Group Charters
For group charters departure time from Picton can be co-ordinated with your arrival on the ferry or aircraft. For arrivals after 6.30am we will spend the first night at the Portage Hotel, approximately half way to the Lermontov Lodge.
Course Options
Open-water Plus
For the ultimate dive course, Go Dive offer our PADI Open-water Plus package which includes a 2 day Port Gore tour, including 2 extra Adventure dives on the Lermontov or other wrecks.
The course starts off in Picton, where the first 2 days will be spent developing your diving skills in the pool and completing an Open-water orientation dive. The second two days will be in Port Gore where you will complete the final three dives, plus another two Adventure dives; this is the ultimate Open-water package.
Advanced Open-Water Plus
The PADI Advanced Open-water really opens up diving opportunities; many operators set it as a pre-requisite to book onto their dives.
You can complete the Advanced Open-water course with Go Dive Marlborough while in Port Gore, including the Deep and Wreck dives on the Mikhail Lermontov.
The course starts off in Picton, with a course orientation, navigation dive and theory review. Four more dives will be completed in Port Gore over the next two days, with the possibility of a 5th bonus dive on the wreck.
Discover Scuba Dive Plus
Go Dive can offer the PADI Discover Scuba Dive experience for those who don’t dive or have partners who don’t dive. The bay where the Lermontov Lodge is situated is shallow and protected, offering clear calm conditions ideal for guests to try diving for the first time.
Live-a-Shore Wreck Tour Calendar
| January 2010 4 Day Trip 10/13th | Taking standbys | ||
| January 2010 4 Day Trip 22/25th | FULL | ||
| February 2010 3 Day Trip 12/14th | |||
| March 2010 4 Day Trip 4/7th |
Check out our terms and conditions
Live-a-Shore Port Gore Wreck Diving Tours
Due to high customer demand and Go Dives commitment to providing the best possible experience at the lowest possible price, we have included a live-a-shore option to our very popular Mikhail Lermontov multi-day live-a-board tours and day tours.
Based at the very cosy and secluded Lermontov Lodge in Port Gore, only 5 minutes by boat to the Mikhail Lermontov, you will have unlimited access to this world class wreck dive, as well as the other historical wrecks and reefs in the Port Gore, Cape Jackson area.
Non divers and children welcome.
Reporting Time: 6.00pm
Return: 5.30pm
Frequency: Scheduled tours, August to June. Group charters on request
Minimum Experience Rating: Open-water with cold water environmental orientation dive/s
Includes: Accommodation, meals, transport, diving, cylinders, air, weight belts
Number of dives: Up to 4 per day
What to bring: Log book, towels, sleeping bag. (bedding available to rent if required)
Maximum divers per guide: 5
Recommendations/requirements: If you are not used to diving in a 7mm wetsuit or dry suit and temperate waters, we ask that you do an equipment and temperate water orientation dive before diving the Lermontov. This can be done prior to the trip or the first dive of the trip in Port Gore.
Options: EAN Nitrox, manifolded 300bar/DIN twin 12litre steel cylinders, Discover Scuba Dives, Fishing, Kayaking and Snorkelling for non-divers. Full kit rental if you do not have your own.
Tour & Course Prices
Inquires
Location Map
The Lodge
The Lermontov Lodge is tucked away in a sheltered cove in Port Gore, it is a modern facility built in 2001; it has endless hot water, 230 volt power supplied by Solar panels, invertor and generator, laundry facilities, 3 bedrooms, large lounge with DVD player and TV. Bedroom layout is 1 bedroom with 4 beds, 1 bedroom with 6 beds, 1 double bedroom and 1 twin in the lounge. Layout allows for privacy and is a less expensive option to our popular multi-day Lermontov live-a-board tours. If you would like the double bedroom or have any special food requirements please let us know when making your inquiry. Pillows and slips supplied, but you need to supply your own sleeping bags or bedding.
Non Diving Activities
You will have the opportunity for post dive strolls along the shoreline, surrounding farm land and bush or possibly even a bit of fishing. This is a very remote part of New Zealand, with spectacularly stunning scenery which is seldom visited; most likely the only other living things you will see during your stay in Port Gore will be the abundant fish and birdlife, plus the odd cow and sheep.
For the non-diver or for those who may want a break from diving, our shore based staff will be available to take you fishing in our tender, you could rent a kayak or for the non-diver maybe a Discover Scuba Dive or snorkel in the sheltered bay below the lodge.
Children are more than welcome, with only a small charge for under 10 year olds. However children must be accompanied at all times by a parent or caregiver and may need to travel out by road depending on their age and sea conditions.
The Diving
Using our fast day boat gives you easy access to all the wrecks or reefs in the area and allows for shore based surface intervals and lunch at the Lermontov Lodge between dives. Always nice when it’s a bit bumpy on the wreck site.
Dive Sites and time to reach them by boat from the Lermontov Lodge
Mikhail Lermontov 5 minutes
Lastingham Wreck 20 minutes
Rangitoto Wreck 30 minutes
Scallop Beds 10 minutes
Kelp Reefs 15 minutes
Scheduled tours range from 2, 3 and 4 days, including cooked meals with local wines, accommodation, diving, air, cylinders and weight belts. All diving is guided, and takes place from our 8.5 metre multi-hull shark cat, which is equipped with toilet and full protection from sun, wind and rain.
Night Dives
Diving a wreck like the Lermontov at night is a fantastic experience, if the conditions are suitable, you have night diving experience and dive lights, you will get the option of a night dive.
The Trip
Your trip starts at Go Dive in Picton, where you will depart for Port Gore at 6.00pm in our van. The trip to the Lermontov Lodge takes around 2.5 hours, and you will travel through some very scenic country side, which takes you up through the Kenepuru Sound and back into Queen Charlotte Sound. Reaching an altitude of 700 metres, you will get spectacular views to the North Island and D'Urville Island to the west, before descending down to the Lermontov Lodge, arriving at around 8.30pm.
The next morning our boat will be ready to take you for your first taste of the Mikhail Lermontov by 9.30am. During your stay you will have access to not only the Mikhail Lermontov, but other wrecks and reefs in the area. During the scallop season you may even get the opportunity for a scallop dive. Each day will finish off with a home cooked meal or barbecue on the porch of the Lodge over looking the bay.
For those who can not make the 6.00pm departure from Picton to Port Gore, you may have the option of travelling to Port Gore by boat early the first morning. Please ask about this option when making your inquires or booking.
The trip back to Picton on the last day will be by boat due to post dive altitude considerations. Departure from Port Gore being at approximately 3.00pm, arriving back in Picton at around 5pm.
New Divers
For newly trained or warm water divers, the Lermontov can be quite a challenge. So for your own safety and to avoid interrupting the experience of other divers in the group, we request you undertake a shallow orientation dive prior to diving the wreck. This can be completed prior to the trip in Picton or on the morning of the first day in the sheltered bay below the lodge in Port Gore. Technical Divers Technical diving support is available on request with Nitrox, O2 for rebreathers, 12litre twins and 6 litre slings available if pre booked. Go Dive staff are all trained in Decompression Procedures and are happy to accompany those with suitable qualifications on some of the more challenging dives. Surface supplied 100% O2 at 5 metres on all dives as emergency decompression gas provided.
Safety
One of Go Dives main aims is to maintain a 100% safety record. The Lermontov is a fantastic wreck, but is unforgiven for those who are unprepared or dive beyond their personal limitations. There are many interesting dives across the wreck and within Port Gore that suit the less experienced diver and of course more challenging dives to suit the more experienced diver. Prior to your first dive we will discuss with you what parts of the wreck/s or Port Gore that are of interest to you and attempt to meet your expectations. However the final decision on what part of the wreck we visit will be up to Go Dive.
PLEASE NOTE
There is no cell phone coverage in Port Gore, all communications is by VHF radio to our base set back in Picton and Marlborough Maritime Radio.
Extra Stuff
Bedding available to hire
Dive equipment including computers available to hire
Nitrox, twin cylinders and slings available on request
Kayaks available for rent if pre-booked
Group charters dates and rates available on request
Non-divers and families welcome
Discover Scuba Dives for non-divers, PADI Advanced Open-water, Deep and Wreck Specialties on request.