Tao. Here, the marine life looks strange, mysterious, and beautiful in its own way. On my shore dives, I’ve spotted octopuses, cuttlefish, spider crabs, decorator crabs, abalone, guitar sharks, and even huge stingrays gliding like underwater spaceships.

But my favourite of all is the weedy sea dragon. They look like magical creatures from a fairy tale, floating gently with their leaf-like bodies. Seeing them makes every cold dive worth the effort. Every time I spot one, I feel like I found a treasure.

Diving in Melbourne is challenging, but it makes me stronger and more skilled. And it reminds me that every ocean has its own wonders — you just have to be brave enough to jump in.

#Ivan