Things have been pretty hectic over the last few weeks with back to back trips to the Lodge and the Lermontov from the 2nd of Jan to this last Wednesday. Both Recreational divers and Technical divers have enjoyed this period with Go Dive. Paul Trainor, Fil Grey and Try Stephenson doing a mixture of TDI Advanced Wreck, GEM and KISS Rebreather training and Aaron Bolton and Dean Dunford finding new routes through the more challenging parts of the wreck. The Lerm Lodge is fast becoming one of the countries biggest tech dive facilities with both national and international divers using it for both diving the wreck and for training.

The biggest blast for me though was having my family join me for a week. Jack who is eleven doing his very first scuba dive, with none other than 20 large oceanic bottle nose dolphins who spent a good 20min circling and playing within an arms length from us. Now that is a first dive to remember and one that is going to be hard to beat-until of course he gets on the Lermontov.

 INSIDE THE POOL OF THE LERMONTOV (Photo supplied by Kevin Davidson)

With the best part of the Summer yet to come, we can expect some excellent diving. Go Dive has a three day trip scheduled over Waitangi weekend in Feb, where we hope to dive the Lermontov as well as some other sites further out. There are still a few spots on this trip, so if your keen email me on info@godive.co.nz or call me on 0800 GODIVE, it is bound to be a good weekend.

Dive Safe

Brent

Talk about coming up for breath. The last few weeks have been hectic dive wise, I have just spent 8 days hosting the MY Blue Star a 44m vessel specially set up for dive expeditions around the world. The vessel is set up with Halcyon dive equipment, membrane Nitrox system, two professional dive guides and even has its own chef.

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THE BLUE STAR ANCHORED UP BELOW THE LERMONTOV LODGE IN PORT GORE.

Over the first week of the Blue Star’s visit we experienced exceptional visibility on the wreck for this time of year and with professional photographers and videographers on board they got some awesome photos and footage.

My job was to guide the guests through the more difficult parts of the wreck, visiting the restaurant, crews mess, engine room amongst other areas. With most of the divers being very experienced cave and deep divers it made my job a breeze.

 RADIO AERIEL’S ON THE MIKHAIL

The start of 2012 looks like it is going to carry on like the end of 2011, with trips booked nearly very day to the Lermontov. Go Dive will be running shuttle service back and forwards from the Lodge and Picton, so if your up for a day or two diving, call us on 0800GODIVE to check availability or to book.

January is really the start to our Kiwi summer so expect some great diving and some nice long hot days. Have a great Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Dive safe

Brent

It’s been quite a while since my last blog, mainly due to being in Port Gore for most of November. As usual this time of year offers great vis on the wreck, over the month Go Dive has hosted quite a few groups from abroad and around New Zealand.

Probably the most memorable experience however was just last Saturday when we had 4 Orca visit us while on the Lermontov. The Orca were in a very playful mood, checking us out while in the water and later coming right up to the back of the boat and muzzling my fingers as I dangled them just under the surface 

ORCA ON THE LERMONTOV PHOTO BY RALPH THOROGOOD

Visibility although now only around 5 to 8 metres on the outside of the wreck, is still up to 20m inside. Being suspended in mid water looking back up through the Bolshoi Lounge with such good visibility would have to be one of my favorite dives.

LOOKING BACK OUT THE AFT SWIMMING POOL ENCLOSURE DOOR

Go Dive now has our new compressor and storage system set up at the Lodge which gives us more capacity and less time between dives waiting for fills. We also have full service capabilities for kit repair, plus rental suits and hardware, so if there are any failures while on-site we can generally sort it out without you missing a dive.

This coming week is going to be interesting with Wed/Thursday being reserved for Lastingham dives where we intend to do a survey of the debris field just off the wreck. On Friday, Jamie and Mel from Tech Dive NZ arrive with Casey a Halcyon CEO and some Aussie Cave Divers. At the same time there will be a huge Russian super-yacht in the bay whom will be diving with us, while filming a doco on the Lermontov.

If your looking to shout yourself a Christmas present or looking for one for your partner or family, keep in mind Go Dive has a pretty good range of accessories wetsuits etc left from when we closed the shop and are selling them for cost price. Email us if your looking for anything and we will see what we can do.

safe diving

Brent

I have just posted dates for trips on the Godive web site through to April 2012. Dates include Waitangi weekend and Easter, which I hope to keep clear of group bookings, so our growing number of club members can get together at the Lodge for some exploration dives,

Bruce Curlow and Fraser turner both club members from Christchurch have just put their new Senator boat into survey and are running trips out from Banks Peninsula and Motunau Island. They only need four to run a trip and their rates are very reasonable when compared to other operators in Christchurch, they will also run trips to where you want to go, so if you have three mates that want to head out for a days diving then these are the guys to contact. I hope to have some more information, images and rates on their trips very soon, but in the mean time if you want to organize a trip to collect a few crays for Christmas etc, get in touch with me.

Looking up though the Bolshoi lounge in the Lermontov, photo thanks of Gerald V

I have been pretty busy over at the Lodge lately, just returning from a 6 day trip. The visibility is dropping a bit on the wreck but still a respectable 8 to 10 metres, Fraser Turner just completed his Advanced Wreck course with me over the later part of this trip, while some of the others got to explore areas like the restaurant etc.

The weekend weather is looking pretty good and with it being Christchurch Show weekend, Picton is very busy. Oceanz is also running up in Tauranga, this is the first time NZ has had a dive show for quite some time, so hopefully is will become a regular event.

safe diving

Brent

One of the challenges of operating in such a remote environment as Go Dive does in Port Gore, is keeping the machinery up to a reliable standard of maintenance. The salt water environment is naturally harsh and machinery maintenance is paramount to a reliable operation. What would normally be a simple repair such as a puncture or replacing brake pads, can turn into a major and expensive task.

Adrian from Tractor Spares & Repairs sorts out Fergy

Normally a major repair, like a tractor clutch replacement would be done in a well tooled, well staffed workshop. Fortunately Port Gore isn’t one of those places, thus it’s main appeal, unfortunately when things go wrong you need to deal with it the best you can. This proved to be the case recently when Fergy our tractor decided to spit the dummy big time and demand a new starter motor, a new water pump, a new trust bearing and to top it off, decided that it would only steer in straight line. All these issues happened one after another, as I had several attempts to get the beast back to Blenheim by road to Tractor Repairs and Spares in Renwick to sort out the dickey thrust bearing and clutch. Finally we decided to do the major job of splitting the tractor in half on-site. Surprisingly a job that was much easier than first thought, due to the experience and service Adrian from Tractor Spares brought with him.

Mikhail Lermontov prop

Other than the issues Fergy has presented me, we have just run a series of very successful trips over the last few weeks. In fact last weekend, which was a mainly all club member weekend, we experienced the best visibility I have seen on the wreck for over three years. Michael Keller from Christchurch completed his TDI Adv Nitrox and Deco Procedures course with Go Dive over an extended 5 day period, doing 10 dives on twins and slinging deco gas. The visibility was such on the Lermontov, that on some days you could see bow to bridge, thats well over 20m.

Next week sees Go Dive heading into our busiest November yet, with nearly back to back trips right through to December, we have a new compressor and huge air storage set up now at the Lodge and are looking forward to the settled weather Nov offers. There is still the odd day left unbooked, with space over Christchurch Show weekend still available.

Although I might be a bit busy to write regular Blogs over the next few months, I will still try to stay in touch with club members via TXT and email, for visitors I will be able to answer your messages and emails most evenings from our new improved cell coverage service in Port Gore. Tania and Sarah will be monitoring the phones during the day, for course, local and Lermontov trips.

Have a great summer.

safe diving

Brent

After 25 years of dreaming to dive the wreck of the Hippalos I finally got the opportunity yesterday.

Twenty five year’s back when working as Training Manager for Christchurch’s first PADI Star Facility, I had a conversation with Dave Tattle, who over a few beers told me he had just found and dived a new wreck. His description at that time was it was a very, very, scary dive, now considering the wreck is in just over 60m of water on a silty bottom and close to a busy boating channel and that Dave was diving it on air with single cylinder, it could be assumed that he may have been effected by narcosis, hence his gloomy description of the wreck.

The Hippalos sunk in 1909, she is a 126ft wooden barque built in Norway, like many ships before and after her she failed to navigate Cape Jackson and finally sunk while being towed back into Picton. Since Dave dived her only a small handful of others have followed, Go Dives expedition being the first for many years. The group consisted of Gerald Van Der watt, Paul Trainor, Rob Edwards, Janne all on rebreathers and myself on O/C. I had had numerous attempts to locate the wreck site in the past, so had a pretty good idea of her location, I just needed to dive a very promising target to confirm I had the right spot. We quickly found my marks and picked up the target, after dropping the shot line and securing a good anchor, the first group splashed, I was in the second group and didn’t know if we had found the wreck until passing the first group decompressing on the trapeze on my descent, the looks on their faces and hand signals confirmed pretty quickly we were in the right spot. Our shot had found its mark and landed mid ships so an ideal location to explore from.

The wreck is sitting upright around 3m proud of the bottom, the masts and superstructure have long since collapsed, but there is still plenty to see along the decks and sides of the wreck, the rudder is still very visible with the top part eroded away, the bow has disappeared, probably due to the collision with the bottom after its plummet to the seabed 110 years previous. The fish life on the wreck is prolific, as is the invertebrate life, we had reasonable visibility considering the location of the wreck and it was easily navigated without the use of a light. Unlike Dave all those years ago, we were all diving Trimix so were not effected by Narcosis. My bottom mix being 18/40 which has a narcotic depth of 35m.

Unfortunately due to the depth our bottom time was limited to 20 minutes and we had a 50 minute plus decompression obligation, but this was compensated by getting two very good dives in on her and by the knowledge that we had finally located and dived the Hippalos.

Now I know where she lies, we will be back and all the group plan to come back again to explore her further.

safe diving

Brent

Go Dive

The good visibility that we are blessed with at this time of year has finally arrived. I just spent a few days diving on the Lermontov and enjoyed vis up to 15 metres plus. The wreck could be made out from the surface, the port prop easily seen from below the rudder and you can see all the way across the Bolshoi Lounge. Diving the wreck while the vis is so good is just spectacular and for those who are used to the wreck in lower vis conditions it seems like whole new wreck.

Looking out from the Winter Garden

Table in Bolshoi Lounge

We can expect good vis for the next 6 weeks or so, even though it can come and go depending on the weather patterns it is generally pretty reliable. During Labour Weekend I have a TDI Adv Nitrox and Deco Procedures course running, this is a great way to start to extend your diving times and make the most of your trips away. Although specialized kit is required this can be supplied as part for the course and it doesn’t necessarily involve diving twins cylinders, although this can be an option for those who really want to extend their run times. There is still space on this trip and the TDI course.

Keep an eye out hopefully next week, for a report on a new wreck we are about to dive. I have been planing to dive it for a while now and had hoped to do so this last weekend, even though I found it and were preparing to dive it, the weather didn’t prove favorable so I decided to leave it for another day.

safe diving

Brent

Go Dive

Typical to spring we got everything thrown at us last weekend, including a bit of snow. Bob Wealthy, Brian Cornell and Tom Vermon-Smith all from Melbourne made up the group along with Valerie Cizek from the Sates and local Christchurch lad Mike Sayer who was doing his Nitrox course with me.

Conditions overall were pretty good, with the visibility on the wreck up to 10m plus on the Tuesday. Bob, Brian and Tim enjoyed their time looking around the wreck, these guys were very experienced divers, diving on twins and EANx 32%, I took them through the Restaurant and Engine room and as always the comments about these two dives was very positive. 

Last weekends group, notice the snow on the peaks and Mike to the right in his wetsuit. A good hard Southern man.

Guy Drayton from Christchurch, come up as chief cook and bottle washer and helped with guiding Valerie and Mike in the earlier stages of the trip. Mike completing 7 out of 8 dives on Nitrox, so getting a very good understanding of its use. Valerie diving for the first time in one of our rental Otter drysuits, took to it like a duck to water.

Thanks guys for diving with Go Dive and congrats to Mike in completing his PADI EANx course, Mike is also now a Dive Club Marlborough member so we look forward to seeing a bit more of him. Also a big thanks to Guy for helping out with the cooking and general work over the trip, remember club members that you can get a free trip if you book in to help out on these trips.

There is another trip out to the Lodge  this weekend, if your keen I have to Grab-a-Dive seats on it for $295.00 per person, leaving Friday coming out Sunday.

Remember Friday is the last day in the shop at Hight Street, this will now be closed permanently, I am in the throws of negotiating a deal for air fills from a new compressor operator who is about to set up in the Waikawa Marina, so will let you know when things are settled. I still have plenty of wetsuits etc to sell, so if your up for a new suit and are looking for a hot price give me a call on 0800 GODIVE

safe diving

Brent

Go Dive

Last weekend Nathan Aldridge from the Napier Dive Center brought down a group of keen divers to experience their first dive on the Lermontov. Other than missing the Ferry from Wellington on Friday night, everything went like clockwork and the group experienced some great dives on the Lermontov, collected some Port Gore and East Bay scallops, crays and caught or shot a number of Blue Cod and Moki.

The weather over the three days of the trip was very good, with Sunday morning being the only wet point of the weekend, other than that, the sea was flat for most of the weekend, with the vis ranging from 8 plus metres. As most of the group hadn’t dived the wreck before, I guided them for much of the dives, with Damien and Andy joining me on a dive into the engine room. This would have to be one of the better dives on the wreck and a must do if your up for it.

HEAD OF AN ENGINE ON THE MIKHAIL LERMONTOV

On Sunday morning we headed out to Cape Jackson for a dive on the historical wreck of the Lastingham which sunk in 1883, this is a very nice reef dive come wreck dive with some of the guys saying the fish life equaled if not bettering the Poor Knights. We then headed around to East Bay for a feed of scollop’s and some lunch, before making our way back to Picton arriving in time to catch the Ferry.

Damien with a Cape Jackson Moki

Thanks guys for diving with Go Dive and to Nathan for organizing the trip through his dive shop in Napier. If your ever up that way, drop in and see him, Nathan runs regular local trips and on the occasion trips up to the Knights.

safe diving

Brent

Although we have had a mild, dry winter it has been pretty quite on the diving front. I think due to a combination of visitors delaying their trip to NZ until the Rugby World Cup, the Christchurch Earthquake and a slow economy.

However it looks like that is all to change from next weekend on. Go Dive has groups booked into the Lermontov Dive Lodge nearly every weekend through to the end of November, along with quite a number of mid week groups.  I have a EANx course on the 23/24th Sep while at the Lodge and an Advanced Wreck course early November, so if your looking to develop your dive skills and knowledge give me a call, there is still a limited amount of space on both these courses.

Not all these weekends are booked by groups and I have saved a few for club members, Labour weekend being one of these weekends which is open to everyone. October is generally a great time visibility wise on the wreck so a good chance to come along and enjoy some good company and good diving. You can book on this trip by calling me on 0800GODIVE of email info@godive.co.nz

Road sign at the head of the Keneperu Sound about 20 minutes past the Portage Hotel, follow the road to Titrangi, this leads to Go Dives Lermontov Lodge 

A major development this summer is that we will no longer have a Dive Shop in Picton. I have decided to focus solely on trips and training, Go Dive will no longer retail dive kit through a shop, but will still be able to access brands such as Halcyon, Shearwater, Apeks, Tusa, Pro-Dive and Cressi for those who are looking for new kit. The fact that I will no longer have very large overheads with leases, wages etc, means that I will be able to sell equipment at very good prices, so if your looking to save some money and get quality kit, you know who to call.

Local trips, air-fills, equipment servicing, club dives and training will still be available through Picton, with Nine helping out with the trips using his boat. I will also expand the options for club dives to include dives outside the Marlborough area.

It’s going to be a great summer, so shake the dust of that dive kit, get it checked and get ready to splash.

safe diving

Brent