Tara Moss

Gordon's Bay, nestled between the beaches of Clovelly and Coogee in Sydney's eastern suburbs is renowned as one of the city's best snorkelling spots.

Not a bad way to spend the day, especially with company like Tara Moss.

Tara has been a glamorous model, but is now an accomplished author.

In fact, her writing career spans longer than her modelling. Tara started writing grisly tales of her classmates' demise at the tender age of 10 !

The success of Tara's first novel, Fetish, came as a surprise. Released last year, it became a bestseller, and has already been reprinted… Not bad for something that started as a bit of fun.

"I started writing between modelling gigs… I had no idea that it would get printed… certainly not hit the best sellers list….film rights… narrating the audio books… going international as well… I had no idea it would have done as well as it has."

Tara moved to Australia five years ago.. And she loves our laidback, outdoor lifestyle. Well - outdoor and underwater.

"Since I've been here I've loved it… my first snorkelling was on the barrier reef… I'll never forget it… ever since then I've loved snorkelling…"

We're a fair way from the Great Barrier Reef, but it's a warm day and the water sure looks inviting.

We meander around the rock ledges… check out the plant life, and quite a few schools of fish. Even though the water temperature's not quite tropical, apparently it's a little more user-friendly than the waters off Tara's native Canada.

"To tell you the truth we look at the water… walk around it. We get into boats and sail, but we don't tend to get in because it's so cold. Skinnydipping… skin goes red from shock… then blue because of the cold… and goes purple… by the time you jump out you never want to go back in again…"

Tara doesn't get much free time to escape to this special hideaway. Deadlines are already looming for her second novel "Split", due on the shelves later this year.

And she assures me that on the writing front - there's plenty more to come.

"Some careers have a very short time frame - modelling is one of them… writing I can do until I'm 80 or 90, or until my brain gives out… so… it's a good thing to be doing."