There's nothing to fear underwater, even if you don't like getting your hair wet.

I can’t do it,” I cried when I spluttered to the surface. “Yes, you can,” everyone cried back, regaling me with tales of 86-year-old grandmothers and others who had recently done successful ocean walks.

It wasn’t really these stories that convinced me. I was more concerned about how I would explain to my editor that I’d returned without the story we had planned.

“Keep your head straight and you’ll be OK,” the guide says.

Of course as soon as I had started to descend the ladder towards the ocean floor, curiosity got the better of me and I started to look around and down. As a result my helmet started to fill up with water which was enough to send me to the surface.

Usually you don’t even get your hair wet when helmet diving – so long as you keep the helmet on a level.

When the very reassuring staff from Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises staff had calmed me down a little I decided to try again as long as someone guided me down the ladder.

They were happy to oblige, so very slowly but surely I made my way down to the sand.

By this stage I was able to latch on limpet-like to my husband for security.

Being somewhat claustrophobic I had been concerned that I wouldn’t be able to cope but once down in the colourful underwater world, all fears are forgotten.

The guides take a group of seven at a time, leading them to a large coral bombie complete with “nemos”, clams and colourful coral.

A highlight of the walk was when the guide feeds the fish, which brings them swirling around the group – a colourful shoal of romora, parrot and bat fish, to name only a few.

The were so close you could touch them and the silky feel of the romoras was unexpected, though the guide ensured no-one grabs at them or hurts them.

As we walked around the bombie the guide also very deftly saved one visitor from putting his hand inside a large clam.

Swimmers and non-swimmers can enjoy this remarkable experience in what is almost a gravity- free environment.

I was very impressed with the safety standards, with my husband’s medical record checked by the island’s dive centre doctor before we were allowed to venture to the tender that would take us out to the dive pontoon (only minutes away from Green Island).

They have an extensive checklist which must be completed by every “walker”.

I had been in a state of fairly high apprehension for the best part of the day thinking about the seawalk – and my fears were realised on my first descent. But I am so glad the guides convinced me to try again. It was undoubtedly the highlight of the day and of any of my trips to Green Island.

We departed Cairns at a very civilised 11am to return by 5pm, worn out but happy.

FACT FINDER
WHERE: Green Island
WHAT: There’s a wide range of activities available on Green Island – glass bottom boat viewing, yellow submarine ride, introductory and certified diving, buffet lunch, snorkelling and swimming around the island, helmet diving, relaxing by the resort pool, rainforest boardwalks, parasailing, canoe hire and Marineland Melanesia’s nautical museum.
COST: Half day and full day cruises with Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises start at $66 and extra activities such as the Oceanwalker Helmet diving, parasailing and Marineland Melanesia have an additional cost.